barbianj's stuff Time for a new reef tank

I think they're awesome, too, so here's two more pictures. They've really settled in, and are always hunting around. I heard that they are poor swimmers and sick to the rocks, but they can swim in strong currents for a short time, sometimes as a pair. They are definitely for every tank, though.

 

Nice images!!

Besides actively picking are they eating anything you are giving the sea horse or the dendros, yet.

 

Not yet, but I'll try the Nutramar Ova soon. That's the only thing I have that they could possibly eat because their mouths are so tiny. They are picking at the rocks A LOT, though, so there must be a good deal for them to eat. They are not afraid of the feeding tube at all, so that's a plus.

They add a good deal of movement and interest to the tank, I really like them so far.

How is the picture taking going? Got any good ones lately?

 

Hey bud, ive been looking at some of them pic of yours and man them corals are NICE!!!! I'll wait by the mailbox for some... Lol awesome job, keep up the good work!!! letme know when your fragging days start...

 

Actually got a few decent ones. Now I have taken my new found camera skills out side, the cacti are blooming so I am trying the techniques out side.

Personally I like the pipe fish more than sea horses. I love their colors, patterns and the face is so expressive.

I have seen a few in very large mixed (mostly sps though) tanks with other more assertive fish and a lot of flow and they just hung close to the rocks and spent all their time hunting. I do think though in an established nano with no other fish and supplemental feedings they would be so cool.

 

For your tank, a pipefish would be a better fit. I tried some Nutramar Ova last night, and while they didn't eat any, they did seem to perk up when they noticed it in the water. I'll keep trying.

The first day the pipes were in the tank, the seahorse aggressively followed one and then bit it. The pipefish was unharmed, but the seahorse jerked around violently for a while. She wouldn't eat that night, then had trouble swallowing the next day, and hung out in the same spot. After that she was fine. I'm not sure what the defense mechanism was, but the seahorse will not bother the pipefish again.

Can't wait to see more of your photos!

 

Just finished going thru all 9 pages and all I can say is you have done an amazing job. Great photography also.

 

Thanks for noticing!

 

So how are the pipe fish doing?

Cool " thank you, thank you" in Elvis voice ion.
8)

 

I think they are doing good. I saw them doing a mating type dance where they do sort of a choreographed pattern type thing. It's hard to describe, but I would take it that they must be healthy. I have a short video that I could post later, but I only caught a part of it.

As far as mandarins, pipefish and seahorses competing for food, they all eat different sized things. The pipefish can only eat things so small that I can't see them.

They are very active fish, and occasionally they swim in open water and in strong current. They don't hide at all. They do stop to pick things off of the SPS.

I think they would do good in your tank as long as you feed a phyto type food to keep all of the little critters going.