Seahorse/Pipefish questions

[BoB_25]

(I know this questioned is asked a lot but want to keep a thread for us to go back too)

The wife and I always wanted to setup a tank solely for Seahorse and pipefish. We did a lot of research and got a little scared and decided not to. A few years have passed and believe we are ready for it. We initially thought it would be a pipe dream and have deleted all of our research, and now have to start from scratch.

I know it best to keep them in a tank by themselves and the flow of the tank should be slow due to their eating habits. Also was thinking the tank should be double their height???

Hopefully someone that is experienced will let me rattle there brain for awhile so we can achieve and sustain a perfect home for them.

We really need tank ideas and filtration setups that work best for them.

 

[namxas]

actually, 3x the uncurled height of the SH is the "rule of thumb". that being said, SH will use every bit of lateral space you give them as well.

flow is fine, even a healthy amount of it as long as it is done creatively. in fact, you tank will do better with a bit more flow. you want good surface turbulance, and non-laminar flow that won't plaster the SH against the viewing panes. i like to use SCWD's and closed-loops rather than powerheads. a sump-type system is best IMHO.

lighting can be anything you like from NO to MH...SH aren't picky.

i prefer a mix of branchy and non-branchy LR, about 1"-1.5" of #3 aragonite sand, and lost of live macro algae.

for tropical species, your max temp. should be 74*F, so a fan or chiller may be in order. this is especially important if you plan on mixing Syngnathid species, which i don't recommend if you're new to SH.

here's a couple of pix of our larger SH setup (50 gal pent):

HTH

 

[Peka]

this is especially important if you plan on mixing Syngnathid species, which i don't recommend if you're new to SH.

I agree with everything Greg said (I always do ), but especially if you are new to seahorses, I would not mix pipefish with them. Seahorses themselves have great personalities and will provide you with lots of enjoyment.


Greg, your tanks are always so beautiful...... I love seeing pictures of them.

 

[namxas]

thanx Beth...but you're the one with the pretty SH!