Ready for ponies

[PhilOlsen]

I have been cycling my 38 gallon tank for 3 months now and it is good to go for ponies. It has a 192 watt pc light fixture, CPR bakPak skimmer, 300 watt heater w/ sheild and a Fluval 204 filter. It also has about 20 lbs LR,a 3-4"sand bed, 2 types of macro (not sure of types, 1 green, 1 red) 3 gorgonias (1 blue, 1 purple and 1 yellow) 1 sea fan, 5 black turbo snail, 5 asterea snails, 10 nassoriuos snails, a sand shifter star and a chocolate chip star (that I may move to another tank before the ponies are put in), temp is kept at 75 degress.
Anything I am missing??? I have kept reefs and FOWLERS for over 15 years but this is my first pony tank, I am also looking for suggestions on goof types of ponies to keep, I would like to have 2 mated pairs with 2 different species.

 

[scapes]

you shouldn't mix species, since all ponies have different needs. stick to one kind you like and buy two from the same vendor

 

[PhilOlsen]

Has anyone had experience with this source?

http://www.seahorsesource.com/index.html

 

[ann83]

Yep. Dan (seahorsesource) is very popular and has great customer service.
Definately move the CC star before you add the seahorses.
Bring your temp down to 72-74 degrees, and go with a tropical seahorse like Erectus, Reidi, Kuda, or Barbouri. I recommend you only get one species, there is too much evidence of disease and death related to mixing species of seahorses and other syngnathids (like pipefish).

 

[pledosophy]

300w heater on a 38 is on the high side but tank plans sound good.

There are several threads on mixing species if you'd like to read more.

Temps of 74F or lower are better IMO.

Seahorsesource.com has a better reputation then anyone else on the planet from what I've read. I've always been happy with them and plan to buy all my future seahorses there.

HTH

 

[Fredfish]

Tank sounds good.

75 is probably good. I keep my tropical horses (H. fuscus) at higher temperatures than that but I'm a baaad boy.

Are chocolate chip starts predators on fish?

FWIW, the sand sifting star is eating all the little critters in your sand bed. You may or may not care.

There is one thing missing... pictures.

Fred

 

[Poniegirl]

I believe that we most likely can keep two different species of horse together, as long as the two species climate needs are similar for temp. Though I'm afraid I'm the Baad Poniegirl too, Baad Fredfish...my temps for seahorses have been higher than are often recommended.
When WC seahorses were in the market and you could not be sure what you were getting, the possibility of disease was without doubt an issue. This is why pipefish and seahorses are a risk still. Pipefish are WC.
With all of the great sources to buy CB seahorses, I think it could be that seahorse keeping has evolved past the idea that these are fragile, anemic little creatures.
Just MHO.

 

[KUDA]

Any pictures?

 

[Fredfish]

With all of the great sources to buy CB seahorses, I think it could be that seahorse keeping has evolved past the idea that these are fragile, anemic little creatures.

We are getting there in baby steps.

Kuda. There are pics of my tank in my gallery. Here is a recent one of a juvenile and my favourite coral.

Fred

 

[PhilOlsen]

here are some pics, some are older and do not have all the pieces yet. It has everything but ponies now and I will be ordering them in a week or so.

http://s170.photobucket.com/albums/u276/chitown1_2007/pony/

 

[Jacovan1]

photos look great congrats

 

[ann83]

Two things from the photos:
One - you'll need to get a heater guard for that heater. The seahorses will hitch to it, and they will get burned. Heater guards are like $4, and if you can't find one at your LFS, you can order one through seahorsesource.
Two - you are going to get rid of that chocolate chip star, right? It will eat a sleeping seahorse.

 

[PhilOlsen]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9256880#post9256880 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ann83
Two things from the photos:
One - you'll need to get a heater guard for that heater. The seahorses will hitch to it, and they will get burned. Heater guards are like $4, and if you can't find one at your LFS, you can order one through seahorsesource.
Two - you are going to get rid of that chocolate chip star, right? It will eat a sleeping seahorse.

I do already have the heater guard, the pics were before I added it and yes the CC star will be moved to another tank before the ponies are put in.

 

[RichardS]

Fredfish - what type of gorgonian is that and more importantly where did you get it from? Very cool!

 

[Fredfish]

Richard. Its an Indo Pacific gorgonian. It appears to be photosynthetic which is really cool. As far as I know there is no ID yet. An LFS (Toronto) imports them regularly.

Fred