Looks like another tank... Got a couple questions though 😝

[Fishmaster13]

So after posting the "seahorse compatibility questions" (you can ignore that now) thread down below along with lots of research, I realized I have to stop avoiding the obvious and get a seahorse species tank. I've already got 9 tanks, why not go to the double digits :rollface:. Anyway, this will be my first time venturing out into the seahorse world and I've got a few questions. I'm doing my research but it would be nice to get advice from people who have actually raised seahorses. Since this's is probably going to be long again I'll indent this time :frog:
I'll start out by saying that in the tank im gonna make it a good environment (duh) for the seahorses by not putting in any aggressive/fast fish or corals, since that was the problem with my reef tank. I know the standard is a 39 gallon cube for a pair, but I'd like to get at least 3-4 along with a couple pipefish and maybe a mandarin. They can handle 74° water, right? The rule is generally an extra 15 gallons per pair, so to be safe with all that I'd probably want something just over 50 gallons, right? My question is do seahorses count as their own "separate" animals or should I add the fishes required gallons to the seahorses required gallons?
Secondly, it's not necessary for me but I do think it would be cool to mix two species (2 pairs of 2 species). I've read mixed reviews and know I shouldn't mix with H. Erectes but what about other species. For me I'm looking specifically at H. Reidi with something or a different type of H. Reidi. Would that work? Also, can you mix pipefish. I'm bouncing the idea of moving my pipefish in my reef tank to this one along with another species of pipefish.
Thirdly, sorry but yes there's a thirdly, can most seahorse compatible corals and sponges be kept at 74°? Also does anyone know where to find the micro algea plant that the seahorses can grab on to. Along with that, should a should I just use dead rock instead of live rock to avoid parasites? And should there be a deep or shallow sand bed. My CC will consist of snails and small hermits.
Fourthly, don't worry this is the last one, I'll make it short. I've had experience breeding clownfish, mandarins, and kribensis (freshwater), and tons of my shrimp and snails breed on their own, and I think it would be fun to experiment with seahorse fry. Any information about that would be nice.
Well, I'm finally done :rollface:. Anything anyone has to offer about this heaping list would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for any info I get.

 

[rayjay]

Well you can get a variety of opinions on seahorse keeping, usually based on the individual experiences of each hobbyist.
Personally I think you are trying to go too fast.
Before you think about other fish in the tank, and corals and whatever, I believe it to be in your best interests to set up with just the one species of seahorse and see how you make out in your first year.
IME, seahorses succumb to bacterial and parasitic pathogens MUCH easier than ANY marine fish I've encounter in my 20+ yrs of reefing, and that is with many more than your 9 tanks.
Tank recommendation is 29 for a pair and an extra 15 for each additional pair.
IF you go ahead with other fish you are going to have to have even more room.
As for mixing species, most times it doesn't work out, but occasionally it will.
For pipefish, as hardly any are true captive bred, most often mixing them with seahorses ends up with the loss of one or the other, or even both species.
Again, occasionally it does work though.
If you really want to attempt mixing, you will have better odds of success, but no guarantie, if you obtain the different species from the same breeding source, not different breeding sources.
Not all compatible corals will handle the 74° temp but I can't tell you which ones will as I don't keep any in my seahorse tanks.
As for snails and hermits, I don't keep any of those either so others will have to chime in on that. I've read on the forums problems with some hermits though.
Lastly, once you've had feedback from others, choose the basics that the majority of successful keepers recommend rather than going with something that is more offbeat or against general recommendations, and once you've gained enough experience you can decide then what other things you might try.

 

[vlangel]

Hi Fishmaster! Last year at this time I was where you are. I set up a species only tank in May after doing my research. I had a 9 day trip out of the country so I could not get seahorses until the beginning of October. The gave the tank a chance to establish a pod population and stabilize.
I have seahorse safe corals in my tank and I keep my temperature between 71-74 degrees. That includes various leathers, mushrooms, GSP, photosynthetic gorg, blue clove polyps, and candycane. Macro algae are also nice natural scape adornment. I have feather calerpa, (that must be thinned regularly so it doesn't go sexual), dragon's breath, blue scroll, red titan, red grape calerpa and a couple calcium using macros that I don't know the names of.
I have a shallow sand bed and my clean up crew are Nassarius snails, peppermint shrimp and an Atlantic cucumber.
I bought CB h erectus and CB banded pipefish from Ocean Rider and it is working out well for me thus far. The pipefish also were trained to eat frozen mysis as were the seahorses.

 

[cincyjim]

Your tank sounds really cool. Can we see a pic of it please?
Thanks,
Jim

 

[Fishmaster13]

Thanks for the info! I was going a little fast but I'm not doing all this at once. I'm just trying to get an idea. Thanks for the advice raygay. I was already getting captive bred only not a doubt about that. I'll start with 1 pair and after that decide if I'll mix or not. Thanks vlangle for the info about the corals and about ocean rider! I'm definitely going to incorporate a few corals along with live rock with alot micro algae for them to grab on to. Ocean rider looked great as well, lots of seahorse options as well as captive bread banded pipefish, which I was planning on adding later on after my seahorses have settled in for a couple months. Do you know if they can be mixed with blue striped pipefish? I am leaving the country in 3 weeks so I probably won't do much other than start the cycle of the tank. I'll cycle the tank for a good six months at least before I add the seahorses. I'm thinking of getting a tank around 50 gallons that is over 20 inches tall. And sure Jim, I'll post some photos of the tank when it comes in and as it progresses. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[vlangel]

Your tank sounds really cool. Can we see a pic of it please?
Thanks,
Jim

I love my seahorse tank and I think it's cool but it's nothing special. Adam and Eve, (my seahorses) seem to like it too.

 

[Fishmaster13]

Nice tank vlangel. Is that a 29 gallon cube?

 

[vlangel]

It's a 30g XH. The 24" of height can be a challenge to aqua scape, especially with just 12" of depth. I had a large piece of rock that helped. Seahorses use that height in their courtship dance.

 

[Fishmaster13]

Congrats. You have two seahorses and how many pipefish? I only see one but if you have two a tank slighty larger could accommodate an extra 1-2 seahorses (I'm thinking something about that hight but Imlittle longer, something around 50 gallons. That might make it a little easier to landscape as well.

 

[vlangel]

Congrats. You have two seahorses and how many pipefish? I only see one but if you have two a tank slighty larger could accommodate an extra 1-2 seahorses (I'm thinking something about that hight but Imlittle longer, something around 50 gallons. That might make it a little easier to landscape as well.

I also have 2 pipefish. Actually this tank shares a sump with my 36g reef, LPS and softies for a total volume of about 70 gallon. More rock and more water equals more stability. However sharing water with a tank that has fish has risks. They can carry pathogens. I only have 1 chiller so I needed to do it this way but I won't add any new fish without a lengthy quarantine and treatment.
This size is manageable. I downsized from a 110 gallon system to reduce my water changes. This keeps me limited, LOL!

 

[cincyjim]

Thanks for the picture. That's a great looking tank!

 

[vlangel]

Thanks for the picture. That's a great looking tank!

You are welcome and thanks for looking!