New at this..40 gallon build

[rayjay]

PLEASE, don't use a fish to cycle your tank as there is ABSOLUTELY no need for it. In addition, it is possible that you may add a pathogen(s) to your system that can affect the future seahorses you place in the tank.
All you need for the cycle is an ammonia source, which can be ammonium chloride, liquid ammonia from the grocer (without any additives or perfumes), or just food that will decay and produce the ammonia.
Some use bacteria products added to the tank to speed things up but I've never done that myself.
Please remember to clean the pads in the filter AT LEAST once a week, more frequently is better, so nasty bacteria like the vibrio species don't get colonized in any big way.

 

[Treyco]

Ok gotcha..I ordered some ammonium chloride an it should be here Tuesday an ill get the instant ocean salt tomorrow so hopefully by next week I can get it started

 

[Treyco]

Also when do u think I should seed it with pods? An I want to order some codiums and mayb some chaetomorpha

 

[gnu]

Don't add the pods or macro until the tank is done cycling.

 

[SantaMonica]

You still need an export for phosphate. You mention codium or chaeto, which would only work if harvested

 

[rayjay]

In 20 years of reefing, I've seldom ever used a phosphate removal chemical, and definitely not harvested macro until briefly this year on one of the seahorse tanks.
Normal water changes worked well for me, and I only got into problems when I let water changes go far more than I should.
Most times I just corrected things by doing major water changes.
I haven't, and don't test for phosphates since about the first 5 yrs of the hobby, but just assume nitrates/phosphates are the problems when algae growth gets out of hand.

 

[mtc1966]

Rayjay wish I could say the same . I am in a constant losing battle with hair algae . I know I over feed but just cant get my self to feed less for some reason. a small piece of frozen Mysis turns into some many .

 

[rayjay]

I learned a long time ago with reef tanks, that I got rid of hair algae problems first of all by reducing the food added, whether or not you like to do it, and as well, using a gravel vac to seriously clean the substrate, a few weeks in a row.
If you don't have any other biological filtration other than the substrate you can do about 1/3 each week for about 6 weeks, taking longer but it will eventually get there. This is especially important IMO, when broadcast feeding, as I do, rather than dish feeding.

 

[TamiW]

Also when do u think I should seed it with pods? An I want to order some codiums and mayb some chaetomorpha

Also, if you add macros, you don't need to add pods. They'll hitchhike on the marcoalgae.

 

[Treyco]

Ok thanx..idk if ima add live plants yet..I went lookin at some today and I was gonna get pics of the seahorses but they were behind the rack swimming an I couldn't get a clear pic..I did get the salt an a big rock so now I'm just waitin on the heater an filter to come so I can start the cycling an then in about two weeks ill buy the skimmer

 

[Treyco]

So I got the tank cleaned an put a rock I bought today in it to see where ima put it but here's a quick pic also I have more rocks but I need to clean them before putting them in there as I have had them in my other setup

 

[rayjay]

Seahorses need a very large capacity biological filter. It may not be enough to just have a piece of rock and the Aquaclear 70 filter.
Are you planning more live rock, or going to have substrate?
Are you still adding the skimmer?

 

[mtc1966]

I would recommend building a rock tower straight up . cemented together, then you can mount sea rods and gorgonians to it for hitching posts .

 

[Treyco]

Seahorses need a very large capacity biological filter. It may not be enough to just have a piece of rock and the Aquaclear 70 filter.
Are you planning more live rock, or going to have substrate?
Are you still adding the skimmer?

I'm gonna have two filters an a skimmer an I will add more rocks..an I'm probably gonna get this live sand

 

[Treyco]

I would recommend building a rock tower straight up . cemented together, then you can mount sea rods and gorgonians to it for hitching posts .

What kind of cement? Cuz I love building things lol

 

[rayjay]

I'm gonna have two filters an a skimmer an I will add more rocks..an I'm probably gonna get this live sand View attachment 231192

OK, the "sand" as shown in the picture is too large a grain size and will permit too much detritus to settle into it, probably causing nasty bacteria beds.
You would be much better to go with much finer sand, but not too fine as to have it blowing around the tank.
IMO, it's cheaper to just buy the aragonite sand that isn't live as it will become populated at the same time as the rest of the tank.

 

[Treyco]

OK, the "sand" as shown in the picture is too large a grain size and will permit too much detritus to settle into it, probably causing nasty bacteria beds.
You would be much better to go with much finer sand, but not too fine as to have it blowing around the tank.
IMO, it's cheaper to just buy the aragonite sand that isn't live as it will become populated at the same time as the rest of the tank.

Ok u talkin about this

 

[Treyco]

Or this one

 

[Treyco]

Seahorses need a very large capacity biological filter. It may not be enough to just have a piece of rock and the Aquaclear 70 filter.
Are you planning more live rock, or going to have substrate?
Are you still adding the skimmer?

Wat do u think about this skimmer

 

[rayjay]

With the aragonite, my personal choice would be .5mm to 1.5mm size.
As for skimmers, I can't help you out because I've always built my own.
http://www.angelfire.com/ab/rayjay/skimmer.html