BC29 seahorse tank

[Rockhead]

well it's started, on day 3 and looking great,

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Congrats and looks good!

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Looking good!!! What are your stocking plans and what type of seahorses do you plan on keeping?

 

[Rockhead]

I plan on starting with a pair of tank raised horses from a breeder in the area , and then plan on adding a pair of pipefish also down the road . still need to let the tank cycle and start to stock it with some plants . do you have any recommendation's for me of what type of horses to put in?


-Tom

 

[alberthiel]

Looks nice but with all that rock will you have enough space for lots of plants in there ... as to choices I will leave that up to the specialists on Seahorse care and keeping.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I think h. erectus make an awesome selection for a first time seahorse owner. They are super easy to train to eat from a feeding dish and it is easy to obtain captive bred seahorses. I would also recommend to get the pipefish captive bred as well. This will limit the potential for the pipefish to transfer disease to the seahorses or the other way around. This is because seahorses and pipefish can each carry pathogens that can effect the other.

 

[alberthiel]

I think h. erectus make an awesome selection for a first time seahorse owner. They are super easy to train to eat from a feeding dish and it is easy to obtain captive bred seahorses. I would also recommend to get the pipefish captive bred as well. This will limit the potential for the pipefish to transfer disease to the seahorses or the other way around. This is because seahorses and pipefish can each carry pathogens that can effect the other.

+1 indeed .. both are so delicate that caution is definitely in order as you recommend so rightly.

 

[Rockhead]

Krista, thank you for your knowledge as I'll be looking for more down the road , is there a breeder that your would recommend I go to for the horses and pipefish that has a good rep and you would stand behind.
-Tom

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Krista, thank you for your knowledge as I'll be looking for more down the road , is there a breeder that your would recommend I go to for the horses and pipefish that has a good rep and you would stand behind.
-Tom

I know Live Aquaria gets ORA seahorses in from time to time. I have ordered my seahorses from seahorsesource and they are reputable seahorse breeders. As far as the pipefish, I have not been able to find a source for them that have captive bred pipefish.

 

[ReefPops]

Very cool. I always love the seahorse/pipefish tanks. Can't wait to see the progression.

 

[Rockhead]

One week update Kh7, Cal 460, Mag 1280, Ammonia 0, Nitrate 0, Ph 7.7, no sign of cycling yet.

 

[alberthiel]

One week update Kh7, Cal 460, Mag 1280, Ammonia 0, Nitrate 0, Ph 7.7, no sign of cycling yet.

Just give it some more time ... the bacteria are at work believe me and that is why your pH is somewhat on the low side as organic acids are being produced. Just keep the dKH at 7 or higher ... FWIW

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Looking good!

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

When I started my seahorse tank, I waited at least 4 months before adding my first inhabitants. Talk about patience.

 

[alberthiel]

When I started my seahorse tank, I waited at least 4 months before adding my first inhabitants. Talk about patience.

Yes indeed that is patience with a BIG P

 

[Rockhead]

well a couple of days the whole tank had a algae bloom and everything is brown and tiny bubbles on everything, cycle has started will keep posting as it go's.

-Tom

 

[alberthiel]

well a couple of days the whole tank had a algae bloom and everything is brown and tiny bubbles on everything, cycle has started will keep posting as it go's.
-Tom

You can probably siphon out some of the brown algae (diatoms maybe) or dinoflagellates and speed up getting rid of them that way and then add water back ... but yes all that is usually part of the cycle.