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.

That goby is a cool lil dude. What is the orange in pic 4 called?

its a cauliflower coral the color is awesome that pic was the day I got it it has better extendsion now... lol off to take more pics

Most of the time with reef set-ups I don't know what I'm looking at, as far as the various corals and so forth, but I do know a little about gobies and I like that yellow cutie in the last pic. They have such great faces!

So you said you added 70 lbs of rock to the RSM 250. Does that include the 35 lbs from the 130, or did you not move that?

Also, what is super rock, and what is the reason to treat it with seltzer?

It's all looking great!

D'Claro wrote:

Most of the time with reef set-ups I don't know what I'm looking at, as far as the various corals and so forth, but I do know a little about gobies and I like that yellow cutie in the last pic. They have such great faces!

So you said you added 70 lbs of rock to the RSM 250. Does that include the 35 lbs from the 130, or did you not move that?

Also, what is super rock, and what is the reason to treat it with seltzer?

It's all looking great!

watchman goby have a very cool symbiotic relationship with the pistol shrimp. The goby watches out for predatory fishes and warns the shrimp. The shrimp has limited eye sight and needs the goby to alert them of predators while the goby uses the shrimp's hole as shelter. he stands there on one fin watching the front of the tank:)
no, I still have the 130 running with the origanal rock. super rock is a really nice grade of live rock that already has corals growing on it. the seltzer water dip will get unwated critters out of the rock and wanted ones as well, normally I would worry about it but I need to make sure there is nothing that can harm the seahorses.

I'm still moving things around so not much is glued up yet but here's what I have so far.

the Seahorse tank is coming along after the Diatoms and a short battle with Cyano, I moved things around a bit. I think the ponies will like the vivid colors since they change colors with their moods and surroundings. I planned to order them in July but I think I will put it off til late Sept because of shipping and the temps outside. also by then the tank will be up 5 months and definatley stable lol I'm taking no chances with the Seahorses.keep in mind it's still a work in progress.. here is some HH macro algae:) also ponies love yellow but I can't seem to find any brite yellow pony safe corals any ideas?
tank is 2 months and 3 days old.

That is just so neat!! I can't wait to see pics when your ponies join their new stable! ;)

Wow that is next to AMMMMAAAZING, love it love it love it. Beautiful.

, that's all I can say.

Thanks guys:) I am taking my time with this build but I can't wait to see ponies in it too, I'm sure the scape will keep evolving before all is said and done.

Very nice. Can't wait to see more.

Very nice! Love it! No more of that fake neon look that it had in the beginning either. Looks like all the corals are settling in nicely.

yeah they have actually grown, April the hitch hiker algae is the 1st pic its nice and really red I love red in a reef:)

I saw that red HH algae. Sweet!!!

fast grower too I'l have to save ya some:)

Cool! Thanks!

anytime, you know you don't live that far away:)

What a fantastic diary, and what amazing patience you have shown.
I'll be following it from now on.

cwhip wrote:

I planned to order them in July but I think I will put it off til late Sept because of shipping and the temps outside. also by then the tank will be up 5 months and definatley stable lol I'm taking no chances with the Seahorses.

It seems right to me to wait as long as possible to make sure the tank is really stable. I set up a tank for some tiny Asian catfish in Feb 2010 and added them in May 2011, so I'm with ya' on this one! ;)

well its been 7 months since I set the pony tank up needless to say my stable is stable :) I moved the RSM to a better location, I swear by those heavy duty furniture movers, 66 gallons,70 lbs live rock, plus live sand and I slide it right where I wanted it. the chiller is hooked up and running and keeping the tank a steady 72 degree's I have the chiller and the heater working together to keep the temp steady but as outside temps begin to fall I will need to watch it closely because I have found with the Red Sea Max 250 it tends to over heat no matter if its 100 degrees outside or 20 below its an enclosed system and the heat from the lights pumps and skimmer etc cause the water temp to soar that tells me that I will need to run the chiller year round:( my next step is to go ahead and purchase the ponies it's getting to the time of year where I'm not as worried about heat and shipping since my ponies are coming from Ocean Rider in Hawaii. ok so I'm ready I will update this thread when they arrive with pic's of acclimation etc....

P.S. wish me luck they all arrive alive and healthy thats always my #1 concern.

Squeeeeeeee! How exciting!!!! I can't wait for their arrival and the updates and pics that will follow!

cwhip wrote:

P.S. wish me luck they all arrive alive and healthy thats always my #1 concern.

Wishing you the best!

Good luck Cwhip!

Thanks Guy's:) now all I need is $$ to place my order they will cost between 300-400 depending on whether I get a couple pipefish..

Ok finally the ponies are ordered it's been a long 7 months, the tank has been up and running without any issues what so ever!!!! the chiller and heater are working together to keep the tank at an optimum 75 degrees.
PH 8.1
amm 0
trates 0
trites 0
salinity 1.025
here's the stocklist
1 purple firefish
3 red firefish
1 watchman goby
1 Bi color blenny
1 mated pair of Mustangs
1 mated pair of Sun bursts
2 red banded pipefish
I decided to go with all real corals like xenia,Gorg's,leathers,zoa's I am getting ready to place another order now for a couple more corals to finnish the look I'm after off.
they will be delivered this Saturday 10/15/11 pictures to follow:)
LOL I am sooooo nervous... you'd think I'm having a kid or something..
please wish me luck and break out the Cigars