Seahorse tank???

[teresaq]

where are they getting the horses. hopefully they are ora erectus or reidi
PLEASE be sure they are captive bred and not tank raised or net raised. If they are they will have to be wormed and treated as wild caught horses and are a lot more trouble.
Where do you live?? is there a local breeder you can purchase the horses from?

 

[nstarman]

LFS has a suplier that he gets them from in the state. The gentleman just opened the LFS and has another store several hours upstate. He told me that his original supplier sold him wild seahorses and told him they were captive bred so he stopped buying from supplier. LFS owner also has 3 personal seahorse tanks. I will make sure they will eat before I purchase any seahorses and I will get a gaurantee. They will be erectus.

 

[nstarman]

LFS will be getting horses on saturday, only downside is that I will not be getting mine yet. I now have and ammonia problem. Over the past week, it was sitting around 0.5 and today I checked it today and it is now at 1.0. I have also started to notice I am getting brown spots all over my live rock and sand. I will have to keep up treating the ammonia and hopefully things will be coming back soon. don't know why it happened but just hoping it goes away

 

[novahobbies]

Hmm. Well to be honest, it sounds like your tank is cycling -- which is no surprise, as you just set it up! Let it run a month empty....throw a table shrimp in there to kick-start the ammonia, sit back, and wait. Don't worry, you'll get there. You've had it running for a week now; that's not near enough time. Seahorses are very delicate, and the presence of ammonia is even more dangerous to 'horses than to other saltwater fish.
If you need a refresher on basic saltwater practices, the "beginner" section of SWF.com's forums is a great start.
In the meantime....post more pics!

 

[nstarman]

It has been an interesting couple days. Typical NC heat wave rolled in. Tank temp has shot throught the roof. Last I checked it was 81.3. Turned that off. I will probably have to start looking into chillers now. GF is really not going to like me spending that kind of money. I also have been testing my tank water. Previously, my ammonia was the only thing acting up. Now pH is over 8.8, Nitrite is .25, Nitrate is 20, ammonia is now 0.25. Yesterday things weren't so bad but pH was, at best, 7.8. Levels have been jumping all over the place. I was considering a partial water change but it might turn into a complete water change, live sand change and tank cleaning. Everything in the tank has turned brown. Sand, live rock, filter intake and spray bar return, protein skimmer, heater and magnet glass cleaner are all brown. I understand the tank is trying to cycle but I've never had this happen before. The only thing not brown in my tank, is the tank. I have to clean the glass every day but atleast i can see in.

 

[jaodissa]

Your tank sounds like a normal cycling tank from what I understand. It sounds like you are going through a Diatom bloom. I think its also an indicator that your cycle is almost done. I wouldn't do a water change yet if your still cycling it will just make it tank longer. You still have nothing in the tank correct?

 

[nstarman]

LPS had me put in 2 turbo snails

 

[nstarman]

Just an update..... levels are still messed up. adding bacteria and ph buffer daily. ph is finally starting to level out slowly. Up one day and down the next

 

[teresaq]

ok, how old is your tank again?? what is your flow like?? do you have a sump?? do you have surface movement.
T

 

[nstarman]

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Canister Filter Rena Filstar xP1 for Freshwater and Saltwater Aquariums
For Aquariums up to 45 gallons - 250 GPH - Model xP1
SKU: 783510
Red Sea Prizm Deluxe Protein Skimmer
Tank and stand are several years old but everything else i brand new. Tank has been running one month now. Gf seems to think it might be the lights. She says that the brown spots seem to get worse as the day goes on. Have shortened the light cycle from 8.5 hours to 7. Well see.... here is my light setup:
Coralife T-5 10,000K and Actinic

 

[teresaq]

ok, the brown spots are prob Diatoms. a normal part of cycling a tank.
Try adding an air line to your tank for surface movement and gas exchange. That should help stablize the ph.
Whats the Ammonia??

 

[nstarman]

i'm sorry, what do you mean by air line?
ammonia is roughly between .25 and .5

 

[teresaq]

have you done a water change yet??, it may be time.
you may also need to add some sand snails. the turbos are for green algea, not the brown.
I use something like the picure with bigger holes punched in it so I get nice lrg bubbles.
you can also use just a open air line, and ridged tubing.
I know its wierd to tell you to have an air line in your tank with bubbles, but horses really like to play in them and they really help with gas exchange in your tank.
Most every keeper on the big seahorse site uses them.

 

[nstarman]

Air line has been installed. Levels are starting to come down a little. As you can see, the brown spots are now covering the liverock. I had to move the spray bar to a verticle position instead of horizontal. Will this make much of a difference? Also, did not find any sand snails. Pet store had lots of other snails but couldn't find them.

 

[teresaq]

ok, I see your air line, you dont want fine misty bubbles, you want lrg bubbles. Just take something pointy and sharp, and poke small holes along the top. This will give you lrger bubbles.
you have normal diatoms. Have you done a water change. Its time, along with snails.
Your lfs doesnt carry Ceriths or Nerites. These will help with the brown algea.
Check your pms.
T

 

[nstarman]

Larger bubbles. hard to tell from this photo. 3 Gorgonia's and 5 macro's will hopefully be ready to go in by the end of the week.

 

[teresaq]

looks good. algea is gone.
What type of gorgonias are you getting. Photo or non photo. I have photo and they are doing good. Watch the non-photos and the amount of food you have to add.
T

 

[nstarman]

i will be getting the photo. GF went a little crazy and got the yellow/green whip, purple whip and purple frilly. should be here late tomorrow or early friday. I am interested to see what she chose for macros. More pics to come. I'm on shift friday so if they come in, she'll put them in and i'll have pics up saturday otherwise.... i should have some up tomorrow

 

[teresaq]

I have all three of those also. I still need some macros. I have some red devils tongue but thats about it.
T

 

[nstarman]

Sent you a pm