Fresh Or Seahorse

So I have a dilemma. I have a 36 Gallon freshwater that I do love, but I can't decide what I should do with it. I can't decide if I should keep it freshwater or change it to a Seahorse tank, and I'm interested in your opinions. A few other options have crossed my mind and I am interested in other suggestions as well.

 

Seahorses take a lot of special care... or so I hear. But I think they're neat.

FW is easy in comparison (IMO)

EDIT: But it's the challenge that makes it fun!

 

I've done my homework on Seahorses and I'm fully prepared to take on the challenge. Plus, I have a friend to consult who is a professional aquarist at the NEAQ and is in charge of their Seahorse tank if I need help. Freshwater is easy compared to just about anything saltwater. IMO, the difference between fresh and saltwater is that you can all but master the care of a freshwater community tank, while a reef is always bringing new surprises and challenges.

 

I am partial to seahorses. I am not a great fan of FW. So the Seahorse idea. Or a small predatory tank.

 

What could go in a predatory tank that small? Also, the problem with a predatory tank is that i'm trying to figure out a setup that I can run without a skimmer because of how expensive that would be.

 

You will want to get a skimmer if you are going to do a seahorse tank. A problem with seahorses are they are messy eaters! This results in a lot of waste being in the tank.

Here is my imitation of seahorses eating.....oh look food.......hmmmm, .......maybe I should go get it,.......oh look it is gone!.......more food......gulp.......missed it......maybe I will move and get it the next time they add food.....repeat!

Plus there is really no clean up crew you can keep with seahorses. You can have snails but crabs and horses dont go well together. So if you dont have a skimmer that waste will accumulate.

Not to say you can not do it without a skimmer....I did it, but you will have to be dedicated to do very frequent waterchanges. Plus as you have probably read these guys are very picky eating. You can get a horse that will eat frozen mysis and then all the sudden stop eating and will only eat live food! You also need to have a low flow in the tank as they can meet their demise with a powerhead.

Skimmers for that size of tank is not all that expensive, plus I guarentee you will thank yourself for the purchase down the road

good luck in whatever you choose to do

 

I say stay with the fresh and go with some live plants. I just set a 30 tall up and it is starting to come along. But it all comes down to choice. You can always go with a octopus too if you want to go salt.

 

I am aware of Seahorses habits and requirements. Also, snails can coexist as well as small hermit crabs. My LFS sells skimmers for that size for 125$ which I don't exactly have. While Seahorses are messy eaters, they also produce little waste. This helps to balance it. Also, with only 2-4 horses in a 36 gallon, not much food would be going in. Buying tank raised horses helps with the picky eating problem.

 

Fresh water if you want something that is easy to maintain and look at. (Is this tank going to be a break from a SW tank?) Seahorses if you have the extra time for a hobby project.