seahorse ideas

[floydreefer]

I have a spare 20 gallon tall tank laying around, and have always wanted to do seahorses. I am not sure, however, if this tank would be big enough. My question is, are there any seahorses that would do well in a 20 gallon tank? How many should I plan on keeping? I was thinking a pair. What kind of filtration would be good on a seahorse tank? How much flow? If needed, what should I use for flow besides the filter? I have some base rock laying around that I never used when setting up my reef. Would this be good rock to use? What plants, or algae I should say, should I get for them to hitch on to? And where can I find it? Is there anything else, that would look natural that I could get as hitching posts? Are there any types of coral at all that I could keep? I have a spare aqualight 150 watt halide pendant that I planned on using for lighting. Would this be a good light? If there is anything else, in the form of equipment that I would need, I would appreciate some input. There are no LFS's in my area, so everything I have to buy must be online. I would appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.

 

[Brock Fluharty]

A 20 gallon is on the small side for the most readily available species.

Erectus and reidi and both good beginner species, and 29 gallons is the recommended minimum for a pair.

I like AquaClear filters, coupled with a CPR Bakpak skimmer for filtration.

Flow needs to be low to moderate, with some low flow areas for them to rest.

Powerheads for flow, with the intake covered to prevent tails from getting sucked in, or suctioned to the intake.

The base rock will work just fine. You'll need to use some live rock, or live sand to seed the tank most likely. Watch out for aiptasias.

Caulerpa is good, unless it's illegal in your state.

Soft and non-stinging, low flow corals will be fine.

That light would most likely overheat the tank. I don't think the horses would like that intense of a light.

HTH,

Brock Fluharty

 

[floydreefer]

Thank you for the reply. I have done a little more research myself, since posting this thread. I was looking at sea horse source as I want to buy farm raised horses. The type I was looking at was the H Kuda. On there site they say a pair in 20 - 25 gallons. Is there any reason I should not start with this kind? Just wondering if they are harder to keep. I am going to go with a mount on coralife 65 watt light instead of the halide. I see also that the water temp needs to be cooler, so I am looking into a very small chiller, and temp controller. In winter this will not be a problem, but in summer it gets up to 80-82 in my house. Not a huge problem in my reef, but here it could be. I was planning on seeding the tank with some live sand and rock from my reef. I can make sure there is nothing harmful on the rock before adding the horses. Does this sound like a good plan. Thanks

 

[Brock Fluharty]

Be careful when looking around for breeders. Seahorse Source is excellent, a member here runs it.

Farm raised might not be the same thing as captive bred. A lot of times, suppliers will collect pregnant males, and sell the offspring as farm raised or captive bred. Very misleading. Tank raised is usually about the same. Not TRULY captive bred. Pen raised is essentially the same as wild caught (WC), only sometimes trained onto frozen.

I would agree, you would probably need a chiller.

Kuda aren't any harder to keep than erectus or reidi, but they have pelagic fry, which means the fry are not able to hitch at birth, making them much more difficult to raise. Reidi fry are the same. If you want to attempt to raise the babies, go with erectus. Much easier to raise, although not easy by any stretch of the imagination.

As long as you're positive that there aren't any anemones, stinging corals, crabs, or large bristleworms in the sand and rock, you should be fine.

Keep up with the research! Seahorses are very specialized creatures, require very specialized care. You can never do too much research!



Brock Fluharty

 

[floydreefer]

I have done a little more research, and this is my possible setup. Although, I would appreciate any input. I do not want to get something and not have the right setup or equipment. Again, I have a 20 high gallon tank, but will purchase a 29 gallon if this would be a better choice for the seahorses that I have chosen. I prefer the 20 due to the fact that I already have a stand and light to fit it. Plus, I already have the tank. But I am open to suggestions. And, if anyone thinks this would be doomed to failure, then I would purchase a larger aquarium. I plan on getting a pair of H. fuscus as this is a smaller sized seahorse. And, I have read that they are fairly easy to raise. According to seahorse source, which is where I would get them, a pair could be kept in a 15 gallon aquarium. So, I thought that a 20 might just work with this breed. I plan on running a power filter with carbon, and a Aqua C remora hang on skimmer. I am also going to purchase a chiller rated at 28 gallons. This should keep the temp where it needs to be. The light will be a coralife single 65 watt light. I plan on keeping several different sea grasses, or algae for them to hitch to. I might also have a few non stinging corals that require little light. I am going to use 35 - 40 lbs of dry base rock. And, 30 lbs of dry sand that I will seed with a little of my live sand. Making sure not to transfer anything that could hurt the horses. I will add some snails and a couple of peppermint shrimp as my cleanup crew. I have read the peppermints are good with horses, but I do want to make sure that this is correct. I believe that this is my plan. If I have left anything out, please let me know. Or, if there is something wrong with my plan. Thanks

 

[Brock Fluharty]

I've never kept fuscus before, so I won't comment on that, but your overall tank setup seems fine.

You mentioned seagrasses and algae. I'm not sure which you mean by that sentence, but seagrasses have much different requirements than macroalgae. Do you mean plants like caulerpa and chaeto? If so, that's macroalgae (macro for short). Actual seagrasses (like stargrass, turtle grass, manatee grass) require very intense light and a deep sand bed. I'd go with the macros if I were you. Much easier, IMO.

Yes, peppermints are good with horses. One species of peppermint eats aiptasia anemones, which is an excellent service in a seahorse tank. If you get more than one, they will most likely breed. The shrimp nauplii are a nice snack for your horses.

Keep up the research!

Brock Fluharty

 

[ctenophors rule]

by low light non stinging corals, i trust you meanthe non zooxanthelate kinds, and those would have too much light with the 65 watt, you would likely be having an algae war with them.

as for the pic wisely, with that set up zoostera, and oar grass wouldn't get enough light, their might be a few lower light seagrasses, i am not sure.

the macro algae would be perfect. a nice caulerpa prolifera, covering a minmalist sand bed, with a large oyster structurs, that is taller than wide and creates an arch that makes a 45 45 90 triangle with the left corner glass, andf a bright red tree sponge onj the other side.

wow i over did that, have to stop posting while tired. lol

 

[Brock Fluharty]

Ctenophors,

Not really sure what you meant in your first two sentences. Zooanthids would most likely be fine in this setup, along with some mushrooms and softies, and they all use zooxanthellae.

Most seagrasses would do very poorly in this setup. Macros are a nice alternative.

 

[floydreefer]

I appreciate all of the help. I did mean macro algae. Sorry about the confusion. I was unaware that they were different than sea grass. I will probably only have a few mushroom coral just for a little extra color. Again, thanks for all of the help.

 

[Brock Fluharty]

Any time.

 

[FinsToTheLeft]

Hey floyd,

What did u end up doing? I am in the same situation with a 20 gal high and would love to hear what u did.

 

[namxas]

20T is pretty small, and i normally wouldn't recommend it, but if properly done and watched, can work for a pair of SH. we have barbs in a setup like this. the tank has lots of macro, a HOB filter filled with rubble, 70W MH, and a chiller.

the Chaetomorpha didn't like the lighting, so it has been removed. this tank is a bit much in terms of macro growth, but the SH love it.

yes, there's a T. crocea in the tank which was given to me as a "rescue", and really shouldn't be in a SH tank, but so far, over a year later, it has been OK.