Not new, but starting again
 

I have had seahorses since about 2004-2005. I took a 2 year break and was starting again. I set up a 37g tank for 1 pair. Used Live sand and about 5lbs of LR from the sump of my reef tank. 1/2 of the water came from the reef tank as well. Added macros, zoas, shrooms, and other softies. Ordered a reef Octopus Classic 90 HOB skimmer and bought a Fluval 306 because a sump was not possible on this tank as it has a metal stand next to my desk ( I work from home at my desk 8 hrs a day.)
I needed this to be SILENT...my phone mic picks up everything!

I plan to order 20 lbs of branch rock from BRS...but it out of stock, so I have to wait for that. I converted 3 FW mollies to full saltwater and they have been in the tank for about 3 weeks now. Great algae eaters. They will be moved to the sump of the reef tank once I get the seahorses.

Fast Forward to yesterday...I'm checking out Craigslist..and I see a 60g RR Cube for sale for $150 about 2 hrs away from me. Fired off an email, Sent a deposit via paypal and I pick it up Saturday.

Sooo My little 37g tank will now be the QT tank where I can train the future seahorses to a feeding station.

I have to build a stand for the cube. Will post more pics as I start the build. Now I have to totally reconfigure my office as the cube will not fit in the space the 37g is in. Build stand, build sump, buy return pump, build dursos, double the branch rock order, buy PVC and ball valves, set up auto top off, order more live sand, Double the seahorse order to 4 instead of 2.
Maybe I should rethink this lol.

Quick plans for stand done in paint

OR, you can put one pair in the 37g and two pair in the 60g and have six total. :spin1:

OMG...I am trying not to do what I did before... I had 18 tanks. All seahorses except the 125g reef. I had 37 seahorses because I could not part with my favorite fry!

18 tanks!

I like your stand and sump design but I am wondering about the height of the 20 gallon high under the stand...will you have enough room to easily remove the the skimmer cup without hitting the bottom of the DT. Or reaching down into the 20g H could be tricky?

Oops my bad. You are using a 20 H, not a 20 XH.

Yes...the sump is only 16" high, Stand will be 30 inches high. I have a 30" stand that I built under my 65g reef tank. Will be basically the same stand only not as long.

Ha ha ha...and you know with them breeding about every 21 days...that could potentially give me a batch a fry every week with 3 pairs...and that's if they space it out for me.

Been there, done that. Never again. I had more fry then I knew what to do with. I swear I couldn't give them away!!!

Apparently Someone upstairs thought I didn't need a bigger tank. I hit a deer and now have a $500 deductible to pay to get my car fixed. Guess I'll be sticking with 1 pair in the 37g ;(

O no, that stinks!

:headwalls:

There is always a way...
 

I decided to put the deductible on the credit card so I am back to picking the tank up Saturday. I try hard not to carry a balance on any of my Credit cards, but hitting a deer was an emergency and that is why I have multiple cards...for emergencies.


I am back to picking the 60g cube tank up on Saturday. I purchased the stand today. I will be reinforcing it since I do not trust prefab stands. Once I get the tank home I will cut out the holes needed for the Overflow pipes. Bulkheads are on order, baffles for the sump will be cut next week, and the return pump is on order as well. The Reef Octopus skimmer will be here tomorrow.

I have a large cleanup crew on order since the 65g reef needed replenished as well.

Since I can not get the rock for 2 weeks I will just work on getting everything set up until then. I may order the seahorses next week since they will be going in the 37g until they are trained to a feeding station anyways. This way it is easier to keep a close watch on them while they settle in and they can grow a bit before going into the bigger 60g tank. I figure by the time the 60g cycles and is ready, the seahorses will be to ;D

Ha ha! I am like you about credit cards but every once in a while for something really special we will use them. Enjoy preparing the 60!

Ahhh...BRS got the branch rock back in stock earlier then they thought :) :beer: Woot Woot...ordered it 5 seconds after I saw it in stock. I wasn't missing it again! I have so many items coming in the mail next week. I do not even want to see my bank acct. EEKS!
I finished reinforcing the stand, glued and screwed. I can't wait to get the tank on the stand tomorrow so I can finish drilling holes for the PVC. Moved it into it's final spot in my office. Finished adding the hitches and feeding dish to the Temp. 37g tank. Added the BH-90 skimmer to the 37g tank as well. (looks terrible on the front of the tank, but would not fit on back. Too tall by about 1/4 inch grrr. Good thing its temporary)
The only things left to buy are the actual Seahorses and a few PVC fixtures. (ball valves, quick disconnect unions, sump sock holder, and 2 more socks for the new system.

I plan to call Dan and Abby Monday to order my pair of H. Erectus. Hopefully they will have an older pair available. I miss raising babies!! Plus I had a great conversation with Beefy. Last time I was breeding, I had so many I could not get rid of! I can now :dance: That is a HUGE relief. Being in an apt. I can not have 18 tanks again to hold the ones I can't find buyers for.

O my Angie, I can feel the excitement! I can't hardly wait to see your new seahorses! Your tank looks great btw. Are you going to ask for a yellow pony? I see you have yellow decor.

Mine always turn Yellow or Orange....I'm not sure why. I have gotten black ones that turned yellow in a month. I got browns that turned orange. I even got the snowshines from Tami...yup...they turned yellow too lol.

I received my branch rock from BRS today, along with the clean up crew. I finished drilling hole in the stand for the OF and started on the sump. I am still waiting for the bulkheads, plumbing parts, return pump, and another bag of sand. The seahorses will be here Thursday, and will go into the 37g until the 60g cube is ready for them.

I plan to do a 15g water change on the 37g tonight before the seahorses get here.

Looking good!

They are here...
 

My Pair of H. Erectus arrived! The male looks suspiciously plump in the pouch area...Would not be the first or even the 2nd time I received a preggo male. I am keeping the lights low for today to give them time to settle in. I did offer Mysis shrimp, but they did not eat it. It usually takes them a day or 2 before they start eating. There are plenty of amphipods for them to snack on.

The pair will remain in the 37g until the 60g cube is ready for them.

I also siliconed the baffles in the 20g High sump today. Will let that set up and cure for a few days before I start plumbing the 60g cube.

Yes, he does look as though a pregnancy is a possibility. They are beautiful. Did you get them from Seahorse Source?

Yes I did. It would not be the first time Abbie and Dan sent me a preggo male. I got a pair from them a few years ago that did an egg transfer in the bag...I know this because there were a few eggs on the bottom of the bag. So they either did it in the bag, or he pushed a few eggs out in transport.

I figure in a week or 2 they will be yellow...seems to be the norm for any I get. No matter where I get them from.

I have been making googley eyes at them for hours....good thing it was lights out time or I would still be sitting next to the tank.

I was the same way with my new pair.

Getting closer to being wet
 

I finished plumbing the 60g cube today. Everything is dry fit, and I will glue it all tomorrow. I was 2 elbows short so I will pick them up tomorrow as well. Then I will leak test it. Sunday I plan to Epoxy the Branch rock together into some awesome structures. Once that cures I will start cycling the rock. The sump is located on the other side of the wall in the bathroom closet. Since this is in my office and I work from home, I needed it to be silent.