my Seahorse adventure starts tomorrow

Tomorrow I begin my Seahorse project by emptying out my 36 gallon freshwater and probably buying 20 pounds of base rock, a power filter, and various hitching posts. I'm finally exiting the research and dream stage (not that you ever really exit the research stage) and finally getting going. I'm thinking H. fuscus for those of you who are interested. Pics will follow once it gets going.

 

Awesome my horse adventure ended right when the tank was ready for them. I would highly suggest putting some mandrakes in your tank. They make great holds for the horses and keep nitrates and phosfates out of the water.

 

Mandrakes? Mangroves? As for nitrate and phosphate there will be live macros and water changes.

 

dont sea horses like slow moving water? y a high power filter?

 

Ya mangroves is the one.

 

seahorses appreciate some water movement in their environment and I meant to say mechanical filter but I said power by mistake.

 

I'm anxious to how this works out for you. Seahorses need cooler water than most reeftanks, don't they? Are you going to need a chiller?

 

Most are best in 72-78 but some can go even higher or lower. The reason its better to go for the lower range is because they are prone to disease and the cold water helps keep the diseases down.

 

cant wait to see how it comes out!

 

Thanks all. I don't believe I will need to run a chiller. The tank was freshwater for 2 years and ran at 74. Here's my plan in a nutshell.

36 gal. tank
40 lbs live sand
10 lbs year old rock from my reef (safe for my reef because my reefs bioload has been decreasing due to a sally lightfoot I can't catch and I won't be replacing fish any time soon. Plus I will replace the removed rock with base rock that will quickly become live)
canister filter running bio-filtration and carbon
A very small amount of sand from my reef for extra bacteria

The tank in all likelihood will not cycle because all of the bacteria are being moved in tomorrow when I set it up. It will run for I'm planning 3 weeks with 2 peppermint shrimp, a skunk shrimp, a few snails, and maybe a small goby. If all goes well it will likely be ready for two small horses (H. fuscus)