pipefish tanks

[sir_dudeguy]

So i've got a bunch of tanks laying around and figured i'd do a species tank w/just pipefish.

Which pipefish are the "easier" ones to care for?

Anyone have any pics of pipefish tanks?

thanks!

[Aquabucket]

I'd say the Dragonface is one of the easiest but not the most spectacular looking. They are not very active in the water column and are poor swimmers though. Mine spends much of his time hunting along the substrate. They can also tolerate the sting of LPS and other corals. I have not tried to feed it yet because he gets plenty of live food from my well established 40G. mixed reef.

Here are a couple of pics of the little guy.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x220/MasterPlanMan_2007/Nov1402.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x220/MasterPlanMan_2007/Nov1403.jpg

[corbett_n]

how do you deal with the low flow when it comes to algae growth. They need low flow right?

[Aquabucket]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13912861#post13912861 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by corbett_n
how do you deal with the low flow when it comes to algae growth. They need low flow right?

I had to drop my tank's flow rate to 10X turnover. So far I have had no problems but its only been a few weeks. I also use mini powerfilters for powerheads. These have small slots for the intake and he can't get sucked in. As far as algae is concerned it has no place to grow in my tank because it is 95% covered with corals.

I would say a 40G breeder is a good sized tank for many pipefish because its big enough to sustain a fair amount of live foods for them. Anything smaller might be pushing it.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x220/MasterPlanMan_2007/Nov803.jpg

Another favorite hangout for mine is the wads of chaeto I have hidden behind my rock-work:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x220/MasterPlanMan_2007/Nov807.jpg

I also set-up a small pod tank to breed pods for him in the future:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x220/MasterPlanMan_2007/Nov2801.jpg

[sir_dudeguy]

thanks for the info and pics. What would be the easier pipefish to feed? I'm assuming the dragon like you said?

[Aquabucket]

They are all going to be challenging to feed and none are guaranteed to eat prepared foods. Having a mature tank with a substantial pod population is the key. The other is competition from fish that would also eat what's on the pipefish's menu.

Here is a link (http://www.seahorses.de/pipefish.htm) that discusses some of the common species found in the aquarium trade.

[sir_dudeguy]

thanks for the link.

As this will be a species only tank, there wont be any competition for food, unless i have multiple pipefish.

On that note, are they better single or in pairs/groups? by all the pictures, i'm guessing they're fine in groups, they just require additional food for each additional fish..

[johnny313]

mine eats frozen baby brine. I have 2 in a 12g.

[Aquabucket]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13915741#post13915741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy
thanks for the link.

As this will be a species only tank, there wont be any competition for food, unless i have multiple pipefish.

On that note, are they better single or in pairs/groups? by all the pictures, i'm guessing they're fine in groups, they just require additional food for each additional fish..

For the most part I believe they prefer to be in mated pairs. Some males may not tolerate each other depending on species.

[cateyes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13912898#post13912898 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aquabucket
I had to drop my tank's flow rate to 10X turnover. So far I have had no problems but its only been a few weeks. I also use mini powerfilters for powerheads. These have small slots for the intake and he can't get sucked in. As far as algae is concerned it has no place to grow in my tank because it is 95% covered with corals.

I would say a 40G breeder is a good sized tank for many pipefish because its big enough to sustain a fair amount of live foods for them. Anything smaller might be pushing it.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x220/MasterPlanMan_2007/Nov803.jpg

Another favorite hangout for mine is the wads of chaeto I have hidden behind my rock-work:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x220/MasterPlanMan_2007/Nov807.jpg

I also set-up a small pod tank to breed pods for him in the future:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x220/MasterPlanMan_2007/Nov2801.jpg

Aquabucket -- care to share some info on your pod tank? size, filtration and lighting to start with...

thanks a lot,,, lisa

[sir_dudeguy]

cateyes, you dont really need any filtration other than live rock. Pods will grow in anything. As for the light and whatnot i'll let him say, since its his tank, but just thought i'd throw that out there ;)

[cateyes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13917256#post13917256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy
cateyes, you dont really need any filtration other than live rock. Pods will grow in anything. As for the light and whatnot i'll let him say, since its his tank, but just thought i'd throw that out there ;)

i didn't think it was really necessary, but i thought it looked like some kind of HOB filter in the back left corner, just curious about it...
thanks for the input,,,, lisa

[Aquabucket]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13917100#post13917100 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cateyes
Aquabucket -- care to share some info on your pod tank? size, filtration and lighting to start with...

thanks a lot,,, lisa

For pods you don't need any filtration. I just have some LR and macro algae in there to get the populations started before I start dosing live phyto. I am using an air powered filter to run carbon for now.

Here is a link to my pod tank thread (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1519034) with more info.

[cateyes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13917515#post13917515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aquabucket
For pods you don't need any filtration. I just have some LR and macro algae in there to get the populations started before I start dosing live phyto. I am using an air powered filter to run carbon for now.

Here is a link to mypod tank thread (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1519034) with more info.

thanks a lot for the link!!!!

i'm setting up a 40tall for a pair of seahorses and have an inkling to put a pipe or two in there as well... i just want to be sure i can supply an adequate amount of food for all... this set up i'm sure would help me get there...

thanks again,,,, lisa

[dwd5813]

Aquabucket does your dragonface hitch on to corals at all?

[sir_dudeguy]

I was also curious about them holding onto corals.... do they irritate any corals by doing that? I'd think the only ones they can really latch onto are sps (branchy stuff)..

[Aquabucket]

Mine rarely hitches to anything. It prefers to hunt all day long gradually making his way around the tank.