Never had seahorses.

[STsONpERs]

First of hows it going guys,

I was in the middle of setting up my 40 breeder sps dominant tank, and happen to come by 45 pentagon, (taller) w/stand.

I am never tried my luck with seahorses, always been sps dominant or lps tanks.

So i am going to give it a shot, and was hoping you guys could help.

heres what i have laying around in my apartment.

45 pentagon-tank and stand
80 lbs of base rock
40lbs of sand w/ 20lbs of live sand
Aqua clear 500 turned in a fuge.

What else should i buy.?.?

I wasn't sure what i will need for filtration, will the aqua clear be enough if i add come tonga LR for them to cling onto??

what tanks mate can i have with them? will a yellowhead jawfish and then how many seahorses??

Cleaner shrimp allowed?

Also lighting, i have been reading that not to many coral can go with these guys. What lighting should i do will a 150 hqi pendents be to much, or will that work, if i *** maybe some soft corals, algea, and gorgonain?(sp)

Thank you guys in advance.
Chris

 

[STsONpERs]

I have no idea why the three *** are there, lol

I am pretty sure i said get...but i dunno sorry about that

 

[Brock Fluharty]

Cleaner shrimp may bug the horses, some have had success with them.

Yellowheaded Jawfish is a good tankmate, but will need a DSB (deep sand bed) to burrow in. Zoanthids are one of the corals that cna be kept with horses, also corallimorpharians. I think some people have MH on their tanks.

I would get some tonga live rock, then maybe a little bit of macroalgae to mix it up a little. I have a few types if your intersted. I will send for free, if you pay the $8.00 shipping.

How mnay gallons is the aquaclear rated for? They are prett6y ncie filters, because you can control the flow rate.

You will probably want erectus. They are large horses, colorful, and easy to raise the babies. If so, you will need a heater. They like warm waters (around 76*F I believe)

Depending on how many you get (I think 1 pair would be maximum occupancy) you might want to geta skimmer, so you will have less water changes to do.

*breaths*

Brock

 

[STsONpERs]

Thanks for the quick response.

I will definatly take some of the algea from ya, i wills end you $8 through pay pal tommorrow...Thank you.

I am ok with doing water changes, but will think about adding a BakPak.

Is there any smaller seahorses, not dwarf but some small, i would like to get like 4 or 5 in there if i could.

 

[GROSSR]

What about medications?

rich

 

[Brock Fluharty]

Thre are a few smaller seahorses, but most of them come with added specifications. Right now, I keep a pair of H. capensis in a 20 gallon high (the female recently passed because she got stuck in the filter intake). Kudas are smaller, and are a good choice if your not looking into breeding.

You might be able to get 4 kudas in a 45 pentagon, but you will have to add the skimmer. Be sure to cover your filter intake with netting, or sponge.

NEVER USE COPPER IN A SEAHORSE TANK!

Seahorses (as with invertebrates, sharks, rays, ect.) are very sensitive to copper based medications.

This was taken form the Library at Seahorse.org, about parasites:

The best treatment for any parasitic disease is prevention by careful quarantine. If this is not feasible and parasites do emerge in the display tank, treatment options are wide. They must, however, be used in a quarantine tank.

Formalin is one of the most common and economical chemical treatments for external protozoans and flukes. It is best used as a dip per the instructions of the manufacturer.

Malachite Green is an effective chemical dye that can be used in treating most external parasites. Use as an extended treatment in quarantine per manufacturer's instructions.

Methylene Blue is a common medication with seahorses. Its therapeutic properties lessen some of the stress brought about by disease treatment. Use it as a dip or as a long-term quarantine treatment.

Freshwater Dips are extremely effective against gill flukes. Be sure to match the pH and temperature of the tank's water before proceeding with a dip of this kind.

Those are only treatments for external parasites. Read more at...

http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/diseaseguide.shtml

HTH,
Brock