Good seahorse/pipefish only tank setup?

reef_dart21

reef_dart21

Member
A small 30 gallon hex with big round rocks on the bottom, fake plants/ no live rocks and other decorative stuff with 2 seahorse and 2 pipefish .
would this be ok for a setup for them or no?
(i nko the caring fpr the seahorses wont be hceap but i wanted a cheaper setup)
i would especiially like this to be approved by Rykna since he/she is the seahorse expert
 
fishygurl

fishygurl

Active Member
its not a good idea to mix pipefish and seahorses(because of tank dimensions and diseases). and i think pipefish like longer tanks(but im not sure)
 
nybutterfly03

nybutterfly03

Member
I have to jump in here. Im not Rykna but I am a good friend of hers and fellow SH keeper.
Although I happen to agree that pipefish are somewhat difficult to keep....I have not had any luck with the few I have attempted......I do have to say that your setup sounds pretty good to me!
If you are going to have normal sized horses, I would suggest that you DO add LR & LS and LOTS of pods to get a good colony going....horses LOVE to hunt them!!!!!
IMHO a 30g hex should have plenty of room for the pipefish to be comfortable. I had my 2SH's and baby B&W clowns in my 14g hex with NO problems ....this is also the tank that I had my pipefish in and he had lots of swimming room. HTH's

Good luck with ur future SH adventure!!!!!
 
reef_dart21

reef_dart21

Member
second question i have 2 powerheads and just a normal aquariam light is that enough? (i am trying to spend the least *other then the seahorses* on this setup)
 
nybutterfly03

nybutterfly03

Member
U have the sh's & pipefish already???? Well where are our pics?????

The stock light on the aquarium should be fine as long as u arent keeping any corals or anything. Make SURE u cover the intakes on the powerheads with a sponge to avoid the tragady i recently suffered when my horses tail got stuck and I lost them

Are the powerheads the filtration u have? If so u may want to think about adding something a bit better
 
nybutterfly03

nybutterfly03

Member
KK I misunderstood when u said ur inhabitant....not future LOL

Sounds good to me that is what I have on mine and it has worked well for me
However Mrs Rykna yelled at me about it the other day LOL

But I have never had a preoblem and mines been running for 5yrs
 
reef_dart21

reef_dart21

Member
Well right now i got big pebbles for the bottom (like river rocks)
Fake bamboo
Wood (fake)
biowheel filter
33 gallon hex
bubble strand
2 powerheads
normal light
Gonna start with 2 kudas then if that goes good i gonna try a reef pipefish
 
nybutterfly03

nybutterfly03

Member
Can u post pics??? I would like to see
Be careful with the bubbles....u dont want ur horses to snick the air....if u look into it, some say it can cause problems with horses....just an fyi

Not so sure bout the wood....what type??
Im gonna have Ryk jump in here....hang on
 
reef_dart21

reef_dart21

Member
ok ok calm down i will post the pics

but all i can send you right now is the pic of my equipment and an empty tank
i still have to get some distilled water
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member
Originally Posted by Reef_Dart21
A small 30 gallon hex with big round rocks on the bottom, fake plants/ no live rocks and other decorative stuff with 2 seahorse and 2 pipefish . Would this be ok for a setup for them or no?
(I know that caring for the seahorses won't be cheap, but I wanted a cheaper setup)
I would especially like this to be approved by Rykna since he/she is the seahorse expert

Thank you for you compliment. *blush* I(she) would be delighted to help.
My first comment would be the tank size. You may certainly start with the 30 gallon tank, however, a 30 gallon tank will not be large enough to house 2 full grown seahorses and 2 pipe fish. I would recommend at least a 75 with a mature sand bed; you could also purchased the larger tank at a latter date.
~Within a month the four will consume all the pods/clean up crew in the tank. Leaving your tank open to a 100% tank crash do to nitrate, nitrites, and ammonia. And will greatly hinder your horses' nutritional food choices...and unfortunately leads to starvation, which is a sad ending for many, many seahorses in home aquariums(mine included
).
~Fake plants are great and easy to clean, however, adding marine plants such as chito and capulera is very benaficial for you horse tank. It is a favorite hang out spot for pods. Live plants also come with a small population of pods to add to your horses' buffet.
~I also would not use the rounded rocks. It makes a wonderful surface that unwanted pests and algae love to grow on. From my past successes and blunders, I would definitely go with the sand bed. A sand bed, even if dead when you set up the tank, is essential for pods(your clean-up crew and a favorite seahorse snack). And can be seeded with several preferred pods; I seeded my current seahorse tank to repopulate the dead sand. If you do want to use rock for landscaping. I'd suggest using artificial or bleached rock that you seed with appropriate corals, etc. Live rock does almost triple the growth of your pod population, but it also comes with all sorts of nasty stow aways, and that is why I have chosen to seed my tank and not use LR.
~I also strongly suggest that you "worm" you new horses. Almost all pipefish are wc.
Where are you currently with you seahorse tank set up? What equipment do you plan to use? Please ask away
Let's get your tank going
 
reef_dart21

reef_dart21

Member
ok first i am only gonna keep one pipe fish and 2 seahorses so the tank would be big enough.
second how much are those marine plants? i rather not pay an arm and a leg because mind you i already have 1 55 gallon tank (my other clown tank was given to my uncle *long story*) So i rather not pay like 50$ for a strand of it.
third I guess i could purchase some sand but i would rather keep it thin is this alright or do seahorses have to dig like my one dartfish in my other tank?
ok fourth on is i found some great deals at a pet store on artificial rocks/wood its about 5$ and its as tall as my tank is high.
ok last one what type of worming medicine?
my tank found a place in my overcrowded house but so far i used some water from my other tank (COMPLETLEY CLEAN) so this tank wouldnt have to cycle to much. i have biowheel 2 powerhead and a NORMAL light. planning on finding mysis eggs to just breed em and sit em in a bowl for them and as far as ne thing in the tank their is only some water a filter and some power heads
*also* THE FLOW IS SEVERLY STRONG IN MY TANK WITH THE TWO is this bad or good for the horses?
 
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