sea horse in reef tank

[torno]

As always, I completely agree with alyssia. Seahorses aren't recommended for reefs for a few reasons. One of them is temperature. Reef tanks are often kept at temperatures in the lower 80s. This poses a problem to seahorses, as they do best in a tank with water in the lower 70s. The reason being is that they are at a great risk for bacterial infection when kept in water that warm.
Another reason they are often kept out of reefs is corals like anemones, which can sting the horses when they try to hitch to them and problems eventually develop from them. But you listed that you don't have any stinging corals, so this shouldn't be a problem.
I'd be concerned about the tang. Tangs are fast swimming fish. This can be stress inducing to the horse and you may soon find yourself with a seahorse refusing foods on your hands.
If its not excepting frozen foods, and because of the price you paid for it, there's a very good chance that it is wild caught. Definitely try to get it on frozen mysis shrimp, as these are the healthiest food for a seahorse.
I'm not sure about the brine enriching. You may be better off enriching ghost shrimp. Some people use products like Selcon for brine.
For more information, I recommend seahorse.org.
Good Luck!

 

[poniegirl]

Originally Posted by lomar
What should I feed the brine to gut load them? The seahorse and evewryone else in the tank went spastic over the brine.
IMO, if the SH ate thawed brine, the next step is mysis. Thaw 1/2 block of each, rinse and feed at the same time. (I believe lomar has said he has accepted brine?)
The SH will need a spot to depend on food where no one will bother him. If you keep him in the tank please immediately give him some plant life where the mysis will settle and he can dine undisturbed, a feeding station, an area with LOW water flow. Fast swimming fish will not tend to bother with the finesse it takes to get shrimp out of a forest of (caulerpa) for instance (AWAY from the coralbanded :scared: ). The SH will bother. You will have to cater to him. And train him. Time consuming and twice each day. With one day fasting, preferably.
You can direct the mysis to the feeding station by water flow, or much easier, by turkey baster. As you know, the rest of the community will also be interested. Don't deny them some, but use it to distract. A varied diet is good for the tank. Be very careful not to overfeed the tank.
The tank does sound too lively and quite dangerous for a seahorse. Chances are it will be a rare thing if he thrives. Your tank, your decision. Bon chance.