pipefish tank

[damo252]

I am looking at setting up a new pipefish tank, and want to make sure that it is right from the start.

I have seen a lot about lower temps, high calcium levels, low current, and lots of live rock. I however have not seen a lot about substrates that are good to use, lighting requirements, and or tank sizes/shapes(I have a 60gal hex tank). The other thing I would like to hear is some personal experience on tank mates, both fish and corals/macro algies.

Thanks for your help.

 

[namxas]

the first question is what species/type of pipes are you considering? they all have their own requirements.

 

[damo252]

I want to keep free swimmers such as the striped, the multibanded or janns pipefish

 

[damo252]

Any suggestions as far as lighting goes.

How many pipefish should I be planning on keeping?

Suggestions on tanks mates?

I think I am going with a sand bottom

 

[namxas]

flagfins, AKA reef pipes, are actually one genus (Doryhamphus) that can be kept in reef setups, at warmer temps.

i kept a pair of Janss' (D. janssi) in my reef for a number of years. the reef was maintained at abour 76*F - 78*F. these fish even set up a cleaning station and groomed their tankmates every so often.

when you say "striped" i'm guessing you mean "blue-striped" (D. excisus). if you keep more than one, it's imperative that you only keep one male, as multiple males will fight to the death. blue-stripes are a bit more cryptic than other members of the genus, and have a tendency to disappear into the rockwork much of the time. males have a decidedly pinnate snout, as do male Janss'.

i'd recommend banded (D. dactyliophorus) or Janss'. these seem to be the most hardy and tend to take to frozen mysis more readily.

IME both the multibanded (D. multilineatus) and yellowbanded (D. pessuliferus), which are often confused with one another, are quite a bit more touchy and can be reluctant to feed.

the tankmates my Janss' lived with were a foxface, green mandarin, a trio of chromis, a secondary male lyretail anthias, a leopard wrasse, and a T. derasa. motile inverts included assorted snails, peppermint shrimp (small specimens will be eaten), and a cranky old CBS. coral were various softies and LPS.

HTH