OH BOY,,,,,, mama wants horses

[jeffro63]

hi folks, my girlfriend wants to get into horses ( am I in trouble or what ) I have about a gazzillion questions, first, i have a 29 gallon tank that is not being used at the time, is this an accaptable size tank for horses? second, what about substrate, sand or cc, third, live rock or just the fake kind of stuff they got on the shelves at lfs? I know there won't be any horses in the tank for a long time but i want to get the tank ready with everything i need so it can get started cycleing. also lighting do i need good lighting or will the basic bulbs be good enough? i have a 55 reef tank that has been running for 5+ years so i do have an idea about salt water. but not enough about sh to do this on my own. PLEASE HELP ME MAKE MAMA HAPPY

 

[teresaq]

Hi and welcome.
A 29 should be fine for a pair.
sand yes,
Live rock (better to use base rock) less chance of getting any hitch hikers. you dont need as much as if you were setting up a reef. 20 lbs or so would be fine, also branch rock works good.
Basic lighting is ok, unless you want to add any corals.
lots of hitches. fake corals and plants work well.
filteration. a canister with a spraybar works well. also be sure you have good surface agitation.
search this site, there is a post about basic tank set up and one about tank mates that i posted. I will look for them for you.
t

 

[jeffro63]

thanks TeresaQ,,, i have just read your other 2 posts, very helpfull, I have about 25# of what used to be live rock, which has been dry for about 2 years. That will probably work great. I also have a bag of white playsand (dry)that will go good. But before i set the tank up, what about location ? Should it be out of a high traffic area or is it ok to be where we walk by a lot? I know my reef tank is in a low traffic area cause some of my critters in there are rather skittish and prefer to not having us near by unless its feeding time. I also will assume that I should use only RO/DI water just like my reef tank. because I live out in country and have well water which is awsome drinking water but not so good for the tanks. So i buy my water for the fish.
thanks again
Jeffro

 

[teresaq]

Never really had that question before. Horses are social creatures, but can be shy.
I think as long as you have plenty of places to hide when they want, any location would be fine.
I had macro algeas in one corner so they could get out of sight when needed.
yes, use only ro/di water
Now when you are ready to purchase horses, please only buy captive bread and raised.
a lot of the horses you buy in yur lfs are pen raised in the ocean, and can carry pathigens and parisites.
Be sure they are eating frozen mysis

 

[jeffro63]

well since i don't need a low traffic area i got just the spot for them.
but before i worry to much about the purchase itself i got a lot of other things in mind.
I figure it'll be around august or sept. before the tank is ready and healthy.
by then i'll know what species and all that good stuff.
I have also been all over seahorse dot org trying to learn as much as i can before making any hasty decisions. I don't want to just jump in head first and have nothing but problems.
I want healthy and happy critters in my house.
thanks again
jeffro

 

[jeffro63]

i was just wondering if there are any good books out there on horses that maybe i could get?
if so what book and where to get it?
thanks
jeffro

 

[poniegirl]

Originally Posted by jeffro63
http:///forum/post/2468109
well since i don't need a low traffic area i got just the spot for them.
but before i worry to much about the purchase itself i got a lot of other things in mind.
I figure it'll be around august or sept. before the tank is ready and healthy.
by then i'll know what species and all that good stuff.
I have also been all over seahorse dot org trying to learn as much as i can before making any hasty decisions. I don't want to just jump in head first and have nothing but problems.
I want healthy and happy critters in my house.
thanks again
jeffro
While the site you reference is great for discussion, I might suggest google "seahorse conservation" they don't sell and have some pretty insightful info on habits and requirements, anatomy, etc... It is a project, keeping these guys.
Welcome.
I have not purchased a book as yet.