My Sea Horse Set Up

[gsago1979]

Hello all, My Name is Greg and this is my first post on Aquarium Pros Canada.
I live in Kansas City, MO USA but I was born in Winnipeg Manitoba, and spent the first 13 years of my life living in Canada I moved aroud quite a bit in my lifetime living in Winnipeg, St Albert, Edmonton, Montreal, Cambridge and Toronto before moving to the USA.

I got into reef keeping about 7 years ago now and am really new to Sea Horses. I started the planning stages of this set up about 8 months ago and have come a long way since then...Since this sight that seems SO PICKY about containing all your information lacks enough space for people with multiple tanks I will post as much information about my Sea Horse Hexagon tank in this thread as I can.

First off the tank set up...

42 Gallon Hexagon Oceanic Aquarium drilled upper middle back pane with 1 inch overflow.

20 Gallon All Glass Sump, custom baffles cut and installed by me.

Custom 42 inch high stand with matching canopy designed and built by a friend of mine here in Kansas City, MO.

2 Retro Fit 24 inch T5 Bulbs with individual reflectors one 6500k and one superblue + actinic. I cannot remember who the manufacturer of the ballast is but I believe that it is an Ice Cap. (LIGHTS ON 10 HOURS A DAY)

Mag 7 Return Pump

150 watt Titanium heater (Marineland I believe)

18 watt Compact Fluorescent Energy Saver Bulb 3600K over Sump with Chaeto section (LIGHTS ON 14 HOURS A DAY REVERSE CYCLE TO MAIN LIGHTS)

Precision Marine 120 Hang On Protein Skimmer attached to side of sump

2 Little Fishies Phosban Reactor powered by Maxijet 1200 (Phosguard Media)

Hydor Koralia 1 Powerhead in tank with screen shielding to protect Sea Horses

20lbs Live Fiji Rock

60lbs Carib Sea Fine Sugar Sized Sand

Nitrates = Undetectable (API)
Nitrites = Undetectable (API)
Ammonia = Undetectable (API)
Phosphates = Undetectable (SALIFERT)
Calcium = 400 (API)
Alk in Khz = 9.0 (SALIFERT)
Magnesium = 1120 (RED SEA)
Salinity = 1.022 (Refractometer)
Temp = 74.5 (Digital)

Stocking Fish/Inverts:
1 Purple Firefish
2 Fire Shrimp
3 Scooter Blennies (1 Male, 2 females)
1 Sand Sifting Starfish
2 H Kuda Sea Horse (both females)
6 Nassarius Snails
6 Turbo Snails


Ok so that is as much detail as I can think of to give you all on the set up now here are some photos of the set up as it was built and assembled.

First pic is the sump with first water test:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_1668.jpg

Second pic is stand and canopy before stain and doors:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/42hex3.jpg

Third Pic is of stand after doors and staining completed:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/42hex.jpg

Next Few Pics are of dry assembly of all parts:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_0178.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_0179.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_0188.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_0192.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_0194.jpg

[gsago1979]

Additional Pictures:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_0200.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_0201.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_0203.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_0205.jpg

First Wet Test:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_0247.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_0248.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_0251.jpg

First Fish and Coral Additions:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_1218.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_1219.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_1244.jpg

[gsago1979]

Continued:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_1247.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_1248.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_1297.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_1290.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_1288.jpg


Ok so that brings us up to date on corals and fish etc..

I forgot earlier to list all corals in tank so here is that list:
3 Gorgonians Non Photosynthetic (2 Red and 1 Yellow)
1 Devils Finger Leather
2 Toadstool Leathers
1 Blue Mushroom Frag
1 Black Sun Polyps Non Photosynthetic
1 Finger Sponge (Orange)

Ok so on to the sea horse pics...

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_1594.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_1589.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x40/gsago1979/IMG_1585.jpg

[gsago1979]

Ok well that is all the pics for now, If anyone wants to know any more information please let me know. I am very glad to have found this forum as I am always curious to here how peolpe in different parts of the country handle the general care and maintenance of their tanks.

[mark0933]

Well, first off, welcome aboard - you will find us here very friendly and some of us very passionate about the care of our animals. Looks like you are well on yours way.

You are lucky to be in the US, as they seem to have a lot more breeders of captive stock horses - those look like Kuda to me (even though the pics are not good enought to tell 100%). IME Kuda are a little tougher to get to breed than Reidi (or erectus), but with 2 females that isn't going to happen anyway.

The tank looks good, not sure how much flow you have going through it, the powerhead may still be too strong for the horses, and you'll have to watch the corals (leather mostly) for stinging of the horses. 2 scooter blennies is too much for any small tank, let alone a horse tank, the shrimp should be ok, but watch for them picking at the horses, and if they do, they gotta go. The sand sifting star will starve to death in your tank, and not do the sand bed any favours at all, I suggest removing and returning him.

Other than that, enjoy your new charges, and again, welcome.

Mark

[gsago1979]

Well, first off, welcome aboard - you will find us here very friendly and some of us very passionate about the care of our animals. Looks like you are well on yours way.

You are lucky to be in the US, as they seem to have a lot more breeders of captive stock horses - those look like Kuda to me (even though the pics are not good enought to tell 100%). IME Kuda are a little tougher to get to breed than Reidi (or erectus), but with 2 females that isn't going to happen anyway.

The tank looks good, not sure how much flow you have going through it, the powerhead may still be too strong for the horses, and you'll have to watch the corals (leather mostly) for stinging of the horses. 2 scooter blennies is too much for any small tank, let alone a horse tank, the shrimp should be ok, but watch for them picking at the horses, and if they do, they gotta go. The sand sifting star will starve to death in your tank, and not do the sand bed any favours at all, I suggest removing and returning him.

Other than that, enjoy your new charges, and again, welcome.

Mark

Well thank you for the welcome I am sorry though I have to laugh at some of your suggestions though...Not in a mean way just really surprised...the tank has been stocked and running as is since December now with no issues with anyone...One of the female Scooter Blennies is pregrnant and the three of them are doing fantastic...the leathers are incapable of stinging the sea horses which is why they spend a majroity of their time on them or attached to them....The Sand sifting starfish is one that I bred in my reef tank and is a feeding frenzy that keeps my sandbed well stirred up and is an absolute asset to a sea horse tank with the shear mess that is leftover from their frozen foods feedings three times a day...One of the primary breeders of seahorses in Hawaii not only recommends these red shrimp for sea horses but usally ships them in bulk with any of their seahorses that they sell...

Im not sure what your experiences are in the hobby and do not mean to cause any issues but I am really suprised by your suggestions...

I appreciate the welcome to the sight and am looking forward to learning how many people in Canada have adapted their own methods to this great hobby...

Thanks again for the input...

Oh yeah...the Mag 7 is controlled with a ball valve and is not all the way open, the diffuser on the Koralia 1 powerhead all but cuts the flow to non existant in my tank....Sorry forgot to answer that earlier...

Thanks again...Glad to be here...

[mark0933]

Well, don't laugh at me too much :) but some is OK, we all have varying opinions and experiences. Re the shrimp, if they are the volcanic shrimp (very small) then yes, they are fine as tankmates (but will become seahorse lunch soon enough), but if they are blood shrimp, then do watch that they don't pester the horses (they think they are cleaning, but the horses think they are eating them (horses are not smart IMO)

Re the leathers, the other side of the coin should be looked at, the leathers dont bother the horses, but the horses might also be harassing the leathers, so if the polyps never extend, care should be taken.

Re the Star, if you search around on here, I think you will find several threads on them saying they need a lot of surface area to be happy (more than you have) - sure he eats the left over food, so he may be fine, I have not kept one, and would not recommend one for any new hobbyist.

Lastly, your scooter is not pregnant, they are not livebearers, they are similar to manderins (mine have spawned in captivity too), and I was merely pointing out that since their natural diet is pods, 3 (plus horses) will consume any available pods in a very short time, you are lucky that obviously yours have switched to mysis or whatever you are feeding to your horses (hopefully not just brineshrimp) - but my comment was more for new hobbyists so that they do not read your post and go and buy scooters for a nano tank, only to watch them starve soon after they have eliminated the food source.

Hopefully you see where I was coming from,

Mark

[gsago1979]

Mark, not laughing too much :) happy to have someone on here to converse with...I must have one fat Scooter then it is double the size of the other two more recently and has colored up extensively...All three of them eat the many mixtures of food I provide my inhabitants, from Bloodworms, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, krill, Flake and Cyclopleeze...

Did not think about new hobbyists reading this..I forget about them sometimes after so many years taking care of saltwater tanks...I forget that I once was worried about keeping anything....My Pod population is well stocked in my Hex tank as I transfer them consistently from my Refugium in my reef tank often to ensure that my fish are all well fed....

I totally understand where your coming from and I agree that everyone has their own unique experiences...

Not sure if you have gotten a chance to see my other thread showing pics of my Reef yet the 3 Blennies came from my reef tank when I set up the Sea Horse tank for nice quiet scavenger companions...the little red shrimp thus far ignore the sea horses they are too concerned that the purple firefish is going to leave his little cave and they have to take care of him all the time...

Anyways..thank you again for the welcome...

[mark0933]

Hey Greg, no problems, glad everyone in your tank is happy - are you planning on more horses (a male eventually) - actual breeding and rearing of the baby horses was the most rewarding (and frustrating) challenge I ever undertook (until my son came along, so no time for horse rearing now :))


Your reef tank looks nice and airy (I would have covered the back with black or blue paint so could not see the wall and cords behind it, but that is just a pet peave of mine) I actually have 3 110G tanks in my care, 2 reefs and one used to be a horse/planted tank 15 horses and a few pipefish in a planted tank is a really cool sight - it now houses a few frags, and some sea grasses, but I can't decide its long term plan - maybe a fowlr preditor or butterfly tank - glad you are being successful, and keep us updated as to any horsey changes you make.


Mark


Here were my horses in all their glory :)


http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m75/mark0933/P9090580.jpg


http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m75/mark0933/Hospital-December23and242005003.jpg

[gsago1979]

Hey Greg, no problems, glad everyone in your tank is happy - are you planning on more horses (a male eventually) - actual breeding and rearing of the baby horses was the most rewarding (and frustrating) challenge I ever undertook (until my son came along, so no time for horse rearing now :))



Your reef tank looks nice and airy (I would have covered the back with black or blue paint so could not see the wall and cords behind it, but that is just a pet peave of mine) I actually have 3 110G tanks in my care, 2 reefs and one used to be a horse/planted tank 15 horses and a few pipefish in a planted tank is a really cool sight - it now houses a few frags, and some sea grasses, but I can't decide its long term plan - maybe a fowlr preditor or butterfly tank - glad you are being successful, and keep us updated as to any horsey changes you make.





Mark, no I actually really hate painted tanks, everyone on my local forum gives me crap for it too....I really prefer the Coraline look once it grows over...the reef tank prior to my Massive reworking of my Aquascaping used to be completely covered across the back and sides in coraline, unfortunately after I left it dry for a few too many hours..most of the coraline whited out and dropped off the walls leading to a nice scraping session by yours truly..I will be letting it grow again too though...

I just dont like the way the tank color and appearance is affected by the blue or black backlashes..it alters the appearance too much for my liking...

I have been trying (unsucesfuly) to get my hands on a male Kuda so I can breed them if possible...Im not sure how sucesfully I will be...I have a few too many things on the go to really give them the time they will probably need...

Between 4 tanks....4 dogs....1 bird and a 6 year old boy in Kindergarden..Im pretty busy...

[rayjay]

I was initially concerned by the flow with that mag drive and the powerhead until you qualified the control of them.
Great work in putting together a beautiful set up.
My only concern is that for most hobbyists, long term success with horses is largely dependent upon keeping the tank cool to lessen the problems with bacterial infections.
When I first started keeping horses, (after 12 yrs of reefing at that time) I keep the tank at room temperature. I eventually run into problems that persisted until I took the advice given to me by many of the members of the largest seahorse forum online, to cool the tank down.
I have two large fans blowing on this tank 24/7 to accomplish the lower temperature.
Since that time I've had no problems with the horses, but ended up removing the corals as they couldn't tolerate the cooler water. I try to keep the temp under 72F.
The horses have been fine now for the last year and a half.

[gsago1979]

I was initially concerned by the flow with that mag drive and the powerhead until you qualified the control of them.
Great work in putting together a beautiful set up.
My only concern is that for most hobbyists, long term success with horses is largely dependent upon keeping the tank cool to lessen the problems with bacterial infections.
When I first started keeping horses, (after 12 yrs of reefing at that time) I keep the tank at room temperature. I eventually run into problems that persisted until I took the advice given to me by many of the members of the largest seahorse forum online, to cool the tank down.
I have two large fans blowing on this tank 24/7 to accomplish the lower temperature.
Since that time I've had no problems with the horses, but ended up removing the corals as they couldn't tolerate the cooler water. I try to keep the temp under 72F.
The horses have been fine now for the last year and a half.

Thanks for the input, right now I am keeping the tank at 74 degrees or close to it all the time...no fans at this point...the horses are doing well and everything in the tank seems quite happy...

As summer approaches I am going to be keeping a close eye on the tank temperature..if I start seeing a temp increase I will be buying a chiller to maintain my temperature, but I keep my house temp at 68 degrees pretty much year round so im not overly concerned with any temp increases at this point...

I have been told by several sea horse hobbyists that it is very important to remain under that 74 degree range since most of the infections that Sea Horses are prone to cannot survive below around 76 degrees...

I appreciate the compliments again and am really enjoying my horses...I do find it funny how everyone has told me that they are shy quiet eaters and people complain how its hard to get them to eat..I guess owning 2 females that were born in captivity and were readily eating frozen food only the day i got them must be the difference..

As three times a day when I feed them they make a beline for the top of the tank and eat the frozen shrimp right out of my hands, and then chase down whatever is floating through the tank afterwords..

:woohoo: