Planning seahorse tank

[techigirl78]

So, my plan is to setup a 65 gal RR tank with a 40 gal (breeder) sump/refugium. The main will have a 2" SSB and about 60 lbs of live rock and another 40 lbs in the sump/refugium. I will have the tank lit with 2 x 36" PC and plant it with various sea grasses and other macro algaes. I plan on having 2 [or 4] mini-jets in the tank on a wavemaker so that one 1 [or 2] are on at all times. I'm thinking of starting with 2 and then getting 2 more if it seems needed. The return will be a spray bar. Initially, I think I'll go without a protein skimmer, but will leave room in the sump in case I add one later. I do not plan on having a chiller as the tank will be setup in my basement, which stays cool year round.

The only other tankmate will be a ambon scorpionfish (similar to leaffish). I know this is a risk, but have read of a few people successfully keeping leaffish with seahorses, so I want to try it out. If it doesn't seem to work, the scorpionfish can be moved to a different tank.

Initially, I want to get a pair of erectus and possibly add more down the road (from the same supplier) after I have some more experience. Reasonably speaking, how many pairs would be a good number?

Does this sound like a good plan? Anything you would change?

 

[ReefNutPA]

Most seagrass tanks require a 4"-6" sandbed. However if you stick to just macros the 2" would be fine. Additionally, the two PC bulbs just won't be enough for seagrasses. Perhaps Samala will see this thread and post her suggestions.

With the exception of the scorpionfish, the rest of the plan sounds doable.

Tom

 

[techigirl78]

Thanks! I wasn't sure about the light fixture, but had it laying around house, so thought it might work. After thinking about it, the tank is fairly deep, so maybe 4 36" T5 icecap fixture would work out better? Or do you think 6 would be needed?