Starting a Seahorse tank
- Thread starter x1C0DE1x
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Yes, you need to cycle any tank before putting livestock in them.
For dwarfs, I prefer to use 5g tanks as they require enriched live brine shrimp nauplii that need to be in densities such that the dwarfs can snick up the live food without leaving their hitches. They are lazy and don't normally hunt down their food, but wait for it to pass by where they are hitched. They don't take to non live foods.
As the enrichment quickly wears off the brine, uneaten brine should be removed before the next feeding.
Because of this, a ten gallon tank requires a MUCH greater number of brine to suffice.
Some of us have kept up to 40 or 50 dwarfs in a five gallon tank when sale of the younger ones has slowed up.
Dwarfs only get to slightly above an inch in size on average, and their lifespan is more like 1 1/2 to 2 years rather than the 5+ years of their larger cousins.
Like many other dwarf keepers, I eventually quit the dwarfs because it became a PITA after a couple of years. I now stick to the larger seahorses that I've been keeping now for about 11 years.
For dwarfs, I prefer to use 5g tanks as they require enriched live brine shrimp nauplii that need to be in densities such that the dwarfs can snick up the live food without leaving their hitches. They are lazy and don't normally hunt down their food, but wait for it to pass by where they are hitched. They don't take to non live foods.
As the enrichment quickly wears off the brine, uneaten brine should be removed before the next feeding.
Because of this, a ten gallon tank requires a MUCH greater number of brine to suffice.
Some of us have kept up to 40 or 50 dwarfs in a five gallon tank when sale of the younger ones has slowed up.
Dwarfs only get to slightly above an inch in size on average, and their lifespan is more like 1 1/2 to 2 years rather than the 5+ years of their larger cousins.
Like many other dwarf keepers, I eventually quit the dwarfs because it became a PITA after a couple of years. I now stick to the larger seahorses that I've been keeping now for about 11 years.
There is no seahorse that I'd recommend for a 10g tank other than a pile of dwarfs.
Standard seahorses are recommended to need 29g for one pair, and an additional 15g for each additional pair.
Lighting is not a concern unless you have real bright lighting. They do just fine with ambient lighting or low light.
You can get more information on seahorse keeping by clicking on the links at the BOTTOM of "My Thoughts on Seahorse Keeping"
You may have to register and wait for acceptance on seahorse.org to read some of the articles.
Standard seahorses are recommended to need 29g for one pair, and an additional 15g for each additional pair.
Lighting is not a concern unless you have real bright lighting. They do just fine with ambient lighting or low light.
You can get more information on seahorse keeping by clicking on the links at the BOTTOM of "My Thoughts on Seahorse Keeping"
You may have to register and wait for acceptance on seahorse.org to read some of the articles.
Reeferz412
Coral Hoarder
Just fill up the tank with hose water and pour vinegar in it. Let it sit there for a few hours and scrub it down. You will need to cycle any tank you start up.
No I didn't say put the 10g tank in a 30 and bleach.
That means for a 10g tank, use about a tenth of a cup of bleach.
You really need to rethink this because you can't keep standard seahorses in a 10g for any real length of time, and, unless you have a real pile of dwarfs, they will be lost in a 10g plus you waste a LOT of enriched brine.
The first thing I'd recommend is to start hatching and enriching brine shrimp to see what kind of work is involved. That alone changes the minds of many wishing to get into the dwarf hobby.
TamiW
Seahorse Wrangler
Agreeing with Rayjay here. What you said about not wanting to buy another tank suggests to me that seahorses aren't right for you. They do require a specialized setup; so just having a ten gallon and deciding to turn it into a seahorse tank isn't going to work. You really have to understand their needs and be committed to their very specific care. It's hardly impossible, but if you're serious about seahorses, you really need to think about exactly how you plan to keep them.
For instance, we don't know if your filter is even "dwarf safe". You'll have to hatch and enrich brine shrimp every single day, which is at least 20 minutes once you get good at it. Longer if you don't have that experience. Who will feed them when you are away? If you're gone more than a day, you're going to have to have someone not only willing to feed them but to hatch out brine shrimp.
Rayjay is right to suggest starting there. I don't want to turn you off to keeping dwarf seahorses, but this is something that isn't done on a whim, and that's the impression I'm getting from your posts.
Seahorses are by no means impossible, but they're not something you casually decide to get one day if you want any success.
For instance, we don't know if your filter is even "dwarf safe". You'll have to hatch and enrich brine shrimp every single day, which is at least 20 minutes once you get good at it. Longer if you don't have that experience. Who will feed them when you are away? If you're gone more than a day, you're going to have to have someone not only willing to feed them but to hatch out brine shrimp.
Rayjay is right to suggest starting there. I don't want to turn you off to keeping dwarf seahorses, but this is something that isn't done on a whim, and that's the impression I'm getting from your posts.
Seahorses are by no means impossible, but they're not something you casually decide to get one day if you want any success.
TamiW
Seahorse Wrangler
To add: Filter and everything, no, it will not cause any diseases even if you do not bleach; most pathogens that survive in freshwater do not in saltwater and vice versa.
If " . . . filter and everything . . ." means filter media, gravel, decor, then you do not want to use bleach. Many of these substances can absorb bleach and leach out. You also don't want to use freshwater gravel if that's part of the everything mentioned here.
Let's take a step back and see exactly what you have and what you intend to setup. Assuming we haven't dissuaded you from keeping dwarves, please let us know the specifics as to what kind of equipment and decor you have or intend to use.
