cajundolphin
Member
I have a 30gal hex tank that I want to change over to sw and set it up for a pair of seahorses. What do I need to do first? What type of equipment do I need to change over to? Can anyone tell me exactly what is best for them?
Where do I start with setting up tank for seahorses
- Thread starter cajundolphin
- Start date
zeke92
Active Member
seahorse.org is a great site
i highly suggest doing alot of research on keeping seahorses before you do.
your gona need a protien skimmer as well.
i've been reading and studying seahorses for about 6 months now and i am still not gonan be getting one anytime soon.
also, your gonna need to let the tank sit for about 6 months as well.
i highly suggest doing alot of research on keeping seahorses before you do.
your gona need a protien skimmer as well.
i've been reading and studying seahorses for about 6 months now and i am still not gonan be getting one anytime soon.
also, your gonna need to let the tank sit for about 6 months as well.
cajundolphin
Member
wow ok thanx! why does it need to sit for 6mths?
rykna
Active Member
Seahorse tanks need to start absoulutely sterile. This was the #1 mistake I made. Seahorses are easy prey for parasites and other unwanted guests in their tank.
The tank needs to be cycled at least 6 mths to allow perfect water quality to balance. You should check out out these threads:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/273444/pics-of-my-girls
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/283252/help-sick-horses
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/283300/care-level-of-seahorses
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/269298/sick-horse
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/273461/seahorse-declining
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/259321/seahorse-is-gone
I don't want to discourage you, but I do want to alert you to the level of commitment these fish need. I love my dwarf seahorses, but they require live baby brine shrimp for food, I have to hatch a new batch every day. Seahorses can be kept and enjoyed, but before you start ordering...there are many, many posts in the seahorse forum that will help you prepare, and questions are unlimited here
The tank needs to be cycled at least 6 mths to allow perfect water quality to balance. You should check out out these threads:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/273444/pics-of-my-girls
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/283252/help-sick-horses
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/283300/care-level-of-seahorses
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/269298/sick-horse
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/273461/seahorse-declining
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/259321/seahorse-is-gone
I don't want to discourage you, but I do want to alert you to the level of commitment these fish need. I love my dwarf seahorses, but they require live baby brine shrimp for food, I have to hatch a new batch every day. Seahorses can be kept and enjoyed, but before you start ordering...there are many, many posts in the seahorse forum that will help you prepare, and questions are unlimited here
cajundolphin
Member
When u say they need to be started absolutely sterile, do u mean I can't use my fw tank at all for it or will cycling it for 6mths take care of this.
darthtang aw
Active Member
You can make the switch over from fresh to salt. I would get rid of all the water in the tank. Clean all pumps and decorations with soap and water. Then rinse real good and let sit out in the sun for a full day. The sun kills things you don't want. Then place sand, decorations and saltwater in the tank. Let cycle for one month. Then add live rock...six months from this point just let your tank get established.
rykna
Active Member
Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
You can make the switch over from fresh to salt. I would get rid of all the water in the tank. Clean all pumps and decorations with soap and water. Then rinse real good and let sit out in the sun for a full day. The sun kills things you don't want. Then place sand, decorations and saltwater in the tank. Let cycle for one month. Then add live rock...six months from this point just let your tank get established.
Dido. I had to kill all my LR and LS do to a parasite invasion.So I'm just a little gun shy now when it comes to adding LR and such.
You can make the switch over from fresh to salt. I would get rid of all the water in the tank. Clean all pumps and decorations with soap and water. Then rinse real good and let sit out in the sun for a full day. The sun kills things you don't want. Then place sand, decorations and saltwater in the tank. Let cycle for one month. Then add live rock...six months from this point just let your tank get established.
monalisa
Active Member
Originally Posted by cajundolphin
wow ok thanx! why does it need to sit for 6mths?
Another reason for letting the tank cycle for 6 months is to allow the procreation of little edible critters to happen in the tank. The horses love to have supplement pods... copepods, amphipods, etc. available to "snack" on between the 2 x/day meal times. By allowing a longer cycle, you're also kind of building that population as well.
Lisa
wow ok thanx! why does it need to sit for 6mths?
Another reason for letting the tank cycle for 6 months is to allow the procreation of little edible critters to happen in the tank. The horses love to have supplement pods... copepods, amphipods, etc. available to "snack" on between the 2 x/day meal times. By allowing a longer cycle, you're also kind of building that population as well.
Lisa