Lets do a hypothetical SH tank build.

[tabwyo]

I have been wanting a SH tank for a few years now. Work & health issues have prevented this so far. But now I am in a pretty good place to start building again. I'd like every bodies input on there idea of an ideal SH tank. Let's think small (30t or 40t), preferably sumpless and moderately low tech (PC/VHO no MH simple skimmer and so on). Redi are my fave so lets work around them. And I'd like a pipe fish as well. All input is welcome. I might be a kick butt reefer but ponies scare me.

[VWD]

I would start with a taller tank, so 37 gallon tank is the one for me, as far as simple it can be real simple, You can have HOB filters and skimmer.

[Sndwave80]

To keep it affordable and yet functional I would go with a 40gal breeder tank. Nice and shallow so you don’t have to spend big bucks on lighting and wide enough for good rock placement. Lighting I try to stay away from PC and would go with VHO or T5. Low heat and cheaper when it comes time to replace bulbs. Go with an Emperor 400 filter hang on filter. You could use a canister filter but I have not been too impressed with anything that is out there (too much work to keep them clean vs. just pulling out the filter cartridges and replacing them every 2-3 weeks). A person could wait even longer to change the cartridges but the carbon is only good for the first 2-3 weeks. Now skimmers it will just depend on how much you are looking to spend. Get the nicest skimmer you can as this is a key piece of equipment. Seaclone 100/150: entry level, Aqua C Remora Protein Pro Skimmer w/ Mag 3 and pre-filter box: Midlevel (several forums have stated this is a great skimmer as long as you get the Pro and the Mag 3 on it), and then the Berlin Hang on Skimmers (larger reaction chambers) or really any larger ventry skimmer: Grand Daddy. Note: these are not low profile skimmer and some will stay away from them just do to cosmetics. At this point you’ll have enough water movement you will not need any extra power heads so your tank will have a nice and clean look as well being functional. Always use your resources like TRT and/or Ebay to purchase items, saves you a little $$$. Hope that helped!

[tabwyo]

I am not against sacrificing a lil tank space to an internal skimmer box. One just large enough for the skimmer pump a heater and an auto top off switch.

On the subject of heaters. Does anyone have input on those "hydro coil" type heaters that you bury in the substrate??? No chance of a pony trying to hitch up to a heater when it's under ground right??

I already have rock. It started life as dry tonga branch but has been in one system or another for the better part of a year now. Currently the bulk of it is in my sump and over run with Aiptasia. So it's need a good cook.

[VWD]

if you like Reidi you want a taller tank, as far as the heater, I don't use them

[pledosophy]

How easy do you want?

40g tank, 37g tall is fine.

MJ 400 for surface aggitation.

30 lbs or so of LR, can use tonga branch so it doubles as a hitch.

Several species of macro (could do one species, but several have cool look to them)

Pair of seahorses.

5 Astrea snails.

Pair of peppermint shrimp

100w Heater set at 70F. If it stays under 74F you won't need any cooling methods.

Light fixture of your choice, for a 37g you could do the 30" dual 65w if you want dawn to dusk. A single 55w 50/50 bulb would do the trick though.

Weekly 10g water change
You're done.

No filters, no skimmers, no fancy equipment. The equipment is to make life easier not harder. If you don't want to deal with it, don't.

Ya I've run a tank like this. Except it was an 18g with a pair of seahorses, the snails, and 4 gobies, so in a 37g I would consider this fairly conservative based on my experience.

If you want an easy skimmer, the Remora is popular.

The Magnum cannister filter would be my first choice for filters, a Fluval 305 would be next.

JME

[tabwyo]

I do dig the idea of a marine planted tank. Simple is nice but I won't do w/o a skimmer. I am also kicking about the idea of making the tank myself. A tall cube.. well if it's tall then it really wouldn't be a cube but dang it you get the picture.

[ryan_h]

here's what i would use:

38 gallon tank (36x12x22)

hang-on overflow box with 29 gallon refugium

mag drive 9.5 return pump, with spray bar--1 hole every 1.5 inches, with 2 facing down the back glass for every 1 pointing at a 45 degree angle across the rock. this will provide good turnover and circulation to keep debris from collecting behind the rock without blasting your seahorses around. the water will flow down the back of the tank, through the substrate and up the front, carrying debris to the top of the tank and down the overflow box

protein skimmer rated for 120 gallons or more

put the heater in your sump. no worries about horses hanging on

current-usa 36" nova extreme 4x39w t5ho

i'd include several species of calcerous algaes in the display (i.e. halimeda, shaving brush, mermaid's fan) for the horses to hang on to, and the refugium will provide a copepod breeding area as well as nutrient absorbtion. with as much food as you'll be putting in, that will be important.

livestock wise, i would go with 2-3 pairs of horses, maybe a mini-banded pipe fish, 6 or so peppermint shrimp for clean-up

a tiger-tail cucumber would be an awesome addition to keep the substrate clean with 0 threat to the horses. harlequin serpent stars are also a great detrivore to have.

[lightsluvr]

We have a 29G Oceanic Bio-Cube that we were considering for a dedicated seahorse reef. Has anyone used one of these systems for hippocampus?
Any suggestions to improve the chance of success?
Thanks for any wisdom and advice.

LL

[jojon60]

I have never had one of the bio cubes, but from what I have heard its real hard to keep your temps down on the all in one systems. You will want to try to keep your temps in the mid 70"s. I shot for 74 - 75 on my seahorse tanks.
Hopefully someone with first hand knowledge will come along.
HTH
Jan

[lightsluvr]

Sounds like chiller time...

LL