New tank setup

[CKreef]

I am going to set up a 40g tank for seahorses and have a few questions. The tank has a 1/2" bulkhead drilled in one corner and will drain to a 20g sump. The return pump will be a mag 7. Lighting wil be 2 96w pcs one actinic one 10k. Iplan on have about a 2-4" sandbed with macro alage and some branching liverock. now for the questions.


1.) Should I use a spraybar for the return or just one single nozzle?

2.) Do I need any other circulation in the tank? (powerheads)

3.) Should I make a small overflow to cover the bulkhead?

4.) What kind of seahorse should I look into for a beginner?

5.) Have I left anything out? If so let me know.

THANKS Chris

 

[CKreef]

A couple more


6.) What else can I put in the tank? ( fish,crabs,cucumbers,corals)

7.) What kind of macro would be best?

 

[Brock Fluharty]

Get erectus. They are cool. Any macro is fine. I have some for sale in the B/S/T forum.

 

[snowlancer2720]

im not too sure about the spray bar, but i would think that the mag 7 would be plenty enough movement, but mabye tanke the return and split it into 2 so theres one return on each side of the tank...also, i would definately put an over flow on the bulkhead, i lost one of my horses the other day due to it getting stuck to the filter... as a beginner, i would get either an erectus or a kuda, I'd say get a reidi but they are rather expensive

Finally, if you didnt already buy the lighting and you dont plan on keeping high light corals, i would skip the 96w, IMO of course, I have a 20w standard flourescent that came with the tank on my 29g seahorse tank and its fine..i have some zoas, a gonoporia, GSP, and some shrooms, and theyre all fine.

you should also get some gorgonian or orange finger sponge(or something like that), i just think it looks cool, and they dont need light to live!

Good luck with it and post some pictures when you get started!

 

[Fredfish]

I like your choice of tank size. It will give you lots of aquascaping possibilities and the horses (and any tankmates) will like the extra space.

1. Spraybar or multiple outlets. 700gph is a lot of flow

2. Nope

3. Yup. For the horses, and if you get a cuke for it too. I have seen a cuke thicker than my thumb pass through lighting egcrate without any problem. You need a fine mesh or sponge over the overflow.

4. Make sure they are captive bred. Seahorse source is a good place to look.

6. Cukes are fine. Non stinging corals like zenia, zoanthids, photosynthetic gorgonians, discosoma mushrooms, many other soft corals. Montipora capricornis would be good if you are looking for a hard coral particularly if you go with the lights listed. For fish, gobies, jawfish and a number of others. There is a good list in the library at seahorse.com

7. Whatever macro you like best. Caulerpa algae can 'melt' on you if they are nutrient limited, but if you trim regularly this should not be too much of a problem. Chaetomorpha is another alternative.

Fred