Basic Seahorse Setup

[kenc87]

Hey guys, my Fiance is begging me to get her a seahorse, now i have no clue what to get to set this up or how to go about it. Any assisstance would be greatly appreciated. What is the most basic setup i can do to have a pair of seahorses?

 

[rayjay]

If you don't mind me listing my own site, there are a bunch of links at the bottom of My Thoughts on Seahorse Keeping that lead to most information that is needed to start the seahorse keeping hobby.
For me, the most basic would be a 30g tank, barebottom with some live rock and power head with filter and open ended air line for more surface agitation.
I also use a mini power head to keep food in circulation when powerhead and filter are shut off for feeding.
Most of mine though are 40g with 20g sump where I put all the live rock.

 

[rayjay]

29/30g is the smallest size recommended for one pair of standard sized seahorses. For each ADDITIONAL pair, you need an extra 15g.

 

[mssvp]

It seems all to familiar, my fiancée had the same idea once she saw me setting up my tank ... Lol .... "oh I want one too "... Poooof! their goes another couple hundred bucks for mr seahorse and his friend... so twenty seven seconds ago. Anyhow back to your thread.

In 30 gallon... a pair would do just fine, I have a pair on a 20 gal with a whisper HOB filter rated at 30-50gal and they seem to be perfect. I might move them to a 40gal i have in storage but thats another project. I also have one live rock and a sponge in with them. Nothing else but the circulation of the filter works for me. I don't have any circulation pumps or jets which means I have to keep algea in check and also monitor phosphate levels and feeding volume. Best of luck!

 

[mediccby]

I too am looking to set up a sea horse tank but I plan on doing Dwarf Seahorses in a 3 gal pico with a HOB filter. Any sugestions for the lighting? I also plan on sand and dead rock with some dragons breath algae.

 

[mtc1966]

I too am looking to set up a sea horse tank but I plan on doing Dwarf Seahorses in a 3 gal pico with a HOB filter. Any sugestions for the lighting? I also plan on sand and dead rock with some dragons breath algae.

just remember dwarf require live food only

 

[rayjay]

I too am looking to set up a sea horse tank but I plan on doing Dwarf Seahorses in a 3 gal pico with a HOB filter. Any sugestions for the lighting? I also plan on sand and dead rock with some dragons breath algae.

Why use a HOB filter? The sand and dead rock can be populated with the bacteria to function as the biological filter. Then you can use open ended air lines for water movement and have no chance of seahorses being sucked against the intake of the HOB.