How is this tank for seahorses?

[fishgate]

How would a 27g hex be for sea horses? This will be a FOWLR and only sea horses will be kept and some snails.

What about filtration? Just a sponge filter? Are any powered filters safe?

Do they need more up and down space or left to right?

How many can be kept in this size tank (dwarf/smaller)?

 

[TamiW]

A 27 gallon hex would work for a pair of H. erectus. However, it'd doesn't give them a lot of room to move. Tall is important for their mating ritual, but seahorses are also pretty active and use the horizontal space as well.

It would be too big for dwarves, you'd have a difficult time keeping the food density high enough.

A powerfilter is fine. A sponge filter won't have the power to keep the tank clean. You want the water turnover rate to be between 10 and 20 times per hour, with sheltered areas the seahorses can get out of the flow. A skimmer is a good idea, but not sure how you'd get one on that tank.

 

[rayjay]

Personally I wouldn't keep erectus in that tank as they are a very "full" bodied seahorse. As stated, tank is only large enough for one pair of standards and it is too small to keep dwarfs in unless you are going to keep maybe 100 dwarfs in it.
H. reidi are not so full bodied and would be better, with H. comes being even smaller bodied.
Whatever filter you use, be sure to keep cleaning it quite often so it doesn't become a bed for nasty bacteria.

 

[fishgate]

So would a HOB power filter be ok as long as I clean it weekly? Also are people using artificial hitching posts for the Seahorses? Could you post pics of your tanks?

I am not sure I could get a skimmer but perhaps if I changed 20% water weekly that would suffice in lieu of a skimmer?

And if I am reading correctly, you are both saying this tank is too large for dwarfs? I was thinking maybe 20 dwarfs or 4 full-sized.

My fear with the power filters is that they will get sucked in. I am also concerned about power heads for the same reason. I suppose I could try to drill the tank and do a sump. This tank could be ok with a sump and I think almost needs to have one. If they breed, I am sure the fry will get sucked up. And from what I am told, they are fairly easy to breed. I'll cross that bridge when/if I come to it.

I also have a 29g (traditional rectangle) that is not being used. I like the hex footprint for seahorses because it matches their height better visually. But maybe using the 29g is a better choice.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[mtc1966]

like rayjay said to big for that amount of dwarfs and to small for 4 seahorses would not put more then 2 in it . also i.m.o the 29 is a better tank for a pair of seahorses . and you could easily put a h.o.b skimmer on it.

 

[JoshMO]

27 gallons is too small for 4 standard sized seahorses, and too large for dwarf seahorses. As FishGrrl said you could have 2 in there. Actually the minimum recommended is 29 gallons, but more is always better.

Water changes do not replace what a skimmer does, although you might be able to get away with it. IMO you will be much better off with a sump and a skimmer, and in the long run you would probably save money by not having to do so many water changes. Still I would not put 4 horses in though.

Many people use artificial hitching posts. Usually bright colored ones like yellow, red, or orange, in hopes the horse will try to match the color. Occasionally they do, I think usually they dont, but it cant hurt to try right?

 

[TamiW]

I wouldn't put more than two full sized seahorses in there.

With dwarves, you'd need a lot more than 20 to allow for appropriate feeding density. The problem is that you want enough food to reach all the dwarves while not having so much that a lot of it goes to waste and fouls the water.

Dwarves could get sucked into a power filter, but that's easily solved by a sponge over the intake.

It's not a concern for larger seahorses. However, as you suspect, fry can get sucked in if you plan on breeding.

If you've got room for a sump, I say go for it! I think most tanks do better with a sump.

If it were me, I'd opt for the 29 gallon, seahorses do really like to use horizontal space, especially when promenading during courtship.