My Dwarf Seahorse Adventure

[HappySkittles]

hello
decided to make a post for my dwarf seahorse adventure
good to keep track of stuff will add actual pics later

anyway..i couldnt have another bigger tank (i already have a 55 gallon freshwater tank and i aint converting it to salt anytime soon D: ) so i researched some saltwater critters and found dwarf seahorse

this is my tank
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=15494
when i add the seahorse i will stuff some sponge i have into the intake so no one gets sucked up...right now its cycling so some good flow would be nice.

i cut more hols into the lid so that my fan would fit
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=14701

my substrate is a mix of argonite and black sand...its very pretty mixed...very salt and pepper (it was not live sand as to avoid any nasties that might happen to be hiding)

i have one piece of rock in there (was not LR but will be after all this)

i was going to add some blue mushroom polyps, a bumble bee shrimp (if this is a bad idea chime in...i just want something that could help clean up besides snails) nassarius and nerite snails (probably just 1 of each)
for plants i was thinking caulerpa and maidens hair

i am also going to add copepods to the tank after it cycles and before i add the seahorse so they will have something right away to eat. i will buy decapsulated brine shrimp eggs also.

so hopefully all goes well once the tank cycles.

[Clownfish29]

this is a very nice setup. For shrimp, i think the bumblebees will work, but another idea may be a few sexy shrimp. They are great for a small tank like that, you could keep a small group of them, and they will probably eat the leftovers. The Algae you are adding grows very fast and is a great hitching post for the seahorses. Just make sure that all of your parameters are good, and to keep the temps low, which you seem to be doing, and your tank will thrive! The best of luck to you!

[HappySkittles]

i think i became ocd with parameters with my years of freshwater
i am always on top of that >_< but i guess if you're gonna obsess over something, water parameters for your pets would be the best thing :P

i was looking at the sexy shrimp too
but the bumble bee is smaller...trying to go for the smallest shrimp..i wanted red hawaiian shrimp but they are very difficult to find in smaller groups...i found em online sold as feeders (gave you 25-30 of em)
i havent gotten anything yet so there is still time to research shrimp (which i have been doing after i did tons of research on the seahorse)

[HappySkittles]

ok here is a pic of the cycling tank (its a 3 gallon acrylic pico)
the fans are angled down to help keep the tank as cool as possible with the lid on to minimize evaporation (tank stays at 77 f during the day 76 at night)

there is no mechanical filter in the well...filter...it has chaeto (its also a clear filter so it gets light ) and a little thing of carbon and i will be adding a sponge to the intake tube before i add the seahorse as well as lower the flow (there is a little dial on it that i can turn and lower the flow if the sponge doesnt slow it down some)



pretty sand (argonaite and black sand)


click for bigger images

[theyellowdart]

Where are you ordering your dwarf seahorses from?

[HappySkittles]

from here

http://cbdistributors.com/specials.html

only because they do next day (they charge $50 for shipping and handling) other places charge $25 which is not guaranteed next day

i'd really like for them to not be in transit for longer than a day
they also have great reviews on ebay

[theyellowdart]

Thanks for the info. I have almost the same exact setup for my girlfriend and i want get some dwarf seahorses for her. It's good to know these guys guarantee next day delivery.

[in_flight]

they're going to be a pita to feed if they haven't already been trained and feeding them takes a very long time and alot of effort

[HappySkittles]

i know
i've got copepods to seed the tank and decapsulated brine shrimp cysts to hatch
also looking to try and get them to eat frozen or other really small suspension foods (even if its just a bit here and there)
maybe if i get the snails in the tank to breed they can eat the larval snails...i've got what they need and will readily eat and am willing to try other foods and clean up if it doesnt work out

[in_flight]

Originally posted by HappySkittles
i know
i've got copepods to seed the tank and decapsulated brine shrimp cysts to hatch
also looking to try and get them to eat frozen or other really small suspension foods (even if its just a bit here and there)
maybe if i get the snails in the tank to breed they can eat the larval snails...i've got what they need and will readily eat and am willing to try other foods and clean up if it doesnt work out

keep us updated on the feed status, i'd like to start a small species only tank too

[HappySkittles]

will do
if i have any kind of new or interesting info to contribute this will be the first place to know

[HappySkittles]

ok
my tank is cycled! gonna let it sit for another week though to make sure its all good

then imma add the very small clean up crew and algea if it still looks good

[oneoffcustom]

hows the tank doing

[small alien]

have you got the horses yet? let's see some pics please.