Setting Up a Seahorse Tank

SeahorseKeeper · Sep 1, 2012

Setting Up a Seahorse Tank
By Krista Guogas

The information that I am going to discuss does not pertain to dwarf seahorses.

Setting up a seahorse tank is quite similar to that of a regular saltwater tank. However, it is important to set up the tank with the needs of the seahorses in mind. Seahorses are somewhat sensitive creatures and you want to ensure that you are creating an environment in which they can thrive. That is every hobbyistâ€™s goal when they are setting up their tank.

Rock:

I recommend using dry rock. The reason for this is that live rock contains many hitchhikers. Some of these hitchhikers can be harmful to seahorses. For example, aiptasia or majano anemones can sting the seahorses and injure them. Large bristle worms can also harm the seahorses along with hitchhiker crabs. As you can see, some of the hitchhikers that are beneficial in the typical saltwater tank are harmful to seahorses. The only sure way to ensure that you do not introduce them to the seahorse tank is to start with dry rock. I even made a foam rock wall for my seahorse tank. I used this option since my tank is narrow and tall. The rock wall allowed me to have more open tank.

Substrate:

For the sand, I recommend using dry sand. This is also to avoid introducing unwanted hitchhikers into the tank. I prefer to use sugar size oolite sand. This
is my personal preference. Some people will use crushed coral, but it can have some disadvantages. First, you want to make sure there are no sharp edges that the seahorse can get injured on. Then, you want to make sure that the crushed coral sand bed is maintained. The seahorses are messy eaters and the excess food can get trapped in the crushed coral. This can cause the food to rot and lead to spikes in the parameters.

Equipment:

The equipment purchases are up to you. If possible, you will want to set up the tank with a sump that is sectioned off with a refugium. You can have a canister filter or HOB filter. I strongly recommend a skimmer. Once again, this is because seahorses are messy eaters that need to be fed frequently. In my opinion, chillers are required for seahorse tanks. This is to ensure the cooler temps are consistently maintained. In cooler areas, I also recommend a heater. This is to ensure the tank temp remains stable. You can also run an air pump with open ended airline tubing. This helps provide big bubbles and some flow for the seahorses. I often see my seahorses playing in the bubbles.

When choosing the equipment, you want to make sure the equipment that is going in the display tank is safe for seahorses. You want to make sure the intakes, power heads or other equipment that the seahorse may try to hitch on is covered. The seahorses will try hitching on equipment by wrapping their tail in the slots or on the equipment. This can cause the seahorse to get stuck, injure its tail or even die. This is why it is imperative to cover the equipment. Some equipment will come with protective sleeves. If it does not, you will have to make the cover. Some people use filter socks or even the sponges used in filters (you can sew the ends together with fishing line).

Hitches:

It is important to provide ample hitches for the seahorses. Seahorses will curl their tail around anything they can in the wild and in the home aquarium. The hitches can be macroalgae, corals, sponges or fake ornaments. Macroalgae is a perfect hitch for seahorses and it grows quickly given the proper conditions. It will also make the tank similar to the grassy areas where a lot of seahorses are found in the wild. Corals such as gorgonians, Kenya tree, colt coral, and spaghetti leather. If you choose a coral for a hitch, just be careful with your selections. Many corals will sting seahorses and injure them. Sponges like the red tree sponge are a great option. You just want to ensure that you handle the sponge properly and know how to care for the sponge. Finally, fake ornaments can be a good option. You can use fake plants, or rock ornaments. Just make sure the items do not have sharp edges or metal in them. Also, make sure they are thin enough for the horse to be able to wrap its tail around it. Some people get creative use zip ties that are linked together and attach a weight to the bottom. This provides a swaying hitch for the horses. It is also important to provide hitches of varying widths for the horses.