30g Hex Seahorse Aquarium

S

scapes

New member
I've got a 30g Hexagon aquarium that was set up on 12/05. I originally had an eel(escaped) w/ some corals. It's got a 150W MH. I always wanted seahorses, and as of a month ago, it's now a seahorse aquarium. I have some kind of goby (it's gray, don't know what kind it is), a brain of some sort, Yellow Figi mushroom, Toadstool mushroom, zoos, and a vast assortment of macroalgae. I've got a hangon protein skimmer and a filter I bought at my LFS. It came w/ Bioballs, but since they make nitrate problems, the Bio part is gone.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j57/chargedtuna/000_00801.jpg
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http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j57/chargedtuna/000_00751.jpg
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http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j57/chargedtuna/000_00711.jpg
 
Very nice. I love the mix of macroalgae and corals. Can you take a photo of the whole tank? I'd like to see it in perspective.
 
a brain coral with seahorses???
SWEEPERS!

If a brain can do this to a speed demon damsel, then imagine a slow seahorse...

JMO.
 
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Not all brains eat fish like that. Ive had a brain, not sure on the type, for about a year now and it has never bothered a fish, and i cant even get it to eat anything by force.
 
That was besides the point. Seahorses are not other fish.

As far as I know, all brains have sweepers, and regardless of how short they are and the feeding capabilities of the coral, they pack potent stings which can a) kill the seahorse or b)seriously hurt it, leaving a wound for infection (and when seahorses get infections hell breaks loose)

I'm just saying...that's all...because it hasn't happened yet in this specific tank does not mean it won't.

:) I will say that the tank and seahorses are nice. I'm just giving fair advice.
 
Cody:
thanks for the concern. I have since moved this brain coral to my 80g bow since I have lowered the temp on this tank to 76 degrees and this coral just wasn't fairing well w/ that low of a temp.
I have had this brain coral since Jan. and I have NEVER seen sweepers day or nite. I have literally tried to force food into it and have NEVER seen it eat. It is growing like crazy, has more than doubled since I got it, so I know it's getting something in it. I have seen little "mouths" open from time to time, but to know what it's eating, not a clue!

My male has since become preggers! will post pics soon!
 
My pregnant seahorse has gotten even bigger since last nite!! I want to try my utmost best in keeping these buggers alive.
Dan from www.seahorsesource.com spent about 30 minutes w/ me on the phone telling me how to raise food for my upcoming arrivals. Thanks Dan!!
I'll be getting my food tomorrow so I'll let ya'll know how it goes!
 
I'M A NEW MOMMIE NOW!! I went to bed last nite at 11:30, woke up at 3:30 am. sometime in between a zillion babies hatched. ok more like 100ish. but still alot! they're the size of maybe 3 pencil dots. REALLY SMALL! but cute. I'll post pic later
 
Congrats on being a mommie.

Are you prepared? You going to raise them? Got any questions :lol: :lol: :lol: ?

FWIW I think moving the coral was a good move. Keeping brains with seahorses does pose a potential risk. If you are a risk taker that is you, much of the advice you will find on this forum is very conservative as it is designed to help all hobbyists be succsessful. Since brains do have the ability to injur seahorses has Cody has pointed out, the general advice given is not to keep the two together. Personally it is not a risk I would take either.
 
Thanks Pledo!

Prepared? dunno yet. brine shrimp should be hatched tonite. I have rotifers w/ food and enrichment thanks to seahorsesource. com that I'm stocking up for the next go around of babies. Haven't had any deaths. not been quite 24 hours yet.

The only corals I have now are a colt coral and some zoas and some yellow polyps.

I do have a question though,
the babies are in a 5 gallon aquarium. How often should I change water? i'm thinking everyday but not quite sure. I'll do a water change tomorrow morning.
 
Congrats !!

I don't see them hitching to anything .... and they look like my H. reidi fry.

Do what you can to keep them away from the surface ... they can snick air or get caught in the surface film ... both bad news.

Keep an eye on the water params ... do water changes when necessary ... but make sure you match temp, ph and salinity.

Oh ... and using a turkey baster to clean the bottom can prolong the time between water changes a bit.

Good luck with them and keep posting pics ... please.
 
thanks hydroid!

i think i read on seahorse.org that they don't start hitching until 2 weeks of age. i've got this macro algae they could hitch to, not interested yet.

if they go to surface and snick air....is this a death sentence, quick death, slow death, 50/50 chance of survival or what? do you know?? there is no suface film, however they do go to the top...alot! i can't say i was totally prepared for this, next time I'll try my best to do better. but what are my odds this go around if they've say, all snicked air??

it's a 5 gallon tank, i did 2 water changes yesterday (sat). maybe just a gallon each time, if that. just got the junk off the floor essentially.

I've only had 3 deaths in 2.5 days. is that good/bad/ok, anybody know????

thanks for all your help!!

julie
 
Reidi don't usually hitch for about 5 weeks ... then I'm not sure yours are reidi.

You will have deaths, no matter what you do ... you will also have some that will squirm around on the surface or bottom. These are gonners too, but they will break your heart.

Keep nutritional food coming
Keep water quality high
Keep them off the surface if you can
Watch for hydroids (they pop up out of nowhere when baby brine shrimp are present).
Don't let a siphon tube fall out and siphon 5 gallons of saltwater and all your fry out onto the carpet (okay, maybe that one is particular to me)

Have fun!
 
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