Tank Height for SeaHorses

[Oscar19]

I am going to be adding a frag tank for sps to my 230 gal reef tank, where I wan to keep seahorses in the frag tank if it possible. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll be making it soon and I havenââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t decide on the height of the tank, If u guys have any suggestions let me know.


This is what size I have in mind for frag tank

Length x width x height ?
30 inch x 24 inch x 12 inch ?
30 inch x 24 inch x 15 inch ?
30 inch x 24 inch x 18 inch ?

 

[Jordan55]

Well... Sea horses and SPS are a bad choice. The SPS can sting the horses. Not to mention the horses will probably try to grab ahold of the SPS when they get stung.. .and also can probably kill the coral.

But.... atleast 18 inches of height is recommended for most horses.

 

[panmanmatt]

Actually it's LPS that sting the horses not SPS. But still not a god idea to mix the 2. SPS require high flow, high light and high temp, the 3 worst things for a seahorse.

Seahorse require 3-5x turnover, can get along with NO fluorescents and have a max temp range of 74-76.

 

[Oscar19]

i think i got idea how to make a tank where i can keep sps and seahorses

seahorse tanks 10x24x18 - 19 gal
sps tank 24x24x12 - 30 gal

the pic is not the greates but u can see the those tanks will be in water falls style

 

[panmanmatt]

Looks ok. What about the temperature issue? Higher reef temps are not condusive to long term seahorse keeping. Higher temps will leave the seahorses more susceptable to bacterial infections.

 

[Swanwillow]

the other issue is hieght: 3x the adult horses size... the ones your probably going to be looking at are erectus...8 inches, which means a about 24 inches tall.

I like the idea, and if your sps can somehow be kept at lower temps, it would be great!!! but, how are the horses being kept away from the high-light an flow of the rest of the tank? you can have the powerheads at one side of the tank, with low flow through a grate type structure... but then if you ever have babies, they will be sps food...

and seahorses are high-bioload fish. consider 1 horse to be equal to 3 damsel fish. In a reef tank, where people want low-bioload, that may not be very conductive... unless you keep a 'dirty' tank, and feed regularily it may not be a problem. (I'm against sterile reef tanks, and when I had mine, it was a high-food every day type thing)

ummm, now I'm babbaling. I'll stop... its a good idea in theory, but not practical for horses. Maybe, ummm.... something else? I know... a MANTIS shrimp tank!!! totally awesome! get a peacock mantis, and make sure the glass is thick between the frags and the mantis!!! WOOHOO

 

[Oscar19]

I will be running temp at 76-78 F which I think should be ok. Now the whole tank is made out of 1/2 inch acrylic so the Tek light that I have is only 24 inch long it will only cover the frag part of the tank also will be 3 inch above the tank, baffle between seahorse tank and frag tank is going to be black this way there will be little light over seahorse tank. I am not worry about Bio load cause it going to be attached to my 230 gal reef tank with 70 gal sump.

 

[panmanmatt]

76-78 for a maintained temp is a little high. It CAN work short term, but long term is where the problems arise. I do not keep mentioning this just to stir trouble, it is a well documented fact that higher temps make them more susceptible to bacterrial infections. Even a so called tropical seahorse will not do well at those temps. 76 is the max you want to keep them at and even that is not for long term.

 

[Oscar19]

thanks panmanmatt i guess i will have to invest into a chiller

 

[Jordan55]

I think this may work for some time, but in the long run... you will probably want to upgrade.

Just with the flow, temp, and miscellanious stuff being put in the SH tank from the main tank can cause problems.

Why not just get a 25-30 gallon and attach it to the main tank or frag tank?

Good luck though!

 

[Swanwillow]

I dunno-I like it, if the temps can be kept with a high of 76...

I think it would work.

 

[Oscar19]

Jordan55, ur right i'll just set up a frag tank for now and later prob attach 24x24x30 when i get a chiller. Thanks guys for all the help