Seahorse tank is set-up

[Fishfreak218]

Ok,
well the tank has been running with just sand and water since monday... but just today i got the LR.. here is the equipment list
-30g. Cube
-HOB overflow
-Won Brothers Titanium Heater
-Coralife Aquachill 1/10 HP
-Mag Drive 7
-Maxi-Jet 600
-Custom Sump
-Custom Stand
-Coralife Aqualight Pro (150w MH and 130w PC and 2 moonlights)
-40+ lbs. of Liverock
-60 lbs. of Carib Sea sand... (the live kind.. in a bag with water)
-Coralife 2x9w 6700k PC (for refugium)
-Coralife Super Skimmer 65...
I think it is quite a nice set-up but if anything i chose is bad equipment please tell me!
I am running the tank at 74 degrees...
Im going to get 3 CB seahorses from DanU (seahorsesource.com) im not exactly sure on which kind to get.. me and my dad are taking a day to go down there (its a 2 hour drive) and get the seahorses, im going to go there with an open mind but i really like Barbouri, Reidi, and Kuda.. just got to choose one though
lol
besides that stocking plan is for macroalgea like Caulerpa Prolifera... some Halophila.... and 2 un identified red macroalgeas...and codium.... also im going to try a Catalina Goby (no or yes?)
i think it would have a better chance in my tank then someones reef tank running temps of 82...... also i want a trio of Longspine Cardinalfish (Apogon leptacanthus)... and other random gobies (depending on how the tank does with the bio-load of the 3 SH's and the 3 Cardinals)
The liverock came from someones 225g. reef tank and came with a bunch of goodies.. a nice purple gorgonian has enrusted on the rock (with alot of growth too...which is very good).. also got some mushrooms, featherdusters, zoanthids (green ones), and some palythoas which havnt come out yet... i also got this macroalgea that floureces orange under actinic.. and is bright red/orange under the halide/actinic....plans are for various soft corals...
comments, criticisim, suggestions?
Thank you,
Josh

 

[Fishfreak218]

OLD Aquascape, right side of tank:

FTS Old Aquascape:

NEW aquascape:

New Aquascape:

Gorgonian Growth:

Mushrooms:

Hitch Hiker Zoanthids (Eclipse zoas):

Hitch Hiker Paly’s:

The Whole Set-up:

Custom Sump/Fuge:

 

[pledosophy]

Your tank looks good. You did your homework. Good Job.

I really like your setup. These are the things I would do differently, take what you will.

1. IME a Mag7 on a 30g is going to be to much flow for the horses. It depends on how much head the pump is pushing, but it does not appear your tank is that high.

I would alter this by making your return a spraybar style. You can still do it with the locline and flare nozzles just add a couple more flares to that line. It will help you as well because you will be able to direct flow in multiple places and eliminate the potential for dead spots.

You could also turn down the flow of the pump by using a ball valve attached to the pump. IMO this is the last thing I think you should do. I like more flow in my horse tanks then most people, but I don't see a problem with tanks turning over even 15 - 20x if the flow is broken up right. IMO flow in our systems is really one of the underated aspects.

2. I would replace those bioballs with some live rubble rock. I'm not a bioball fan.

As for stocking your system shouldn't be phased to much on bioload with 3 seahorses and 3 Cardinals. You could toss in a sandsifting goby like a watchman or a twinspot to help out with the sand bed.

On the Catalina goby, your tank is still much warmer then the waters off Catalina. You could try it. It might work, might not..

Oh and that gorg looks like it needs some help. Send it to me. :lol:

 

[Fishfreak218]

The Mag7 is DEFFINATLY not coming out at 700 gph.. it goes through the chiller and then up 54".. there is alot of head loss... i might add a spraybar actaully.. it sounds like a really good idea.....
i decided against the Catalin Goby (from responses on SH.org).....
also about the bio balls.. it was either bio-balls or bubbles.... unless you think LR rubble will help trap bubbles.....

 

[Fishfreak218]

anyone else??

 

[sir_dudeguy]

isnt there some other bubble baffle you could add? i do reallize that you've got pretty limited space in that thing tho.

 

[panmanmatt]

you could try using a filter sock on the drain line to trap micro bubbles.

 

[ReefNutPA]

Very nice looking tank!

Tom

 

[Glove]

Adding the LR to the sump in place of the bioballs would be a really good idea. You will have the additional bacteria / pod factory at a minimum. Leaving the balls will bring troubles down the road.

 

[Fishfreak218]

thank you
i think i will try a filter sock and the LR rubble inplace of the bio-balls... thank you guys for the suggestiions
-josh

 

[fnicklaus]

Your tank looks good. 74F is a great temp for the seahorses that you are interested in. I think that it is too warm for c. gobies. Seahorse only is the best option with pepermint shrimp. Keep a moderate flow with no bubbles.

 

[Lacrosseboss18]

tank looks really nice

 

[maxcab]

Tank looks great! Don't forget to change your avatar