Seahorses in my 65 gallon tall regugium?

[jstraka1]

I have a 125 gallon reef upstairs that drains into a 65 gallon refugium show tank in a wall downstairs. The flow through the system is fairly slow, and the flow in the refugium is very calm. I am thinking of stocking my refugium with some seahorses and other compatible slow swimmers.

First, is this idea viable, and if so, what seahorse sp. would be most suited for this type of setup, and how many?

Second, I have about 50 pounds of LR in the refugium covered with caulerpa and cheatomorpha, teaming with copepods, are there any other macro's that would suit the seahorses better?

Third, What fish, other than pipefish, would be suitable for a seahorse, planted system?

Thanks, J.

 

[jstraka1]

Ok, after staying up most of the night reading posts, this idea sounds like a bad one. I think I'll go a different route.

 

[ann83]

It sounds like a nice setup for some pipefish, but not for seahorses... maybe you should investigate a pipefish route.

 

[jstraka1]

I know the bioload is a lot less with pipefish, but aren't pipefish sensitive to higher temps like seahorses, or are they able to live in the 78-82 degree range?

 

[fishyvet]

It depends on the species of pipe you are interested in. Most pipefish available in the trade do well at standard reef tanks. Some of the more commonly kept pipes (which would do well at reef temps) include:
1. blue line - Doryrhamphus excisus
2. banded - Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus
3. multibanded - Doryrhamphus multiannulatus
4. dragon face - Corythoichthys haematopterus
5. Janss - Doryrhamphus janssi

 

[pledosophy]

Pipefish are cool, more temperature tolerant, and produce less of a bioload, but will decimate your refugiums pod populaton, which kind of negates the purpose of having a refugium.

 

[jstraka1]

I am more concerned with the bioload. My refugium is for export of nutrients, the pod population is an added bonus.

 

[jstraka1]

While were on the subject of pipefish, how many would be suitable for this setup?

 

[ann83]

oops.