Question about possible seahorse tank

JW65 · 04/16/2011, 10:32 PM

I was thinking about setting up a seahorse tank sometime in the future and I have a tall hex that is about 18ish gallons and about 22-24 inches high. Would this be an ok tank for seahorses? Because of the way they live I for some reason was thinking a tall tank would be good.

Meus · 04/16/2011, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JW65

I was thinking about setting up a seahorse tank sometime in the future and I have a tall hex that is about 18ish gallons and about 22-24 inches high. Would this be an ok tank for seahorses? Because of the way they live I for some reason was thinking a tall tank would be good.

No, seahorses use just as much horizontal space as vertical. Really, vertical space is only useful for breeding/courtship.

rayjay · 04/17/2011, 08:41 AM

While I have no doubt that someone has been successful using a similar tank, there are many others who failed.
Experience has shown that the odds of success are better with appropriately sized tank volume, which for normal seahorses means a minimum of 29/30g for a pair, with an additional 15g for each additional pair.
Seahorses can be difficult to maintain even in the best of conditions but outside of those conditions, the odds of success become much less.
There are links at the bottom of 'THOUGHTS ON SEAHORSE KEEPING' that can advise you on the basic needs and reasons for doing things to give you the best chance of success in the seahorse keeping hobby.

napier02 · 04/25/2011, 11:46 PM

I used a similar tank for years to raise

GrindingNemo · 04/28/2011, 01:29 AM

While that is good advise for most species, it's not true for all... That tank could be made to work well for dwarf seahorses. The only problem is that you would need to keep several because that is a bit big for just a couple.
If you do decide to try dwarfs, keep in mind that the require a constant supply of live food.
I currently have a tank that is similar in size to that one, and my dwarfs are doing quite well. I think I had 8 to start with, but they breed constantly so I don't have any clue what the population is now.
Setting up the tank should have no live rock or sand (in order to avoid unwanted monsters), and should be allowed to fully cycle before ordering the ponies. They seem to like macro algae, and no other tank mates other than dwarf pipefish.

jimroth · 04/28/2011, 02:22 PM

I had the same idea as you and set up a similar hex that is now housing three happy H. Erectus.

I wouldn't do it again, because:
1) They grow too big to stay there long term
2) My cheapo HOTB skimmer isn't really enough for the amount they eat
3) Undergravel filters are no longer considered a good choice.

My tank is doing great partially due to large (30% weekly) water changes. I will be moving my herd to a traditional reef-ready tank with a better skimmer as long as soon as I get it out of the garage and cycle it.

04/16/2011, 10:32 PM	#1
JW65 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Catawissa, PA Posts: 124	Question about possible seahorse tank I was thinking about setting up a seahorse tank sometime in the future and I have a tall hex that is about 18ish gallons and about 22-24 inches high. Would this be an ok tank for seahorses? Because of the way they live I for some reason was thinking a tall tank would be good.

04/17/2011, 08:41 AM	#3
rayjay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,969	While I have no doubt that someone has been successful using a similar tank, there are many others who failed. Experience has shown that the odds of success are better with appropriately sized tank volume, which for normal seahorses means a minimum of 29/30g for a pair, with an additional 15g for each additional pair. Seahorses can be difficult to maintain even in the best of conditions but outside of those conditions, the odds of success become much less. There are links at the bottom of 'THOUGHTS ON SEAHORSE KEEPING' that can advise you on the basic needs and reasons for doing things to give you the best chance of success in the seahorse keeping hobby. __________________ Seahorses. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses

04/28/2011, 02:22 PM	#6
jimroth Moving Money Join Date: May 2001 Location: Rockaway, NJ Posts: 1,764	I had the same idea as you and set up a similar hex that is now housing three happy H. Erectus. I wouldn't do it again, because: 1) They grow too big to stay there long term 2) My cheapo HOTB skimmer isn't really enough for the amount they eat 3) Undergravel filters are no longer considered a good choice. My tank is doing great partially due to large (30% weekly) water changes. I will be moving my herd to a traditional reef-ready tank with a better skimmer as long as soon as I get it out of the garage and cycle it. __________________ Jim Roth --------------- Current Tank Info: 250G custom SPS System w/3X Radions

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04/25/2011, 11:46 PM	#4
napier02 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 53	I used a similar tank for years to raise

04/28/2011, 01:29 AM	#5
GrindingNemo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 114	While that is good advise for most species, it's not true for all... That tank could be made to work well for dwarf seahorses. The only problem is that you would need to keep several because that is a bit big for just a couple. If you do decide to try dwarfs, keep in mind that the require a constant supply of live food. I currently have a tank that is similar in size to that one, and my dwarfs are doing quite well. I think I had 8 to start with, but they breed constantly so I don't have any clue what the population is now. Setting up the tank should have no live rock or sand (in order to avoid unwanted monsters), and should be allowed to fully cycle before ordering the ponies. They seem to like macro algae, and no other tank mates other than dwarf pipefish.