47 column a good tank?

[txnavalavaitor]

been doing lots of research the last few days. a species only SH tank seems to be what im looking for. the tank is 31" or so tall with a base of 19"x 19". i've got plenty of live rock and a deep sand/crushed coral bed.

If the tank will be good for SH what sould i use for hitching posts?

what plants should i use in such a deep tank. (130W of pc lighting)

for filtration i have a HOB skimmer and a marineland magnum 350.

and last question are there any breeders in the Oklahoma City area?

 

[mollymonticello]

That's a great tank for seahorses. They'll appreciate the height. For hitching posts, you could use branching live rock, fake coral, fake plants, macroalgae, or you could get creative. I know people who use twisty straws, plastic chains, children's toys, etc. Just make sure they won't degrade in saltwater (crayons do, don't ask how I know that.)

For "plants," you could keep all kinds of pretty macros with that lighting. I have a few different kinds that I really like. And my seahorses hitch on them, too. Check out sites like http://live-plants.com/ or http://www.floridapets.com/ (go to snails by mail and then macroalgae) I tend to stay away from any Caulerpa, because that stuff grows so fast, it outcompetes everything else for space and food, and you end up with a tank of just Caulerpa. But some people like it. Also stay away from seagrasses, you don't have enough light.

I would recommend seahorsesource.com as THE place to get your seahorses from. They're not mass-produced like the ones you'll find at your LFS. They are the highest quality seahorses, and customer feedback is excellent. I have yet to meet someone who had something bad to say about this place.

 

[txnavalavaitor]

thanks a bunch

Is there a specific species that is alot more rouboust than most? being my first attempt at sea horses i would hate to cause the demise of any...

just for reference my LFS says they can get tank raised "kellogi"

i did take a look at the seahorsesource and i'd be willing to give them a try. however been a bit unsure about ordering livestock online. i just like supporting the local guys as much as i can. my LFS is amazing and id hate to see it go under.

for now i'll just torture y'all with questions untill my tank is fully cycled. hopefully here soon ill have a happy stable!

 

[mollymonticello]

I adore H. erectus seahorses. They are super hardy. I also like that they are a medium-large sized seahorse, so that's fun, too. Mine are so friendly they actually hitch on my fingers when I feed them. Reidis are also pretty hardy and grow large. They are often more colorful than erectus.

I feel very strongly about not keeping "Tank Raised Kelloggi" seahorses as pets. They are NOT bred to be pets; the bulk of them are produced for the Traditional Chinese Medicine trade. They only make it into our hobby because they are so cheap to produce. They are poor quality "feeder" seahorses. H. Kelloggi is actually one of the most difficult species to keep in captivity, regardless of the fact that they are all pen-raised or tank raised. It's a shame.

I'm all about supporting my LFS. Get everything else from them, just don't buy their seahorses. Better yet, educate them about Kelloggi seahorses and why they shouldn't sell them to their customers. I've talked to so many people who bought Kelloggis, then when they died shortly after, most of those people left the hobby completely. IMO, LFS and other retailers online or otherwise are only hurting themselves by selling Kelloggi seahorses.

Ok. Stepping off my soapbox now.