My Sea Horse adventure:)

First topic message reminder :

I have been wanting to setup a tank dedicated to sea horses and pipe fish for the last couple of years so I decided to just do it! I researched them a couple of years ago but I will need to take a refresher course:) but I am getting the tank its a Red Sea Max 130 plug and play. I plan to do the usual and have black and white CaribSea Ocean direct sand and 35 odd pounds of Tonga Branch live rock I will pick rock that doesn't have sharp edges to keep the ponies safe. I plan to have 2 pairs 2 female and 2 males. I am also going to pay more and buy captive bred sea horses that have already been raised on frozen foods so there wont be an issue with them not eating. I am getting tropical sea horses so I won't need an expensive chiller. so let the fun begin. I will update this thread with pics as things come together. I thought you all might be interested in ponies too:) wish me luck!
heres the tank. I am getting it off craigslist but its a 3 hour drive for me but the guy said he will hang onto it till I can make it down to pick it up. p.s I will paint the tank black and the Sea horses will be Hippocampus erectus I find them fascinating creatures they change color with their moods and environment.



pipefish a close relative of the sea horse.

It's all stations go! Looked up Red Sea Max tanks yesterday - it's going to be an awesome set-up. I like your approach - you do tons and tons of research before setting up, and you get all your ducks in a row before purchasing livestock. I'm thinking of seahorses for myself down the road, and I'll be following your blueprint, for how to do it right.

CaribSea substrates are fantastic! I've used Tahitian Moon Black Sand, Moonlight White Marine Sand, Peace River Gravel, Sunset Gold Sand, I've got samples of Torpedo Beach (too beige-y but nice!) and I'm going to get some Rift Lake Authentic. A bit pricey but you don't need to use much and most of their products can be mixed with something else, like play sand.

Your set-up is going to be great!

One question - What is a "cuc" ?

yeah I really like the fact that everything I need is incorporated into the RSM system. I didn't want another big plumbing job plus I will be back to multiple tanks again and I wanted easy up keep. theres a macro thats call flame algae that I would love to have in the pony tank but I can't find it anywhere. I used to have a ton of it but I started fragging it out and now I dont have any its really beautiful stuff. as far as the ponies go I want the tank to be completed and the macro and pony safe corals to be in awhile so that when I get the ponies home I won't need to be messing around in the tank other than to feed them. I'm very excited I've been thinking and reading literally for years so its about time. I will be getting the ponies and pipefish from the same source.
here's the algae I have been looking for.
if ever run across this please let me know:)
Thanks

Wow! I am sooooo jealous. I have always wanted sea ponies but don't have the guts to try it especially since I'm just getting into tanks. Good luck! I will be keeping up with this project as I would love to see how it turns out.

I started with freshwater. my 1st tank was a 10 gallon back in 1983 I played around with cichids and betta's for years but I always loved the reef tanks
so I went straight from fresh to reef but I read about it for a long time before I started up my 1st 29 gallon reef. I figured I would work smart not hard by absorbing as much info as I could before I took the plunge what I found is its not that hard once you understand the basics then the rest just evolves. so now I am keeping some of the toughest corals "SPS"and my anemone are doing fantasic so it seems to be a natural progression plus I have always been fascinated by seahorses. so dont be afraid just do your research and start slow my 1st reef had hob everything and was pretty cheap to setup:)
well I found some flame algae!!!! on ebay of all places so I ordered 2 frags that I will let grow in the nem /softy tank while I'm getting the pony tank ready:)
lol must be my lucky day

here are the ponies I am planning to get there will be 2 mated pair.
http://www.seahorse.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=20

WoW!! unbelievable colors, those horses are awesome, i cant wait to see em in your tank

here's the tank. its a year old, the skimmer has never been used,the lights only used
for the last month lol all its ever had in it is this one lil fish
it will come with a riser and everything I need to get started.

here's a video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9yjwsF3pkQ&feature=related

ok so here's my Plan/Recipe:
I have the tank ready and waiting for Saturday pickup. I ordered 35lbs of live rock
also 2x 20lbs bags black and white Caribsea live sand that I will also pickup on the way to get the tank. I will get back home and wash the tank and all components with a light solution of vinegar and rince well. then set the tank up and add my sand. I will have seed water from a water change on the 180 ready to use to fill the tank. then I will work on the scape once that is finnished its time to check and make sure the skimmer and everything is operating correctly then I will sit back and test. on day seven I will add a chromis then let the tank sit for 6-8 weeks checking the params every friday.
here is some of what I may add in the future on a scale of 1-4 four being the most threat to seahorses. threat level meaning either causing the ponies stress as in fast moving fish or compitition for food. also some corals sting and have sweeper tentacles they are to be avoided.
LPS
Lobophyllia 0
Brain maze 0
Sun coral 0
Acans 0 one of my favs:)
SHROOMS/Softies/Polyps
common mushrooms 0
Ricordia 0
Xenia 0
Zoa's 0
Paly's 0
all Leathers
NO THREAT 0
MISC
Seafans 0
Feather dusters 0
Sea Stalks 0
blue Linkia 0
Orange Linkia 0
Sexy Shrimp 0
I doubt I will have any fish but here are the ones that pose the least threat.
Bangaii 1
Firefish 1
Dragonnettes 0
Pearly Jawfish 1
of course this is NOT a stock list these are only ideas of what I can have that are compatible/suitable tank mates.
when it comes time to order the Seahorses I have decided on 2 mated pairs of Sunburst Hippocampus Erectus and 4 banded pipefish. these ponies will arrive at 3-5 inches they have colors that change from brite yellow to Beige,pink,orange depending on their moods. they will be drip acclimated in the dark and the tank will remain dark for an additional 24hrs after arrival. they can not be netted they need to be gently removed and placed by hand. I am also getting several packs of the food that they were raised on along with basic medications incase its needed.
well I guess thats about it for now I will post RSM setup pics this weekend.
oh here's a pictures of the Sunburst Seahorses:) they are said to be one of the friendliest ponies they wrap around your fingers and love to be hand fed. the white on the backs are called white diamonds. Thanks for sharing in my little Seahorse adventure:) I can't wait until the pictures will be of my own ponies!

I love reading your plan. You are so well thought out. Wish more keepers would be like you!

wildbeanerz wrote:

I love reading your plan. You are so well thought out. Wish more keepers would be like you!

Thank you thats a nice thing to say:)
I do my research because I take the responsibility to keep these beautiful animals
in my home and if something dies I take it seriously and get very upset so I need to know before hand whats involved in their care. I see so many people take this hobby on and kill one fish,coral,invert after the other and it makes me sick they are so nonchalant about it:( its just not right.
I have always loved seahorses when I was about 5 yrs old someone gave me a
fake one and I carried that thing around forever. so its time for the real thing:)
I will keep everything updated step by step as I go just incase there is someone else that might be considering Seahorses. honestly the setup is easy compared to the dedication it will take to keep them happy and healthy.

Im very excited for you to get your seahorses. I love them too so i will want to see lots of pics.

thanks keelo:)
here is an interesting read.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_4/V4I2/hippocampus_color2/Color_In_Hippocampus2.htm

I have been dreaming about doing this for a long time and researching and reading and reading and I feel I know enough now to keep them. I have been talking with Woodstock aka Doni's reef about this they breed snowcasso and seahorses and have a lot of great info. heres the website.
http://donisreef.com/ the biggest thing is seahorses have babies every 17-21 days so I am also working on a small tank for future babies.
I am buying all top quality because I feel what you start with makes a big differance in your success down the road. I will get two mated pairs from Ocean Rider they are more expensive but again you get what you pay for.
I am picking up the tank this morning and I have the live sand and some really nice live rock with some pony safe coral on it:) hitching posts!
here's some pics of whats going in the pony tank. I will post pics later of the tank after I get back. each of these are on a 10 pound rock.




these are higher end zoa frags that will make their way to the pony tank as well.

well I got it and tons of other stuff, some cool rock an ATO and some mollies with babies they are converted to saltwater so they will go in 1st. this guy has all kinds of good stuff he wants to sell he has a 360 G acrylic tank and stand dual corner overflows he wants 600 bucks so let me know if any of you locals are interested!

all cleaned up and ready to roll!
so far everything works fine. when I get if filled we'll see about the rest. this RSM is like new I doubt I will have any problems with it..
so the fun begins!!!!!!!!

It looks really great.

thank you keelo:) I am really excited, I cant wait to get started.
thanks guys for all your support...

well here is the RSM 12hrs old. some how the starfish made his way over so he will need to be returned to the 180 theres not enough food in there for him.
also check out the pic of this crab that showed up I'm not sure where he came from does he look emerald to you? looks red to me.
with the skimmer going on the tank it produces a lot of micro bubble so I am trying to work that out and I am also thinking of running a canister filter even though I am not a fan of them on SW tanks, I know ponies are really messy eaters and extra filtration may be a good idea. I will just need to keep up with cleaning no biggie:) the mollies are going to have babies again the one you can tell is full of eggs they already have 9 fry in the tank. the mollies will go in the 180 when I get the ponies and I figure they can continue to produce fry
in there they will be free fish food. its not cruel its just nature.
also I would like to ask the FW folks what canister would you recommend I use?
obviously I need more rock so I will steal some from the sump in the 180.

heres some cool stuff growing on this rock.

What is that pink stuff on the last pic?

As for a canister i hear the rena xp4 is amazing.

Keelo wrote:

What is that pink stuff on the last pic?

As for a canister i hear the rena xp4 is amazing.

the pink stuff is a sponge.
I already ordered a Marineland 4 stage canister filter 360 its rated for 100 gallon so that should do it...I hope:) thanks for you input!

It looks great! Are you going to be adding more LR? Or is it less due to the horses?

One thing...I thought you always said no canister filters for SW tanks?

wildbeanerz wrote:

It looks great! Are you going to be adding more LR? Or is it less due to the horses?

One thing...I thought you always said no canister filters for SW tanks?

yes, the rock work is not finnished, there will be a bit more rock and a lot more macro.
I really don't like canisters on SW tanks but I am planning for 2 mated pairs of seahorses and 4 pipefish which will require very heavy feeding and the RSM does not have a sump/fuge otherwise I would just use a 2nd skimmer. my only alternative is a canister. I will have to be very vigilant with keeping it clean. its going to be a tough balance between keeping the ponies fed while keeping the water quality pristine. this is definatley a special circumstance. does that make sence?

Absolutely! I knew that there had to be a thought process behind it. I just wanted to hear what it was. I knew you would have a good reason and research behind it.

wildbeanerz wrote:

Absolutely! I knew that there had to be a thought process behind it. I just wanted to hear what it was. I knew you would have a good reason and research behind it.

I could probably get away with just the built in skimmer in the RSM if I only housed one mated pair and 2 pipefish but even then it would be iffy. I figure you can never skim or filter too much. lol so I over do it the total water volume in the RSM is 34G and I am running a skimmer and soon a canister rated 100 G's better safe then sorry.
I also plan to modifiy the hood so I can use LED's rather than the pc's that are in it because the LED's run much cooler and I want to try to avoid a chiller ponies should be kept at 72-74 degrees the higher the tank temp the more susceptible they are to disease and they don't reqiure a lot of light. then I have another project that envolves the Seahorses they produce babies every 17-21 days and mine will arrive sexually mature, sooo I'm working on a small fry tank and I will try to raise some. I've been talking with an expert in breeding Seahorses and Snowcasso clowns she said expect to have 25-30% of the babies to survive. here's a sweet video:) thats a lot of ponies...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKrkXXaRMUI

a DIY kreaisel tank for the seahorse babies.
http://www.ventralfins.com/diy_kreisel.html