Plumbing SH tank in line with reef system okay?

[JMaxwell]

I have an existing mixed reef system with a custom display around 225 gallons, a sump/refugium with about 100 gallons water in it, and an in line frag tank with about another 20 gallons.

The refugium has a few macros in it, and the display has 13 fish, none over 4-5", and a multitude of crustaceans and corals.

Are there any problems plumbing a separate SH tank in/out of my sump?

My tank temp runs about 78-80 degrees depending on the season which is a bit warm for SH, but I was thinking of using an ice probe chiller in the frag tank and draining that into the SH tank such that the SH tank (and frag tank) runs around 74-76 degrees and returns to the sump.

I'd be looking at a pair of H. erectus for this. SH display probably a 30 or 40G tall with moderate lighting (T5) . Frag tank flow through to SH tank would be around 250 gph which I would distribute through a spraybar into the SH display. I think I'd go barebottom in the SH display with live rock rubble to attach gorgonia and macros.

What do you think, SH masters?

 

[token]

I am not a SH "master" but I would feel safer with my SH tank tied to the stability of my larger system, and its more stable parameters. If I could figure out a way to get the SH tank "upstream" from the main display, I would like it even better. I am not sure about the temperature problem but the chiller could be inline to the SH tank....

 

[David123]

This is capable, on the surface.

Will cost a fortune in heating/chilling, same water being heated and chilled, and honestly, an ice prob would not have any ability to handle this job.

A full size, compressor type, chiller would be required, horses should not go over 74°f and IMO 72°f is max for tropical species.

The big one, is that all sorts of nastys are in reef tanks that reef tanks do not give two hoots about, but can kill seahorses.

If it were me, I would go for the cheaper and safer option of a separate species only water system for seahorses.

 

[pledosophy]

I am a seahorse keeper who has a reef. That being said, I would never do that to my reef tank. Seahorses are too messy, not good for the reef.

On the flip side seahorses really do need temps under 74F to be healthy longterm so not so good for the seahorses either.

Sorry.

 

[Lightsluvr]

What he said...

What he said...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14205106#post14205106 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pledosophy
I am a seahorse keeper who has a reef. That being said, I would never do that to my reef tank. Seahorses are too messy, not good for the reef.

On the flip side seahorses really do need temps under 74F to be healthy longterm so not so good for the seahorses either.

Sorry.

Amen.

LL

 

[JMaxwell]

Thanks for the responses. I think I am going to kill this idea. I doubt the messiness would be a problem given that the seahorse idea was only going to be 30-40g with a single pair of seahorses in a 355-365g system. I just think the temperature control would be too much of a problem and electricity expense, even if I kept the main reef at 75-78.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

I have exactly the set up you are thinking of.
(A little smaller - 180 reef, 20L refugium, 20-30 gal in sump, 10 gal SH tank - 2 H.Reidi females)
My water stays at 76 degrees and the SH's are fine.
As long as you remove all uneaten food with a turkey baster their messiness will not be a problem.