Potential Seahorse Tank!

[WimmyJimmy]

Hello! I am currently thinking about setting up a seahorse tank. I have a 34 gal red sea modified tank with an elos light, as well as a heater and a couple powerheads. There will also be a media reactor and protein skimmer. After doing some research, I have run into an issue. Seahorses are best kept in cooler water, such as 72-76 ish range, and often the lower the end is more beneficial for them. However in the summer, the house temperature often gets to 80, and absolute max is 82 at peak time in the day on a very hot summer day. Considering the water of the tank doesn't change exactly with the room temp, would this quick peak of temp really rule out the possibility of seahorses? I was planning on probably a pair of h. Erectus, but I was also wondering about maybe 4? Might be a bit much. Just want to get your opinions on this, as if the temp issue will be a problem, then I either have to find a solution or go without.

 

[Eva Rose]

I would ask @vlangel @Lionfish Lair

 

[WimmyJimmy]

Anyone able to help?

 

[pcon]

You might have better luck posting this in the Seahorse and Pipefish Discussion. The care of seahorses is well researched and documented. If the room temp gets to 80° or higher, then you will likely need a chiller for the long term health of the horses. Due to heat waste of pumps and other tank devices tank temps can easily exceed or match room temps, this is a big issue for coldwater keepers. Heat mitigation is a difficult art and if you aren't willing to put a chiller on the tank then keeping a tank below 75° year round will be difficult. From the little research I have done thats a pretty small tank for the large horses. According to the most basic google searches, and the basic guide from the seahorse forum, that is inappropriately small for 4 H. erectus.

While seahorses have become more accessible in recent years, they are still very difficult family of fish to keep and require special planing and care, and most importantly a ton of research.

 

[vlangel]

Having kept h erectus almost 5 years, I would not keep more than a single pair in that size tank and with the heat issues you mentioned I would definitely buy a chiller and keep the temperature below 75°F.