How would sea horses only do in a 20 gallon tank?

[BBN]

If I only had 2 sea horses and some live rock would they hold up ok? Are they to fragile for a small tank? Thanks.

[Corax]

actually, a smaller tank is ideal for them if you can be RELIGIOUS in your water changes and top off schedule. That small a volume suffers greatly from a gallon or 2 evaporating than say a 55...

An Ideal seahorse tank would consist of:
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A reverse flow undergravel filter
Crushed Coral substrate (one of the few instances I'll EVER suggest crushed coral)
NO (normal output lighting)
Liverock
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The reason for the reverse flow undergravel filter is that the seahorses require very little water flow, and this would be the most gentle way of assuring good water flow in and around the liverock. As you know, UGFs will not work with sand, so a DAS is out of the question.. The lighting needs to be subdued as seahorses do not like bright lights.

This is NOT a beginner project, be very mindful of that. I've been keeping fish for ~17 years, salt exclusively for the last 2 and I'm not ready to try ponies yet... Please base your decision on all the available information and be sure to buy tank raised ponies even if they cost you more.

[BBN]

Good points and thanks for the info. I think I'll go ahead and keep my fresh water fish in it for now and try horses out after I feel more confident w/ my saltwater tank.

[votek]

Yea, I agree totaly with Corax. If you don't have the confidence that you can do it, then don't. If you think you can, then go ahead.

I do have a question though, how do they compare (difficulty wise) in comparison to anemones. Are they about the same level?

[Corax]

I would say harder based strictly on the live feedings.. My BTA is an easy keeper, it takes silversides 2-3 time a week and that's about it... I got simple lights over it (2x96w power quads)...

[votek]

Ahh well thank you for the info :)

[BrianH]

You can lower the difficulty level by pruchasing captive bred horses. They usually will eat frozen mysis shrimp. The drawback is their price. They usually go for about $75 a pair on line. Try checking http://www.seahorse.org/ (http://) or the seahorse room on RC for more detailed information on seahorse husbandry.

Brian

[heedicus]

hey,
seahorse in the right tank are reasonalably (sp?) hardy. They do need a slow moving tank... I have a 55 with 3 small 150gph powerheads in it and I think its too much. They sugguest a turn over rate of 3 to 7xper hour. Personally I would (and did) stay away from a UGF. I have a dsb and all is well. Its hard to keep algae at bay in a seahorse tank cause of slow water movement...
If you buy CB horses then they eat frozen and you only really need to feed them once a day (although they dont mind twice)
make sure you keep agressive tankmates out of this tank. There are not too many other fish you can put in but there is a small variety. As brianH said go check out seahorse.org. they all rock...
some really informed folks and great library articles out there.
t

[ChilDawg]

I'd go with Oceanrider.com if I ever got seahorses...the captive-bred part is especially attractive once you know how finicky the wild-caught ones are, how they are collected, and how few there are left out there.

You do have to be pretty careful with a "nanotank" (less than 20 gallons) because of evaporation, but they definitely work quite well in well-cared-for nanotanks.

Best of luck with the Hippocampus spp!

~Matthew

[Corax]

Originally posted by heedicus
Personally I would (and did) stay away from a UGF. I have a dsb and all is well.

Normally I'd agree with you 100%, but in such a small tank with liverock, I feel that a RFUGF is the best way to move the water around. Powerheads will blow the ponies around too much, as will anything HOB. The only point I will concede here would be the crushed coral. Plain gravel could be substituted here and would be, IMHO, more attractive.

A good friend of mine runs this very same setup with his ponies and he has done very well with them for years.

[JohnMemorialHS]

I agree on the RUGF simply because power head provides too much water distrubance. I also second the crushed coral because it makes it a lot easier to do water change with.