Yeaaa I get a Seahorse Tank

bosborn1

bosborn1

In Memoriam
Ok...I finally talked my wife and daughter into letting me convery my daugthers 29 gallon from a African Cichlid tank into a seahorse tank. I am getting ready to start ordering stuff, but first I will be gutting the current system. I am going to drill the tank for an internal glass overflow as well as a return. So far I have figured that I will be building a acrylic sump to go under the stand. I could fit a 10 gallon glass tank but I want the sump to be a bubble free system. I will also be keeping a DSB in the sump. I have been looking into getting the coralife needlewheel skimmer. From what I understand with the low flow conditions of the tank I will want the maximum about of skimming possiable. For the lighting I am thinking about going with 2 65 watt PCs with 2 lunar lights. I will be posting a lot of pics through out this build. I hope that everyone can help me out with some of the tips and tricks they have learned. I know that once I setup a reef I always find 10 things I did wrong....Also to go along with Quicksilver I will be plumbing the entire system with PEX tubing.

Thanks
Scott
 
I know nothing about plumbing-so good luck with that ;)

make sure the skimmer will fit on the sump, it can create microbubbles, etc etc... you probably read that since it sounds like you did a bit of research.

I have the same lights, if your getting coralife. ever have them before? I'm trying to figure out what corals will be ok and I can keep under them. Zoos do great in my tank, but shrooms and xenia aren't. I've NEVER been able to keep xenia though. maybe I have to get a TON of zoanthids, since they are multiplying in my tank like the devil was after them!!!
 
Actually I was looking at a Current USA Orbit fixture. I am not going to do a lot of corals but mostly macro algae. I will probably put a colt coral and GSP as well as soon assorted zoos and Xenia. However I plan to have a wide variety of Macro Algae. I am looking into the liverock right now. I am not sure quite how muck I need to go with. Most of the pics that I have seen don't look like they have large amounts of liverock. I was thinking about just going with 25 lbs in the tank and maybe 5 pounds in the sump. I also haven't really decided which seahorses I want to keep. I would like to have a smaller variety as I would like to have as many as a 29 gallon could possiably have with out harming the tank inhabitants.

Thanks,
Scott
 
if you REALLY want smaller horses, your probably also going to have to invest in a chiller. capinses are one of the types that stay smaller but need a chiller to keep the temp 70* or lower. fuscus do also (stay small), don't need a chiller; but they are HARD to find. ummm, there are some others too.

barbs stay smaller, and are now becoming avalible captive bred. probably could get 3 pairs or thereabouts in a 29 other common horses, it would be 2 pairs. but, don't worry-they really make up for the lack of movement/flashiness in personality. they really DO beg like puppies!
 
oh, and I went for 1lb/gallon for my horses. They really like the room. but since your doing a ref/sump setup, you can store A LOT more down there.

I need to find somewhere in the future that sells lots of macro1 of different varieties!!! I want to save on shipping, but most places only have 2-3 different types.
 
I think that 2 pairs would be enough for me. I have thought about getting a chiller anyways for that tank. The 1/10hp units aren't that expensive. It might be worth it anyways because it does get a little warm on the second floor of my house. I have plenty of time to think ab out it so far I have ordered

2x65 Orbit retrofit PC kit
Coralife needlewheel skimmer
Mag 5 return pump
150 watt heater
And some assorted plumbing for the overflow

I need to get over to the glass shop and have some glass cut for the overflow housing. I will be buying the acrylic next week to put the sump together.

How advisable is it to have a cleaning crew in the tank with the seahorses? I was thinking about just ordering a package from Tampabay Saltwater. I really like the way that rock looks and it will be nice contrast I think between the Big reef and the seahorse tank.

Thanks
Scott

BTW I will start posting pics when I start building stuff.
 
stick with small hermits, if any (I don't like hermits-if the option is there to only get snails, GET snails, IMO-there are many snails that do the same job as hermits, and you don't have to worry about them snapping at tails, ripping snails outta thier shells, etc. etc.

just make SURE that there are ABSOLUTELY NO hitch-hiking mantis and gorrillas!!! the come on quite often on tbs rock. I freshwater dipped my rock, just to make sure when I got it... horses are SO slow.
 
Yeah I forgot that the TBS rock haa problems with this. Its also kind of pricy. I might just go with Lalo Rock I have always wanted to use it so I guess heres my chance. If the hermits will be a problem I can always just go with snails. Sould I also use some branching live rock? Not sure if the Seahorses will latch to it or not.

Thanks
Scott
 
I have teeney hermits and they are just fine. I keep erectus, so I don't worry about a chiller (they go to 77C). Mine really enjot the clumps of chaeto I have in the tank as well as thicker hitching posts. They don't seem to like thin flexible strands of macro algae. I think the like the chaeto because it is such asuperb source of snack 'pods...
 
I'd suggest you don't glass out your overflows. I've got a 1" down tube and a 3/4" input coming up about 2x2" off the back glass in my tank straight up the bottom. I "painted" them with purple pvc primer then added liberal amounts of silicone and rolled them in crushed rock/sand. It looks decent and the horses love to hitch on them. the one large horse in the tank spends about 90% of her time wrapped around the overflow tube. The 10 little ones are to small I think although several do attach to them often.
 
You better get a ballvalve for that MAg 5 r your horses are going to think there in a hurricane. They aren't that strong of swimmers and depending on amount of head, a Mag5 is a ton of flow for them.

YOu could incorporate spraybars and such to help reduce it a bit in the tank, but that is too much flow IMHO.

Congrats on getting a ranch.

Good Luck.
 
I was planning on using a spray bar. The Mag 5s flow is considerably lower at 4 ft of head pressure so I though that wouldn't be too much. Not to mention I think Mag over rates there pumps. If anyone have a better pump recommendation please tell me. I don't want to have to buy more than one. Thats the point of this thread. I am trying to setup the best system I can the first time around

Hmott do you have any pics of this overflow. Sounds kind of neat I would like to see it.

thanks
Scott
 
I heard that if you have had an animal in a tank that you can't use it for fish. the reason is, is because the silicon will absorb the urine and will be toxic for the fish. might want to look into that before you set that tank up. just a thought
 
Animal???? What animal???? I am not sure what you are talking about. Do you know something about my tank that I don't??

Scott
 
IME I've run a 75 on a mag 5 that had 5 feet of head, and all was well.

On a 29g even with a spraybar I'd look at getting a ball valve for a mag5 or a ball valve for a mag3. JMO

Either is a fine pump, you will just want the ability to control the flow if needed. A ballvalve setup is going to cost you less than $4 at HD. It's an easy thing to do and you will be glad you did it later. Just sayin,
 
that animal thing is the biggest bunch of whooey....

urine would just add to the biocycle... pee in your tank if ya don't believe me ;) you'll get an ammonia spike, and within days BAM its gone. comeon... fish pee in the tank every day.

and no, I don't know where people come outta the blue with 'facts' like that.:o
 
The only thing I can think of is maybe they thought I wrote Chinchilla instead of Cichlid. Even though this is a reef forum I would hope that everyone would know what a Cichlid is.

Maybe I will step it down to a Mag3. They're a little cheaper anyhow. Not to mention I always plumb in two ball valves. One after the pump and before the union and one after the union.

Thanks
Scott
 
ya sorry i read fast and thought you wrote Chinchilla my fault. good luck with the tank, and thanks for the correction about the pee.
 
So are there any other recommedations before I start buying more stuff and Drill my tank???

Thanks
Scott
 
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