Somewhat major win

[eric]

Somehow I also convinced my wife this weekend to let me buy another tank. I don't think I'm going to win any arguements for a big tank, but she did go for a 30 gallon hex.

The stand is fairly confined, but I am placing it next to a cabinet that I can clear out and house equipment.

If I can find the patience, money, patience, time, skill and patience I'm going to set it up as a dedicated seahorse tank. Does anybody do seahorses in this group? I once learned my lesson in not researching anenomes so I won't make the mistake and jump in if I'm not going to be able to be successful. I can watch live rock for a few months while I research.

One question in particular, would I be best off drilling the tank and installing an overflow or use a HOT overflow?

[Sherri]

Check with Misti (MAThueson) - she has Seahorses... :)

[Polkster13]

As long as the HOB filter is not too powerful, you might be okay. And that is a big might. If you are going to raise seahorses, then you will need to put some pantyhose around the intake to keep from sucking up the little babies. If it was me, I would drill it and put in an overflow box.

What say you Misti? How do you have yours set up?

[Polkster13]

Also, they don't like a lot of flow.

[DeletedAccount]

Because of flow issues and such I finally took off the refugium. Most the keep the refug. successfully with SH if it is above tank level instead of underneath the tank.

[DeletedAccount]

The Hang On Tank refugiums are perfect. You are welcome to come and check out my SH's and their set-ups. I currently have 3 SH tanks - dwarfs (out for tank size), erectus, and reidi.

Also check out www.seahorse.org They are a smart bunch of folks....

[eric]

I've been spending some time over on that site.

I plan on making the trip to the meeting on Sunday, maybe we can discuss seahorses.

[Polkster13]

Neat web site. I'll be spending time on this one as well.

[Sherri]

Neat web site. I'll be spending time on this one as well.

Yeah, and they have their own calendar... :innocent

[Polkster13]

And a page listing all of those acronyms.

[GaryP]

I think the main thing you need to take into consideration is the feeding of baby sea horses. That's what keeps me from starting up a SH tank, although I know my corals would love some of the food the SH will also get.

We're talking about a steady supply of live brine, baby brine and rotifers, as well as the stuff to feed them. Make sure to read up on the nutritional requirements and feeding habits of SHs before jumping in. I would guess the survival rate of most Shs bought at a LFS are pretty low except for specialists like Misti and a few others on here. They are very particular feeders and that's always difficult with any such species.

[Polkster13]

Yeah. The page Misti listed above has soon very good information on it; especially about feeding these creatures. If you can't put in the effort necessary to feed them, then you shouldn't try to keep them.

[eric]

I'm not too interested in breeding them. It is going to take a special commotment in the first place just keeping a few. There's a nice page on that site classifying what else as far as fish, inverts and corals are compatible - down to the level of "safe with fry" Well, we'll see if it comes to fruition in the coming months.

Duh, should have guessed Misti was keeping them based on her avatar.

[GaryP]

Sarah at Fin Addict told me they are getting captive raised SHs from ORA that are eating frozen mysids.

[DeletedAccount]

Just get females or males, not both and the babies are not an issue. The CR ORA ones are very small and black, if looking for pretty there are better places than ORA. Let me know if you go this route and I can help you out.

[AlienAnchovies]

listen to mathueson

trust me nothing sucks more than having hundreds of baby sea horses clogging up your filters
hence i long longer have sea horses