NPS flow - seahorses?

[bues0022]

I'd love to put some seahorses in the NPS tank I'm planning. In fact, it kinda promised my wife I would finally get her some seahorses (that's how I talked her into letting me setup my first tank).

I see some people discuss high flow in their NPS tanks, yet I've seen pictures of NPS tanks with seahorses. I'm a little confused.

For corals, I'm not set on particular species. I want to have the neon colors and interesting shapes that you just can't get with SPS. Gorgs, sea fans maybe?

Tank: 30 cube
Would flow for this tank be better as a circular whirlpool-type flow, or put pumps to flow across the top, down one side, across the bottom, then up the other side? I'm planning on a single pinnacle-type rock structure at the moment.

Thoughts on this flow thing would be most appreciated.

 

[MarineSniper]

Nps tank-seahorses =Fire-water...they just don't mix. Although some nps do tolerate the lower water temperatures required for seahorses, almost no nps; and none that I know of, can survive with the near static water flow seahorses require. Perhaps a rhizo, and it would likely eat the slow moving seahorses eventually. Definitely something most nps keepers have considered but just not reasonable. Seahorses require a cool water, species specific tank

 

[bues0022]

Oh boy. Looks like I shouldn't have made this promise without having more information. From looking at temp ranges online, it seems as though the max to for horses is similar to a min temp for nps, ~76-77. Sounds like another tank

 

[Allmost]

If you keep species of coral which do not sting or eat the seahorse, they can stand the flow. Check seahorse . Org for compatibility. The brazilIan seahorses h. Reidi. Will do fine in that temp range as well.

Another issue is bacterial infection on the seahorses with so much food and detritus and bacteria present though ...

 

[ZephNYC]

NPS and seahorses = no problemo.

edit - carnations have been in this 125G for 13 months, seahorse were raised by me and have been in there for 2 years. Temp is 76 - 77F.

 

[tmz]

I keep erectus with moderate turnover flow ,ie, about 500gph on a 75 gallon tank and no powerheads. The tank is plumbed into the 650 gallon system so nutrients stay low. Temp ranges from 75 to 79 which is fine for all of my corals in the system as well. The seahorse tank itself has mostly artfical corals, black sand and some macroalgeas and sponges. I might try an non photosynthetic coral in there:

Tank shot; the plastic fish bowls are nurseries. 7 erectus are in the main tank. I upgraded from a 35 gallon. I have kept erectus in this sytstem for about 5 years and raised fry to adulthood.

They really like the plastic chains.

and the artificial corals.

 

[bues0022]

So it seems like it might be feasible with the right combination of horses and corals?

I'll probably stock up the corals first, to ensure enough holds for the seahorses, then add the seahorses if everything is looking good.

Thanks for the help.

 

[ZephNYC]

So it seems like it might be feasible with the right combination of horses and corals?

I'll probably stock up the corals first, to ensure enough holds for the seahorses, then add the seahorses if everything is looking good.

Thanks for the help.

I dont see any problem at all as long as the flow isnt BLASTING. I plan on filling that tank with lots more NPS, a couple more seahorses ( looking for true red/orange tank raised reidi) and dragon face pipefish and im going to up the fish load a little with some cardinals.

 

[bues0022]

For flow, I'm planning on the return pump, which is a QO 4000HH. I'll also have a tunze 6025. Not a ton a flow. The return might be throttled down, or used to also run my ATS, as its too big for the overflow. Worst-case I may swap it out.

 

[tmz]

Tank raised redi are hard to come by. They are reported to be one of the most difficult to raise from fry.

 

[ZephNYC]

Tank raised redi are hard to come by. They are reported to be one of the most difficult to raise from fry.

You are so right. I have been breeding seahorses for years with little success when it come to Reidi's. The yellow Reidi in the pic above was raised by me, but the red/orange ones are even more difficult. ORA has them from time to time, but I havnt seen them offered in a year or so.

 

[TamiW]

ZephNYC, all your seahorses look severely underweight. I couldn't say if it has anything to do with your setup or feeding regiment, but when I look at them I would not look at that as an example to be emulated.

SeahorseSource.com often has H. reidi, but they also sell out quick, so you might have to get on a waiting list.

 

[ZephNYC]

ZephNYC, all your seahorses look severely underweight. I couldn't say if it has anything to do with your setup or feeding regiment, but when I look at them I would not look at that as an example to be emulated.

SeahorseSource.com often has H. reidi, but they also sell out quick, so you might have to get on a waiting list.

They get mysis twice daily, and I make sure they all get some, but I think youre right. I was concerned about that so thanks for confirming my suspicion. I guess I can feed them 3 times a day. Theyve been in there for so long I always feel they are fine.

 

[TamiW]

I've found that broadcast feeding in tanks can be tricky with seahorses. You should be able to get away with 2x a day feedings, but that's if they get enough at each feeding. If there are other critters in there or it just gets swept away too quickly, then they are often underfed.

If increasing feeding frequency doesn't help, you might want to consider training them to a feeding station. That way everyone gets a chance to eat before the food is swept away.