horse tank in the desert, School a noob.

[scubabum1983]

Ok, Im looking to start a seahorse dedicated tank. i was thinking a 60 gal tank with a sump. I have a mag 12 sitting around, an ice cap, and a dual 96w ballast to spare. I live in az, I dont have a chiller, so im here doing my homework on the matter before I put life in the tank. Id like to have the best chance for livestock to survive on the first shot. What types of horses do well in warmer temps, and what types to avoid? Im looking at doing a 4 inch sand bed, some live rock, and some sea grass. Any pointers or helpful links to check out on Reef Central? If I need to get a chiller, what Hp based on tank size and lighting. Tips on pests that are sea horse specific? any info would be awesome. thanks!

 

[hydroid]

There has been evidence that sustained temperatures at or above 78F can increase the risk of health problems in seahorses. Whether you use a chiller, fans, or home AC, try to keep the temps around 74-75F IMO (some go lower than that). The library on seahorse.org lists species by size and temperature range ... you will definately want a tropical species.

Seahorses don't have any special lighting needs, so going with less heat-producing lights could help keep temps down. Less light wouldn't be suitable for the seagrass though.

Seahorses like tank height and delicate flows. Unless your 60 gallon is a cube, the 4 inch sandbed might render it too short for the larger species. A tank three times the height of an adult sh is a good rule of thumb. The mag12 would be way too powerful on a 60 gallon, IMO. Think 3x-5x tank turnover.

Again, seahorse.org has a good list of suitable tank mates, each with an assigned risk factor. In general, I don't trust anything that swims fast, eats aggressively, has teeth, has hands, has spines or can sting. I also avoid mixing with any other syngnathid species, especially wild caught.

Last note: Get captive bred livestock from a professional breeder. The initial cost may be a bit higher, but will be cheaper and more satisfying in the end. SeahorseSource, Oceanrider and DracoMarine come to mind first.

HTH

 

[BruceW]

Much as I dislike saying anything good about a hydroid, he has given you some good advice. I agree with most everything above except that the flow can be a bit stronger.

If you plan to try seagrasses the lighting needed to grow them will produce a lot of heat. Because chillers add heat to the room that they operate in they can make matters worse sometimes. I have had to break down and buy AC this summer as the only way to cool my 16 tanks. And yes the heat has caused a lot of problems with my adult horses. I like to keep my tanks for H.erectus between 71-74 degrees. Not sure you could do that in AZ in the summer.

Bruce