I kept mine with seahorses but there are plenty of people who keep them in full blown reefs. The blue stripe and janns can handle very strong water movement but due to their shape I would want powerheads that were covered. Captive bred pipes are definitely an inviting prospect to consider simply because I like captive bred fish and try to support the good folks doing it but I'd want to train the fish to higher water velocities as most captive bred fish need some conditioning to stronger flow.
I wouldn't be overly worried about what you add as tankmates, these pipes hang around the rockwork and are similar to mandarins in that they aren't really fussed by much. It's definitely worth consider fish that may pick at pods but only if you know your pipe is eating well and thriving. You would be surprised at just how big a meal one can eat, they simple suck it down their snout and squish it in an impressively short time. The one thing to,consider is that if they are relying more on substitute foods is that like other syngnathids, they are slow methodical feeders and often most of the food is eaten before they get their fill. They do take to,target feeding well and it's worth at least trying to train them for a simpler life.
It's encouraging they are captive bred. These really have a reputation of being difficult which I don't think is deserved but they also aren't a fish for every reef so I kinda don't mind that reputation. They are a very easy species to sex and I've kept pairs many times and seen the male carrying eggs, unfortunately not when I've been in the condition to raise them. I have raised a few of the sister flame pipefish and this just goes to show how well they can do in our tanks.
