Upgrading to 95G Seahorse Reef

[Lightsluvr]

We have had success keeping our H. Reidi pair and (3) H. Erectus in a 29G Bio-Cube. Both Reidi and Erectus have been mating and producing eggs.

We are now set up to feed the fry and will try to raise some in a separate tank in the coming weeks.

We are moving most of the fish and coral in our 95G Reef to a 180G in the next few weeks.

The 95G tank will become our new seahorse tank.
The fish and soft coral that have co-existed well with the seahorses in the Bio-Cube will move into the 95G.
Other than adding a chiller, reducing flow and adding plants and other hitching posts for the horses, any suggestions on how to make the 95G a great environment for the horses and a few pipefish?
We'll have pretty much a blank slate in the 95G to do what we want.
Suggestions are welcomed.

 

[krazeekiddie]

Awesome!!!

There are some posts on here of some people who have done large seahorses & softie systems that are realy beautiful!!

57vert has posted pics of his I do believe!

Photosynthic gorgs make great additions, all leathers, shrooms, zoas, etc. You could do some pretty cool stuff!!

Planning on a refugium/sump???

 

[2pairs]

Nice tanks
I have a question,??? Both Reidi and Erectus have been mating and producing eggs.
When seahorses mate you should get fry not eggs unless they are very young or their is a problem. So how old are they?

 

[Lightsluvr]

Seahorse 95G reef tank

Seahorse 95G reef tank

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12064056#post12064056 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by krazeekiddie
Awesome!!!

Photosynthic gorgs make great additions, all leathers, shrooms, zoas, etc. You could do some pretty cool stuff!!

Planning on a refugium/sump???

Yes this tank has a 20G sump but no refugium. I may add a refugium external to the sump to culture copepods and other food sources.
The 95G has a happy green Mandarinfish who I know will compete with the seahorses for copepods...but with over 140# of live rock, I think the pod population will remain fairly stable...
I will be seeking gorgs...will be moving some mushrooms to join that huge toadsool which will stay. Not sure about that big Kenya Tree coral yet... any thoughts on that one being compatible with horses?

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12066650#post12066650 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2pairs
Nice tanks
I have a question,??? Both Reidi and Erectus have been mating and producing eggs.
When seahorses mate you should get fry not eggs unless they are very young or their is a problem. So how old are they?

Maybe my ignorance - perhaps what I have been calling eggs are in fact fry that the female is depositing in the male's pouch. ?? (See photo below) You tell me - what are those?

LL

 

[2pairs]

OK that is the end of the egg sack. now you can count 14 days and you should have a bunch of fry.
I had thought you were saying the male was delivering eggs, and this is clearly not the case. He has just finished mating and couldn't hold all of her eggs this is normal at first, after a couple of times his pouch will get bigger and will hold all of the eggs.
So now is the time to get things setup to raise babies

 

[urbanrat84]

Wow, incredible pics - I have not seen seahorse eggs before, just the end result

 

[krazeekiddie]

That is an awesome picture!!! I have seen eggs our females have dropped, but never actually seen that!!!

Our males gestation is about 17 days.....awesome pic!!

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12067058#post12067058 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2pairs
OK that is the end of the egg sack. now you can count 14 days and you should have a bunch of fry.
I had thought you were saying the male was delivering eggs, and this is clearly not the case. He has just finished mating and couldn't hold all of her eggs this is normal at first, after a couple of times his pouch will get bigger and will hold all of the eggs.
So now is the time to get things setup to raise babies

A few moments after these photos were taken, he pushed up against a rock and seemed to be pushing the eggs into his pouch... he managed to get all of them in there...

LL

 

[2pairs]

I have never had them push the eggs in, but I have had them push on the rock to remove the excess. Reidi gestation is 14 days Erectus is about 14 to 17 days depending on northern or southern.

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12072349#post12072349 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2pairs
I have never had them push the eggs in, but I have had them push on the rock to remove the excess. Reidi gestation is 14 days Erectus is about 14 to 17 days depending on northern or southern.

I have it marked on the calendar and have a nursery ready with rotifers available for the first several days...

LL

 

[pledosophy]

Seahorse fry looks lile a swarm of black ants in the shape of seahorses.

Nice looking systems. Good luck with them.

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12073598#post12073598 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pledosophy
Seahorse fry looks lile a swarm of black ants in the shape of seahorses.

Nice looking systems. Good luck with them.

How well I know - we've rinsed them out of our skimmer twice now...

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Still waiting...

Still waiting...

The Reidi male is still swollen up like a "poisoned pup" so it should be any moment now...

Back on topic,

...any suggestions for flow in a 95G tank that will accomplish LR/skimmer filtration without new much for the seahorses?

Lack of flow in the Bio-Cube encourgares LHA growth, which I hope to avoid on the 95G.

Is there a tang that, if introduced into an established seahorse tank, would be a compatible tank-mate? Again, I am thinking of algae control...

Thanks.

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Flow in a large tank

Flow in a large tank

I am still looking for advice on achieving adequate flow in a 95G without creating a whirlwind that will stress the seahorses.

Currently this tank has a Mag 7 return pump, one MJ1200 unmodified and two modified MJ1200s which are rated at 2100 gph. The sump holds a Turboflotor Multi 1000 protein skimmer. Any suggestions on how to achieve flow in the tank to encourage the natural filtration provided by LR without adverse effects on the horses?

Options?
Leave as is?
More powerheads but with lower rated output? (Like 4-5 "nano" size powerheads?)
Spray bars?

Other suggestions?

 

[Lightsluvr]

Heat and light

Heat and light

I currently use a Coralife Aqualight Pro system on this tank. I am going to replace it.

I am considering a T5 system on the tank. However, I will be installing a chiller, so heat won't be a concern. If I stay with Metal Halides, they will be on for a very limited time, perhaps 3 hours a day. So I am considering a combo MH system with T5s, such as the Current USA Outer Orbit system.

No SPS in the tank, but will have seahorse friendly LPS and soft coral and want to start a nice selection of macroalgae.

Suggestions based on your experience?

Thanks.

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Any suggestions?

Any suggestions?

Please see the previous two posts... any suggestions from the seahorse experts on here?

Thanks.

LL

 

[ann83]

On the first post about flow, I'd suggest adding spraybars to your returns and powerheads. Running the spraybars underneath the rock structures should help prevent detritus buildup without blowing the seahorses around. Beg pledosophy to post pics of his plumbing; it is much nicer and more elaborate than my own.

Also, there are several posts in the "Setup and Maintenence" forum on seahorse.org that discuss plumbing seahorse tanks to get good flow without disturbing the seahorses.

 

[aquasena1]

Have your babies arrived yet? I have extra kreisal nursery bowls if you need some -- and lots of decapsulated brine shrimp eggs [Embryon]

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12197312#post12197312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquasena1
Have your babies arrived yet? I have extra kreisal nursery bowls if you need some -- and lots of decapsulated brine shrimp eggs [Embryon]

Hi Barb,

Yes the babies arrived. We were able to get about 20 out to the nursery tank. We still have about 8 live and eating bbs.

The male is pregnant again and will probably pop out another brood in a week or so... I have another rotifer culture brewing...
:eek2:

LL