Seahorse Advice?

[jazzsam]

So I have been running reef systems now for many years including tanks up to almost 400 gallons total but now I decided to get a seahorse tank. Is there any advice anyone would give that would be any different than a normal reef setup? Thank you!

 

[panmanmatt]

Sam, I'll give you any advice I can. Here's some of the more important steps in keeping seahorses successfully, cooler temps, 72-74F, moderate flow with areas of lower flow for the seahorses to rest as they aren't the strongest of swimmers. No special lighting is needed and actually intense lighting is discouraged. No aggressive or fast moving tankmates, no stinging corals or anemones. And one of the most important pieces of advice I can give you, buy true captive bred specimens from a reputable source, most LFS are not a reputable source. I prefer to buy direct from the breeder myself.


A guideline for tankmates: http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/tankmates/tankmates.shtml
A very reputable breeder that sells direct to the public: http://www.seahorsesource.com/
A really good place for information on keeping seahorses: http://www.seahorse.org/

 

[jazzsam]

That is very helpful but can you help define moderate flow? I was actually thinking to keep the flow to a bare minimum. Would that be bad?

 

[panmanmatt]

Moderate flow would be 7-10 x turnover rate so for a 30 gallon tank you'd be looking at 250-300 gph. Now you can go a little higher if you use flare nozzels on your returns instead of a straight round return. The flare will disperse the flow better.

Bare minimum flow would create dead spots in the tank for detritus to build up making maintenance that much more difficult. Seahorses are messy in the fact that they don't have much of a stomach so the food passes through quicker than regular fish.

 

[jazzsam]

Anything special to do with salinity?

 

[panmanmatt]

No. I run mine the same as my reef tanks, 1.022-1.024.