55gal future tank...

[aquaknight]

So this is what I do during a slow day at work, plan out this tank.

I think I've got everything about straight enough to make a thread.
Planned Livestock:
4 Reidi's -- 1-red 2-orange 1-yellow
2 alligator pipes
2 many banded pipes (or sub)
2 peppermint shrimp
2 blood shrimp
2-3 Basslets (Swissguard/Swalesi)
1 pencil urchin
1 red general star (or sub)
6-9 red mangroves
misc. caulerpa/other
misc. seagrass
4" DSB
Existing QT LR (40# est.)
Some dead branch rock
Continuous Auto Feeder (eventually, see SantaMonica's thread)
Equipment:
55gal display
40gal sump
skimmer
heater
clip-on fan (sump)
2 24” T5 strips
2 96w pendants
600gph HOB overflow
~900gph closed loop pump
~500gph return pump
Notes:
Whole purpose of this is tank is not to 'make waves' but perhaps 'break the mold.' I have researched the specific needs required, and fully understand the risks involved.
The Liverock from QT has been hypo'd multiple times and is about as 'sterile' LR as you can get. I have a 12gal set up that will be used as a QT for everything going into the 55.
Overflow box would be generously eggcrated off with closed loop intake inside, below box.
Closed loop would have 4 outlets, 2 spraybars, 2 jets, each ball valved. One spraybar on left corner down vertically, one across the top center. Two jets in between. CL pump would sit on custom support behind tank. Return would be a vertical bar on the right corner. All pieces in tank would be black or painted black.
2 T5 strips on the very front, tilted slightly back. For lower plants but mostly adding general coloration (get some blue)
2 96watt PC pendants hanging on separate supports above tank, adjustable height for 'groves. Stuff fixtures into a better looking pendant (HD/Lowes).
Nothing really in sump, just a skimmer (for aeration), and a heater. Mostly for extra volume and heat (add fan(s)).
Aquascape would be single island formation, slightly askew to the left. 2/3 split on ‘groves, grass bed on right, algaes on left.
And just to further drive home the point of how bored I am, I have been drawing on MSPaint. Just for a visual reference, please keep the laughs to a gentle roar.

Thoughts/comments/suggestions/ideas, more then welcome.

 

[teresaq]

Sounds like a beautiful tank. Looks like you have researched well. Just couple of things.
You are aware that seahorses change color. They can start out red and turn brown and vice verse. If you keep colorful hitches, they may stay the colors you buy, but not likely. Thats why most keepers will advise not to buy by color.
Please research the risks in mixing wild caught pipes with captive bred horses. Yes it has be done, but there are risks of cross infection of pathegens. Most keepers keep thier pipes and horses seperate.
Have no clue what a continuous feeder is. The horses should be fed mysis. Not sure what pipes eat other then gut loaded brine and mysis, I think they can be converted to frozen also.
T

 

[aquaknight]

Yea, color was definitely one of my questions. It does seem like they do change colors, but so far, I've only come across where they change from their color to brown and back. I haven't see where one is orange, turns brown, then to a yellow. So for varity's sake, if all else is equal, the plan is to get different colors. Perhaps now, it might not make sense to pay 2x for a red one....
I'm definitely not set on those particular horses for any reason, just happened to toss them up because Reidi's seem to the be the most common/hardiest. Is that what you guys would do, 4 Reidis? Or like 2 Reidi's and 2 H. erectus, or something else? Also how many of each $ex?
Yea, definitely have come across that with pipes and horses. I'm hoping here an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of outcome. The current plan is to get the tank up and running. The horses would be the second to last item in, and the pipes would be last. I am currently researching the best QT route for the pipes and hoping preventitive treatments will eliminate any cross infections chances.
Here is the auto-feeder link:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/348459/automatic-continuous-feeder
That is sort of why I picked alligators, hoping they are large to basically eat the same as the horses, mysis/brine/Cyclopeeze/daphia/Artic-pods/Rod's Food/etc

 

[sueandherzoo]

Now, now.... let's not be impulsive or rush into anything -- why not put some thought and planning into your future horse tank?

Too bad everyone doesn't think things through so thoroughly.
I have a red Reidi who is usually bright yellow and I have a yellow who has never been anything but brown, yet. But it would be interesting to see what kind of colors you have in your tank with that mix. Unfortunately you probably won't be able to tell which ones are which once they start changing colors.
I think Erectus are probably the biggest and hardiest, but Reidi's are a close second. However, if you ever want to let them breed, the Erectus fry are much more salvagable, but I'm sure you've already read that.
I'm always tempted to add a pipefish to my horse tank but have been holding off since I read that it's not usually a good idea. I'll be curious to see how you make out.
Don't forget - you can have firegobies and cardinals in the horse tank, too.... great tank mates. And next time you're bored and planning, start thinking about a feeding dish for the horses. Maybe on top of the center island so you don't have to get your entire arm wet when feeding?
Good luck - keep us posted!
Sue

 

[sueandherzoo]

Now, now.... let's not be impulsive or rush into anything -- why not put some thought and planning into your future horse tank?

Too bad everyone doesn't think things through so thoroughly.
I have a red Reidi who is usually bright yellow and I have a yellow who has never been anything but brown, yet. But it would be interesting to see what kind of colors you have in your tank with that mix. Unfortunately you probably won't be able to tell which ones are which once they start changing colors.
I think Erectus are probably the biggest and hardiest, but Reidi's are a close second. However, if you ever want to let them breed, the Erectus fry are much more salvagable, but I'm sure you've already read that.
I'm always tempted to add a pipefish to my horse tank but have been holding off since I read that it's not usually a good idea. I'll be curious to see how you make out.
Don't forget - you can have firegobies and cardinals in the horse tank, too.... great tank mates. And next time you're bored and planning, start thinking about a feeding dish for the horses. Maybe on top of the center island so you don't have to get your entire arm wet when feeding?
Good luck - keep us posted!
Sue

 

[cleve_seahorse]

My fav's are my erectus....not only are they very hardy [ they survived a move...hehe] but can also change color depending upon their mood ....my females turn ivory and my males a pink when their mating...Don't get me wrong , I love my reidis too , but there's just something about my big barrel chested h.erectus I love ....But please don't mix species ,one can carry a pathogen the other species hasn't had before , and one or both can die.Just choose one

 

[aquaknight]

Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/3036190
I have a red Reidi who is usually bright yellow and I have a yellow who has never been anything but brown, yet. But it would be interesting to see what kind of colors you have in your tank with that mix. Unfortunately you probably won't be able to tell which ones are which once they start changing colors.
I think Erectus are probably the biggest and hardiest, but Reidi's are a close second. However, if you ever want to let them breed, the Erectus fry are much more salvagable, but I'm sure you've already read that.
I'm always tempted to add a pipefish to my horse tank but have been holding off since I read that it's not usually a good idea. I'll be curious to see how you make out.
Don't forget - you can have firegobies and cardinals in the horse tank, too.... great tank mates. And next time you're bored and planning, start thinking about a feeding dish for the horses. Maybe on top of the center island so you don't have to get your entire arm wet when feeding?
Good luck - keep us posted!
Sue
Hey Sue! I definitely forgot to mention that I'm not exactly interested at the moment about breeding horses. I'm sure down the line, but for now, no. Interesting on the colors. That certainly is a valid point, not only is the environment a factor, but other horse colors could have some influence. Thanks for the feeding dish idea (I was actually starting to run out of ideas). What I'm thinking is a plastic bowl with suction cups. It would be able to attach to the glass, and I'd position it in front/behind the mangroves on the right side. Figuring they'd be the best hitches? And then eventually when I get the auto-feeder working, I could run it directly to the feeding plate.
For fish, I do like firefish, but with the open top due to the mangroves, I'll definitely have firefish behind the tank. I have the worst luck with jumpers

. For now I'm planning on 2 or 3 basslets. They're a bit less prone to jumping, but are a notch up on the aggressiveness scale. Though the particular ones i'm looking at, Swalesi and Swissguards are usually model citizens and are rather passive themselves. I think of bit of stigma carries over from their more aggressive cousins. If they don't work, I definitely will do a small shoal of Orange-Stripe Cardinals.
Originally Posted by Cleve_seahorse
http:///forum/post/3036218
My fav's are my erectus....not only are they very hardy [ they survived a move...hehe] but can also change color depending upon their mood ....my females turn ivory and my males a pink when their mating...Don't get me wrong , I love my reidis too , but there's just something about my big barrel chested h.erectus I love ....But please don't mix species ,one can carry a pathogen the other species hasn't had before , and one or both can die.Just choose one

Thanks for the heads up on mixing species. Do you feel that the inter-species pathogens are something that with QT and preventative treatment is not possible to avoid? Or would the risk percentage be about the same as if I didn't QT anyways?
Erectus definitely sound pretty cool then. Do you guys think a 55gal with multiple pipefish would support 4 Erectus? If so, what #'s would I do for males/females?

 

[hlcroghan]

And when you hit the lottery you could have some sea dragons!!! lol Dreaming, but that would be awesome!
Looks like a wonderful plan..........keep us posted!!

 

[novahobbies]

Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/3036508
Thanks for the heads up on mixing species. Do you feel that the inter-species pathogens are something that with QT and preventative treatment is not possible to avoid? Or would the risk percentage be about the same as if I didn't QT anyways?
Erectus definitely sound pretty cool then. Do you guys think a 55gal with multiple pipefish would support 4 Erectus? If so, what #'s would I do for males/females?
Well, I don't know how helpful this is, but I kept a single dragonface pipe in my seahorse tank for a while. He ended up going off his food and slipped away, but he didn't have any adverse effect on the horses. I did QT him for 2-3 weeks, and I checked his fecal pellets under a microscope for parasites or any mystery eggs that might have passed. You can run a standard de-worming regimen for pipefish if you're worried about parasites.
If I was to add any helpful advice to your well thought-out list, I'd say add a fuge to your sump for pod growth. Pipefish go after pods big time, even large dragonfaces. Act as though you were stocking for a mandarin and you'll probably do well. My D'face pipe was eating frozen cyclopeeze with gusto for a few weeks, then mysteriously stopped taking any frozen food. Live pods in the tank are probably a must for these guys, at least until we know more about them.

 

[nuro]

question about the mangroves: are you goign to buy them already that high? mangroves wont grow submuged. and also? what kind, red or black? altho slow growing the black "branchiness" could look amazing if you ahve the lighting for it.

 

[aquaknight]

Originally Posted by novahobbies
http:///forum/post/3037254
If I was to add any helpful advice to your well thought-out list, I'd say add a fuge to your sump for pod growth.
That's for the tip on deworming nova. It's good to hear there was at least partial success keeping pipes and horses together.
I would add a traditional fuge, but since the main tank is basically a planted tank, I wouldn't want to add chaeto/caulerpa down in the sump that would take away nutrients from the upper plants/algae. I perhaps didn't calcuate the amount of pods the pipes would eat. I could definitely add some stuff to the sump to help with pods, coarse plastic sponges, rubble rock, nice bed of CC, etc, bascially breeding grounds for pods. I wouldn't have a separate 'fuge' section in the sump, as I want to maximize the return area volume to keep the levels as constant as possible. In a 40gal breeder, there should be more then enough room howver.
Do you have the sci. name for the dragonface pipes? I'm wondering if they would be better tankmates with the alligators I have planned, then the many-bandeds.
Originally Posted by nuro
http:///forum/post/3037256
question about the mangroves: are you goign to buy them already that high? mangroves wont grow submuged. and also? what kind, red or black? altho slow growing the black "branchiness" could look amazing if you ahve the lighting for it.
Hey nuro! I plan on collecting the mangroves myself. I am planning on reds as they are the hardiest, but if I find a black mangrove or two, I suppose to definitely could give them a try. No I won't be getting them that large, I have kept mangroves in the past and found the larger ones didn't adapt to tank life very well, it's the small seed-pods/baby 'groves I'm after. Correct, you aren't suppose to submerge the mangroves. I will be making poles for the mangroves to attach to as they grow. This isn't my picture, but where I got the idea. I would just keep adjusting the mangroves down till they could be planted in the sand.

 

[nuro]

wow; thats a great idea!! im currently growing 2 reds and 1 black in a makeshift HOB filter, that i ripped everythign out of and threw sand and rocks in. I wanted to put them in the DT but my lighting wouldnt allow proper room for them to grow.