Will a 24g tank sufficient for a pair of Black Seahorses?

[flameangel88]

I've a AP 24g tank setup since March with TBS 25g package (50lbs of LR, 25lbs of live sand and the team of cleanup crew) currently housing a pair of True Percula 2" and 1.25".

Filters:
CSS 65 skimmer, canister wet/dry and canister filter. All oem filter media been removed and replaced by LRs.
Lighting:
175W MH with actinic and a strip of blue led night light all on timer.

Just purchased decap brine eggs and hatch setup. Do you think this setup is adequate for a pair of tank-breed black seahorses? Please feel free to offer alternatives?

TIA!

 

[Nano-Nag]

Question. Are you planning on keeping the True Perculas in the tank with your seahorses? Also, what kind of temperatures are you running in the tank with the MH?

Shay

 

[flameangel88]

Shay,
Thanks for the reply. Yes, I do intend in keeping the TP clowns in unless that would be a problem and I can find a home for them but would prefer keeping them. The temp is set at 76 in which the winter time I don't have a problem maintaining but in the summer without AC the temp climbs up to 82-84. I do have a 10" fan blowing across the surface when the light comes on and 24/7 in the summer (well, hopefully by next summer all the tanks will be moved to a room with a AC of its own that I'm working on).

 

[Nano-Nag]

flameangel88 -

You're welcome, but this post may not be what you want to hear!

You could keep a pair of seahorses in the 24, but you would have to do something about the temps, and probably (sorry) the current occupants.

Optimum temp. for Tropical Seahorses, which I'm guessing the black tank raised are, is no higher than 76 degrees, preferably lower. The reason for this is that the lower temperatures discourage nasty bacterial pathogens, and is healthier for the seahorses.

On the current occupants. There are some who keep ocellaris with their seahorses, but I wouldn't recommend it as they can become aggressive and harrass your seahorses, especially in the limited space of the 24 g. Plus, seahorses are a heavy bioload, and it might be difficult to keep your water parameters up with that many fish.

Do you have any corals in your tank? There are some that can be harmful to seahorses.

Finally, on the black tank raised. Are they eating frozen mysis, and do you have a quarantine tank? Be prepared for lengthy quarantine (at least 4-6 weeks), or if you can, purchase your seahorses from Seahorsesource, or Draco.

Good Luck!

Shay

P.S. Check out the library and forum on Seahorse.org - those people eat, sleep, and breathe seahorses!

 

[flameangel88]

No coral in the tank and the lighting can be changed back to PC. When I got the MH I was planning on putting corals in but then got the 75g setup for that. As for QT--I'll remove the TP and let the black seahorses settle in and get some pipefish for tankmate in the future. I normally perform a 5g water change every week on this tank. I don't know what they eat yet as I'll be getting them online but will have live brine on hand when they arrive. I'll do some reading this weekend.

Thanks for all your help!