Want to start a seahorse tank! What do i need to do?

hallzy

hallzy

Member
I have a 29 gallon reef tank that I have have been successfully keeping for some time, and I have kept saltwater tanks for years now. But I have never dabbled with seahorses, and I think I am ready to give it a try! I have a spare 20 gallon tall tank and a 96 watt t5 light just sitting around and would like to put them to use! Starting from scratch, what should I do to prepare for getting some horses?
 
hallzy

hallzy

Member
I did read those posts, very informative! I was just kind of hoping to get a timetable of when I should do certain things. I am going to attempt with a 20 gallon because I have that 96 watt t5 light that fits it, and this tank is going to be in my bedroom, and I don't have much room. I'm good with keeping up on them so I am willing to take on the challenge. What am I going to want to purchase before set up, is there anything special I should do during set up? How long should I wait before I purchase snails, ect. I don't plan on adding any fish, but I do plan on adding some mushrooms and maybe a few other non stinging coral.
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
Cool, first you will need to decide on a filter. either, sump, hob or canister. If you arent doing a sump, then I would do a canister that is for at least a 40 to 50 gal tank. Try for one that has a spray bar attachment. These work well in horse tanks for gental flow over a distance.
What are the dimentions of your tank? you may need a small powerhead with a sponge filter. Horses like to hitch to everything.
Keeping the tank below 77 degrees in the next thing. A fan blowing on it may be enough, but you may have to look into something like and ice probe installed in a hob filter. Nova has this and they work fine for small tanks.
sand-
dry rock-google key largo rock
cycle-the rest is pretty much like setting up a reef tank, just try not to introduce anything that stings-or pinches.
Almost forgot-and this goes against all saltwater-lol add an open air line. Lrg bubbles. I use rigid air line attached to tubing.
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
Always, Always -
ONLY
purchase captive bred horses-if you see them at lfs ask where they are from-Do not Purchase anything that says Kuda, Kelloggi. These are pen raised in another country.
Ora sells captive bred to lfs
I believe This site sells captive bred-I would ask
And I know of a couple of other places.
Look for a private breeder in your area.
this is one of the most important things.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

I just finished setting up a 30g seahorse tank..My thread was titled New seahorse tank diary..search that on this site and see the time frame as I went, it might help give some ideas too. 2Quills rigged up a custom return for my sump system using PVC pipe and I don't even need power heads. Like T said, they hitch on everything and I was worried, so we found a way around them..
I don't want to cause any alarm if you do need power heads, you can just cover them like you would for anemones.
 
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