Can one build a refugium as a Seahorse habitat?

[piscivorous]

So I am currently setting up a reef tank and looking at some of the livestock I'd like to keep. I have JUST started looking at the seahorses and I all ready know that they aren't really suitable for a pure reef tank setup, as they like slower currents and more sea grass type of environments. With that however, I was wondering if one could setup a display refugium as part of the main reef tank, that could double as your seahorse tank? Is this possible/adviseable? I appreciate the input, and in the meantime, I will try to read up more on seahorses.

 

[ann83]

The problem with display refugiums is that more than likely the temperature of your reef tank will be too high for the seahorse. "Tropical" seahorses should be kept below 74 degrees, because the bacteria that is dangerous to them is more aggressive at temperatures higher than 74 or 76 degrees. Subtropical and temperate seahorses need even lower temperatures.

 

[Kolognekoral]

I am planning the same thing and the temp of my aquarium is around 25°C, which translates to 76° F, I think. For tropical species, this shouldn't be a problem.

The refugium has a DSB, a few live rocks, macro-algae and gorgonians. It is lit by 4X T5 and connected to the main reef though an overflow. About 7 months since I set it up. Lots of small foods swimming about and a pair of pipefish have just laid their eggs. I have my eye on a pair of H. reidii.

I short, I would say, try it!

 

[Poniegirl]

I agree with Mr K (quite the name!). And I know there are others who have chosen to do the same with there refugium.
I would, however, delay the addition of seahorses for at least six months after you set up the entire system. Let the pod population get established. And by then your water should be quite stable.
And there are things you can do to help the pods along: Create a "rubble" pile where they can live and breed without the seahorses snacking them into extinction. Lots of chaeto and seagrasses. Purchase a bottle of pods to give it a jump start.

 

[Poniegirl]

Woops!
What size tanks?

 

[Kolognekoral]

Hey, Pony!

I should have added that I use some massive, full-o-holes coral skeletones as a refuge in the refuge...for the little critters, of course. As I am using a 300L (75gal) tank for the refugium, there are lots of critters for just that one pair of pipefish. A pair of seahorses should still find enough to eat and the refugium allows a procent of the pods (etc) to continue. There are also many other small life form to eat.

And, as you mentioned, the tank needs to be stable and producing.

 

[lfduty]

I do it and have no trouble with it but I do run the lights on the reef in the day and the refugium at knight wnd it works good for me.

 

[piscivorous]

Those of you who have done it...what are some of the "tropical" species you've been able to pull of doing it with? My system would probably be kept at about 79 degrees.

 

[Poniegirl]

Kuda and Erectus. I did keep the seahorses in the DT, I have never had a refugium. The kuda for 4 years and the erectus for 3 years. 78 to 82.
It depends on your priorities for the livestock, I think. If you set up a reef and have a heart for aggressive corals, do the refugium for the seahorses.
If you set up a reef and populate with mild corals, the seahorses might be OK in the DT.
Where you place the seahorses must be geared to the needs of the seahorses.
The temp is secondary, in my experience, to making sure their diet is benificial (small frequent feedings and a good source of live food) and the water quality is productive and transient. A well nourished seahorse will have a strong immune system.
Seahorses thrive where their best food sources thrive. It is a beautifully basic theory.

 

[pledosophy]

You will still need to feed the seahorses. A pair of seahorses will not survive on the pods alone you can generate in your system.

Personally I don't recommend temps over 74F longterm.

 

[Fredfish]

FWIW, many corals will do fine at lower temperatures as well.

There are thriving high lattitude reefs with many stony corals that reach winter temperatures as low as 18C in the winter and average around 25 in the summer.

Searhorses in captivity and temperatures are an interesting subject. Many people have had problems at higher temps. There is no research to suggest exactly why.

I run my system at 76F in the winter and it gets up into the low 80s in the summer. If I could bring my summer temps down to 78F I would, just to be on the careful side.

I agree that diet is very important, and that live foods are a critical component of a good diet. For this reason, my refugium is the same size as my main tank.

So....

Give it a go, but try to hold your temperatures below 80 (76-78 seems like a good target) as a compromise is my advice/opinion.

Fred

 

[lfduty]

my reef stays about 75-80 and the SH's stay about 70 but the temperatures never get past 75 in ther tank

 

[pottsburg]

The pipefish can't get the seahorses sick if they have something and share the same water??

 

[ann83]

Pottsburg is right, mixing pipefish with seahorses can result in disease for one or both of the species. See the barbouri hardiness thread for more info.

 

[Brent Burton]

I definatly think temps are going to be a prob. I would invest in a small sh tank 20-30g will suit a pair or two. If you do decide to do it in your ref.you could put a divider on like 1/3 that way you have a refugium built in to your refugium depending on how big it is. Although pretty much all captive bred horses will be trained on frozen mysis. So, as long as you feed them twice per day, they wont wipe out the pods. I pretty much set up my sh tank like a refugium, letting the populations build up before adding my horses,but they seem completely satisfied off the mysis. As for the pipefish I would be careful unless they are cb

 

[lfduty]

I have never had a problom with puting PH's with my SH's in my fugium. but im not going to say that nothing can happen just because its not happend to me

 

[Glass Oceans]

There is little known about the reproduction of this species in the wild. However in aquariums with appropriate husbandry they can reproduce year around when the aquarium water is maintained at 80°F.

This is from Draco Marine regarding the Reidi Seahorse. 80F.