Tank selection help please!

[chris31]

Hey I'm looking to start up a nano seahorse setup something like3-5 gallons. Can anyone suggest a all in one set up of good quality? I'm looking for something that has everything a pump, filter, and lighting. I'm really open to any suggestion except for the biocube like i said I'm looking for something smaller then that. Thanks everyone!

 

[rayjay]

I don't use an already set tank, just a 5g with air lines for motion and live rock for the biological filter and plastic decor for hitches.
However, I'm just posting to be sure you are aware that dwarf seahorses, the only ones you can have in this size tank, need live ongrown enriched bbs for their food source. If you can find appropriately sized pods, that would be a treat and additional nutrient source.
I'd suggest trying the hatching of brine shrimp first so you get a handle on it before you buy the dwarfs. Also, you may find then that you don't want to be bothered with the work of providing the live food on a long term basis.

 

[chris31]

i work at a pet store so live various live and frozen food are available to me on a daily basis. and yes i know dwarfs are the only ones that you can keep in that size. I know of many different all in one sysems that are out there just having a hard time deciding which one i would like to use.

 

[chris31]

im actually very interested in the aqueon evolve system but cant decided weather i want the 4 or the 8..... whats everyones opinion?

 

[rayjay]

I didn't know that any LFS's carried live bbs as usually it's only adult brine they carry if any.
Frozen foods are no good because dwarfs only survive on live foods.
The newly hatched bbs need to be grown out for an extra day until they reach the second instar stage where they develop a full digestive system and can now be enriched/fed.
It takes two 12 hour stages to enrich the bbs with new water and enrichment material for each of the two stages.
The best enrichment IMO is Dan's Feed from Seahorse Source. It's also the best place to get TRUE captive bred seahorses, dwarfs and standards.
As for the all in one, or plug 'n play, or PNP, they often have a problem in that they don't allow the water to be kept in the range 68° to 74°F that is recommended for seahorse keeping, both dwarfs and standards.
Also, many have a cover over the top that hinders proper air supply for sufficient gas exchange at the water's surface that is essential to maintain a proper pH.
You will probably have to put the filter on a timer so you can turn it off for feeding so as not to filter out the food before they get proper time to feed sufficient.
The size will depend on how many dwarfs you wish to keep.
With my 5g tanks, twenty is not many for that size so for an 8g, you will need a lot more than that, or, waste a lot of food.
You need a high density of food for the dwarfs to feed on because most will NOT search out food like standard seahorses, but rather sit perched awaiting the food to come close enough for them to snick it.
The food then needs to be removed before next feeding so that they only have the new enriched bbs/pods to feed off, and none of the ones that have depleted their enrichment.
I would suggest therefore that you go with the 4g which should have no problem at all with up to 20.
Make sure that the inlet of any filter in the tank, can't suck up the dwarfs, especially any fry they produce.

 

[rjd0521]

I have 2 Erectus seahorse in a 25 gallon tall for the past two years. All I can recommend is a tall tank, the taller the better like the Fluval Edge 12 gal. However, with small tanks, you will have to be on top of the filtration and seahorse cannot tolerate dirty water. I controlled the nitrate with a HOB CPR refugium with DSB and Macros. Also, they will need live food. For the past two years, I have tried to teach my seahorses to take frozen but failed. So far, I am at $5 every 2-3 days of live shrimp. The cost add up really fast.

 

[rayjay]

The original poster is talking dwarfs so a fluval edge 12 is a WAY to big for them and a Way too small for standard seahorses.
As for your erectus, the cheapest way to get them on frozen is to feed live brine shrimp until they are definitely on to them, then add some frozen brine to the mix. Gradually increase the amount of frozen as they begin to eat it, and eventually you will get to be only adding frozen and no more live.
At this point you can start to mix in frozen mysis, a little at at time but gradually increasing the percentage of mysis until you are feeding mostly mysids.
Some have used live mysids or similar shrimp to start, and gradually add the frozen mysis but for where I live, the cost is a lot more than to use live brine.