Thinkin of seahorses

[limitedslip]

Well, I took apart my 20 gallon reef w/ a 5.5 gallon refugium, sold the coral, and put the tank back together in hopes to try somethin different. I was thinkin of seahorses, but I dont know if my system can support them.

Current tank setup is:
20 gallon tank
5.5 gallon refugium
30 gallon millenium wet/dry w/ hypersorb
5lbs of live rock and a large amount of chaeto in ref.
2x65 watt pc lighting
Tank stays constantly around 74 to 75 degrees w/o a heater.

Is their any species of seahorse that could live in my tank?

[ReefNutPA]

IMO if you're diligent with water changes and keep the water in great condition, you could add a pair of seahorses to the tank. Provided that, during the summer, the tank does NOT go higher than 75F.

Personally, I'd go with CB Erectus.

Tom

[limitedslip]

alright, seems like I can handle that, I was going to add an external fan to cool the water as it is, because I thought seahorses needed closer to 72 degrees, So ill have that just in case. I do water changes every 1 to 2 weeks on my 125 (have to because my aggressive fish make a mess). I will just do waterchanges at the same time.

thx for the help

[peacetypes6]

I believe that 72 is a tad bit chilly for them. I like +/-75

[panmanmatt]

Originally posted by peacetypes6
I believe that 72 is a tad bit chilly for them. I like +/-75

Not at all. I have kept mine in the 69-70 range with no ill effects.

[Spracklcat]

Temp depends a lot on the species--a bit of reading will tell you all you need to know.

[peacetypes6]

Originally posted by Spracklcat
Temp depends a lot on the species--a bit of reading will tell you all you need to know.

Yup

[limitedslip]

sounds good, ill figure out the temp requirements when I decide which kind to get.

[JennyL]

If you are going to keep one of the larger species, I really hope you will consider a larger tank.
There are more things to consider than water perams, which are extremely important, of course but I can tell you from experience that you can't go wrong if you will provide them with a larger tank.

The more space you provide them the better. They will use every inch of it.

I think one of the biggest mistakes made is when people try to keep horses in a small, cramped space and then complain because they are boring and inactive.

They are inactive because they have no room to swim and explore,etc, which eventually leads to stress and illness.

[crazedpuffer]

Is that why my Erectus seemed kinda boring? I had the rocks layed out across the whole tank and they were kinda blah and now its just on one side and they keep swimming around?

[limitedslip]

jenny, I am lookin on the small spectrum lol, I'm not dumb and want to fit the biggest seahorse in the smallest tank possible. Erectes were what I was acutally looking at, but there are a few other dwarfs I am looking at too while I am doing research.

[ann83]

Originally posted by limitedslip
jenny, I am lookin on the small spectrum lol, I'm not dumb and want to fit the biggest seahorse in the smallest tank possible. Erectes were what I was acutally looking at, but there are a few other dwarfs I am looking at too while I am doing research.

Erectus are not "dwarves". The only species of dwarf seahorses available in the hobby is Hippocampus zosterae, and they need a very specialized setup since they max out at about an inch. Erectus are a large species seahorse and will get 7"- 8" or more full grown. Where are you doing your research that told you that erectus were dwarves. I would take a look at www.seahorse.org/library/articles.shtml The other commonly available species like reidi and kuda also get that large. Most of the smaller seahorses are temperate or subtropical specis and will require a chiller.

[crazedpuffer]

I think he meant smallish seahorses not like the Giant Seahorse and them.