Looking for input on starting a seahorse tank.

[tim the toolman]

As the title suggests I am looking to start a seahorse tank build in an old floor model television which I had a freshwater aquarium built into previously. I guess the main questions would be
1. Tank size requirements
2. Need for a protein skimmer?
3. Suitable tank mates
4. Is a refugium necessary (i have read they need a pod colony)
Any other comments would be appreciated, as well as info on your own successes.
And yes I will show a build thread as the T.V. Tank comes to life

[Nano]

I have heard low flow, tall tanks, with lots of branchy rock/coral to hold onto

[tim the toolman]

The tank would be about 20" tall with just cheap led lighting, maybe just enough to grow softies. I guess that would mean I would need some fake branching stuff.

[Nano]

Originally Posted by tim the toolman

The tank would be about 20" tall with just cheap led lighting, maybe just enough to grow softies. I guess that would mean I would need some fake branching stuff.

even skeletons of sps is probably fine. If i did a sea horse tank, it would be all ricordea and zoo's with some dead sps

[tim the toolman]

Thnx for the response, I know we talked about pipefish before. Do you think they would be a compatible tank mate. I know they are from the same family. How r urs making out. (I hope I have the right guy)

[Nano]

Originally Posted by tim the toolman

(I hope I have the right guy)

lol nope wrong guy but I'm sure some one will pipe in with the answer! I'm too much of a newb to advise on a lot of stuff still

[BlueTang<3]

Originally Posted by tim the toolman

As the title suggests I am looking to start a seahorse tank build in an old floor model television which I had a freshwater aquarium built into previously. I guess the main questions would be
1. Tank size requirements
2. Need for a protein skimmer?
3. Suitable tank mates
4. Is a refugium necessary (i have read they need a pod colony)
Any other comments would be appreciated, as well as info on your own successes.
And yes I will show a build thread as the T.V. Tank comes to life

Min 30 gallons for a pair
No but it allows you to easily feed more and not worry about it as much, ponies are painfully slow eaters
I have mine with Mandarins, most small well mannered fish would work, but I advise putting much of anything in as they will compete for food.
I stuff my tank with calupera macro algae and it keeps enough food for 2 Mandarins and 2 seahorses and supplement with vitamin enrinched brine.
Keep it low flow and the tank needs to be cool water anything over 72-74 and you wont have any bacteria issues. Cant keep them with corals that will sting them as they have very sensitive skin. I keep them in a 50 gallon cube with a Deltec mce600 skimmer and aqua clear 70, with that low flow they still get blown around.

[tim the toolman]

Thnx for the advice I was looking at the tank being around 30g so that's great news. Do they actually eat the caularpa or it it just for them to hang onto and for pods to thrive in?

[BlueTang<3]

Hiding place for them and the pods, gives them area to hang out. If you want to see our set up its very simple but has been working for the last year, you free to come out.

[tim the toolman]

I may definitely take you up on that offer. I really want to do this right, as idont think I would be able to watch a seahorse perish. I already have a very well established pod colony in my big tank and I also have a lot of caularpa in my sump so I would definatly considering going your route.