15 sh/pipefish tank

[KING OF THE REEF]

well just need a basic question answered. I want to keep 1 pair of each seahorse and pipefish. A total of 4 things and maybe a few cleaner shrimp. HOB filtration what do you all use? I plan otl run a nano-fussion skimemr. lmk, btw corals will be zoos, rics, and leathers nothing else. lights will be 6 t-5's

[LisaD]

a 15 is really not big enough, IMHO, for most of the readily available medium/large seahorses. I think adding two pipes of just about any species would REALLY be cramped. most people that start with a 20 soon upgrade.

is there any way you could at least go up to a 20? the lighting and corals sound fine, but be sure to keep temps under 80.

FWIW, I have never had great long-term success with pipes, and there is no guarantee they will train to frozen. you might be limited on what species stay small enough for the tank too.

Good luck with the tank!

[KING OF THE REEF]

thanks, but im not able to go to a 20 (just have enought space for this 15). i was thinking eventually upgrading for larger seahorses, but what species could i keep for about 6 monts in there? i was planning on water changes every other week and not having a large bioload

[LisaD]

you could grow up juvies of any of the typically available species, erectus, reidi, kuda. but I think after 4-6 months you would find they would do better in a larger tank. you could certainly keep them alive in that sized tank with good attention to water quality. they do need some swimming space though.

[KING OF THE REEF]

ok i will do that then, grow them up and what not then transpher them. what type of HOB filter would i want to use? i like the aquaclears

[LisaD]

Any good quality HOB would be fine.

[KING OF THE REEF]

ok i was thinking the largest aquaclear modded into fuge/ skimmer aarea (nano skimmer)

[LisaD]

I think it sounds good.

[Jordan55]

If you keep macro algae in the tank you wont want to have a skimmer. The nutrients that the skimmer pulls out is the same stuff the macro needs to grow.

[BOBHILT]

THAT SOUND LIKE A GREAT WAY TO START KEEPING SEAHORSES BUT YOU WILL HAVE GROW TO BIGGER TANK

[bunsenburner]

While I do agree that the nutrients a skimmer pulls out are used be macro to grow I still get a huge amount of macro algea growth with my skimmer running full time. A skimmer is not something you need but something you really want if you can deal with cleaning it.

[KING OF THE REEF]

i will be adding a skimmer to the tank soon (after i get my funds). I just set the tank up with water from a tank i tore down over the weekend, and i bought my seahorses on MLK day. keep in mind, the tank had been running since friday and nothing had changed as it was basically the same equipment, media, pads for bacteria, and rock and sand that was in my 15 tall. I aid $100 for a pair of tank raised erectus, but they are all black currently as i really dont have any color in the tank for them. i do have hitching posts out of artificial coral and some dead gorgorieans. this week i plan to add lot of mmushrooms (like watermellons and redish-purples t the tank for a uniique color combo. i am wondering however, can a hammer coral be placed into a tank with seahorses? if not thats ok, but if so im going to add it first thing tomorrow

[Jordan55]

I would say no no on the hammer. Mostly all LPS are harmful to sea horses, especially ones with tentacles.

[KING OF THE REEF]

hmm darn, are blastos bad? i know zoos and shrooms are not. also what about monti caps will they be hurt by the seahorses?

[Jordan55]

I think some people will argue with a lot of corals.

Some could say they have had experiences with some corals, others will not try it.

I would just forget really all LPS and be safe. Now someone can come along here in a few posts and tell you some LPS are fine, thats cool.... but I am being safe and just putting a load of different types of macros.

Sorry, not much help... but I am throwing in a less common opinion.

[KING OF THE REEF]

thats fine, i am still learnig about them, but it was the only pair i have seen for weeks, and i figured that cause my bday is just around the corner, my mom bought em for me
i greatly appreciate the help, btw they seem to love the shrooms