filtration for seahorses...

[4luvofhrses]

...Hi! Setting up a 30-gal extra high tank for my horses. Setting up with live rock and sand. Suggestions on filtration parameters and requirements? I know the horses can't have too strong of a current, but that the filter needs to cycle effectively. Just need to know what to look for! I also want to keep some polyps in the new tank... are they okay with seahorses and if so, how does this effect filtration?

Thanks for your insight! I'm an amateur at this, so anyone who has some experience give me a shout!

 

[krazeekiddie]

Hello!

I prefer natural means of filtration. Some people use canister filters etc etc, but I use good old live rock, a nice 3 inch sand bed, macro, protein skimmer, & water changes!

Polyps are a fine choice for a seahorse tank, if you want to add anything else, make sure there is no aggression. (ie, no sweeper tentacles, nothing that will close & eat a horse etc etc) The only way they affect filtration is with an increased bio-load.

Some other choices, gorgonians, leathers, mushrooms etc etc. (Although gorgonians usually do not fair well) (But horses LOVE them for hitching) You could most likely get some nice replicas that will be allot less maintenace & they won't die!

Params should be kept right where you would keep for a regular tank, although, due to the sensitivity with them, you should keep your salinity a tad lower than a reef tank (I keep mine at 1.026)(reef tank, not horses) & that keeps them from catching everything they come into contact with. 1.022 is a pretty good number.

Also, be species specific. You cannot really add any other fish, well you shouldn't.

Current can be good, just not blowing them around in circles. They do enjoy to "gallop" through current, so I would recommend maybe doing an area with higher flow than the rest of the tank, it is fun to watch them play in it! =) That you will have to tinker with & adjust when you get your babies.

Also, do allot of research on the species you are going to go with. And the most important thing I will stress: GOOD, HEALTHY HORSES ARE OT CHEAP, DO NOT BE CHEAP WHEN YOU BUY THEM OR YOU WILL REGRET IT LATER. Especially when your poor horse dies from some mysterious illness. Buy well taken care of CB ponies & it will be a decision you won't regret.

(Also, make sure they are eating fozen when you purchase them, live foods get expensive!)

If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask! =) Heather

 

[peterpiper]

Hi, My understanding is that your filter should filter the water 4 times per hour min, so if you have a 30g tank you should be looking at getting a filter that runs around 120gph, you can defuse the current on the return by having multi outlets, try to get the outlets aimed at the back of the tank and to the back of the rock.. this will help with dead spots. I think a skimmer is a must have item. 30g.. which Seahorses are you looking at keeping and how many?

 

[4luvofhrses]

well....

well....

....I have 2 fuscus now (they max out at 3-5 inches) mine now are 4, and I'm guessing they may grow a little more, but not too much. I would transfer them to the larger tank, and I might get another pair of those or another pair of something else, but that would be it. The "other pair" would have to be tropical variety since that's what the fuscus are, and I would want them not to get too, too big, of course.
I have a turbo snail. a fire shrimp, several little bumble bee snails and little blue/red leg hermit crabs. That's it for now. Would probably add a mandarin to that, because I always wanted one and they don't compete too much. Maybe would add one more shrimp, but I don't want to overload everything too much. Any suggestions or does this sound good? Also, suggestions on the horse variety would be helpful, too! I am just starting out, really, but so far, so good. I think fuscus are a good starter horse.

Breakdown: (30 gal)

-4 horses -3 bumble bee snails -live rock, sand
-2 fire shrimp -mandarin gobi
-3 hermit crabs -polyp
-calerpa
-turbo snail

 

[krazeekiddie]

Fire shrimp not the greatest idea. Well they wouldn't last 2 minutes in one of our tanks. Our horses would tear them to shreds the second they noticed they were there! Live food baby!

We raise Reidi & Erectus (Northern & southern)

Also, you really should not mix species of horses. For instance, We have a tank that has 4 Reidi in--we would never add an erectus. Some people do with great success, but certain species carry certain diseases that another species may be really sensitive too & then you have a tank of dead horses. Just not worth it in my opinion.

The mandarin should be fine, they are really beautiful. Just be sure to prepare your pod population ahead of time. (Although that does go against not mixing, mandarins are really docile & won't be in comepetition with the horses--but just watch out for sickness)

Also, I just think a 30 gallon would be on the small side for 4 horsies a mandarin. Have you ever seen a full grown mandarin? Mine is close to 4 1/2-5 inches. He needs ALLOT of nicely aged rockwork to sustain himself. Just keep that in mind.

=)

 

[David123]

not only different species, but same species, from different breeders, or geographical locations.

 

[tabwyo]

Sponge filter..................

 

[bump321]

I keep at least 3 peppermint shrimp in with my ponies becouse ever two weeks each shrimp will have babies. Free food for the SH's. They will eat all night long when the shrimp pop the top of the water & release the baby shrimp. It is something to see them going after something so tiny. They eat till there sides bulge, take a break & then start eating again.

I wouldnt go with the mandarin either. I have a yellow prawn goby. It stays sm only up to 3 inches & it finds a hang out & pretty much stays there.

 

[Rays]

I wouldnt go with the mandarin either.

I absolutely agree. Pods are the natural foods for both seahorses and mandarins. After my horses have had their fill of frozen, they start searching for pods in the LR. In no time the pods would be stripped, the horses will keep with eating frozen, and the mandarin will starve to death. Also, a thirty probably would not sustain enough of a pod population for the mandarin alone. Some mandarins have been known to eat frozen but it is very hit or miss.

 

[Lil Shark]

I have a 29 with 4 Erectus in it. I have very little LR because it's a traveling tank so I have a slightly thick sand bed 3.5" and a CPR HOB. I do have two other fish in there as well. A little green horn goby who is a little riot and plays so well with the ponies, and a cherub angel who I needed for algae control. I also have an in-tank refugium with a small amount of cheato. The fish cant get it in so the pods have a chance to repopulate for the ponies.

Because I dont have a lot of natural filtration I do constant water changes with seawater (Filtered from a wetlab). For powerheads I have a 606 on one side for my deep water gorgonians and a koralia nano on the other side. I love the Koralias because its a great flow rate without throwing the ponies against the glass.