New Tank

smazzuca_34 · 12-01-2007, 02:43 PM

Hello
I am setting up a 50 gallon aquarium 24x24x24 and wondering how long I should wait till I add a pair seahorses to the aquarium? Also where do you recommend to buy them online? I have had marine fish before and I decided to start up a seahorse aquarium.I have not yet set up the aquarium but planning to do so soon.I would only like to keep seahorses and polyps. Thank you!

Loverotties · 12-01-2007, 03:39 PM

Welcome to TRT!It will take a couple of months(A month or so to cycle and a month to be shure of any spikes and to mature).

smazzuca_34 · 12-01-2007, 04:10 PM

So if my aquarium was to cycle i two to three weeks and I add my clean up crew and there is no spikes in levels, then I am safe to add in the seahorse?
Thank you.

Jflip2002 · 12-01-2007, 04:23 PM

IT depends on your set up. I have the same tank, and added my FSB, cooked live rock, and it was good to get. I let it set 1 day to be safe I think. If your rock is all live, and you use dry dead sand there shouldnt be much of a cycle.

smazzuca_34 · 12-01-2007, 04:27 PM

Why would you use dead dry sand and not live sand?
Thanks

Jflip2002 · 12-01-2007, 05:20 PM

Because live sand isnt really "live". That bacteria isnt really as alive as they make it seem. Just use dry dead sand. Its cheaper, and it'll become live eventually with live rock. It'll take less time to cycle also..

YLChik · 12-01-2007, 05:32 PM

I would wait 4 months or so to make sure that you don't have any pesky critters that can harm your seahorses.

A seahorse tank is NOT the same as a regular reef environment, take the go slow rule and multiply- go s...l...o...w!

read ALOT before you get them to make sure that you get the BEST chance of keeping them alive as possible.

Seahorsesource.org is a wonderful place to go - and Dan is very very very helpful- I got 4 reidi from him and they came down with gas bubble disease and he helped me out tremendously!

Dracomarine.com or org is another place, they are in MD and also very reputable.

A local breeder if you can find one - or a breeder on seahorse.org
read read read and read some more. They are wonderful creatures and so beautiful, but like most saltwater organisms they require specific conditions.

I hope that helps you.

Here is my build thread on my 29 gallon seahorse tank... I hope it helps you - as I have already made many of the common first timer mistakes

http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90397

smazzuca_34 · 12-01-2007, 05:43 PM

How is oceanrider.com for seahorses? Does anyone else have an opinion?
Thanks for all the advice

pledosophy · 12-08-2007, 02:33 AM

Oceanrider is expensive, over rated, and has poor customer service IME.

Draco is closed.

MarineDepot has some good stuff imported from australlia, but also sell net penned from asia, so I'd avoid.

Seahorse Source is great. There are many great local breeders around too. Make sure you get stock from someone with a lot of experience as some fry raising practices like prophylatically treating with anti biotics can lead to huge problems down the line.

JMO

I like to let the tank cycle. Add the macro and clean up crew. Start feeding a cube of mysis a day per pair of seahorses you plan on getting, then doing that for 8 weeks or so. Your basically QTing your CUC in your display when nothing else is in there.

If everything is running good, your good for the seahorses.

JMO

VWD · 12-08-2007, 07:26 AM

All good advice,

Oceanrider is expensive

like Amy said take it very slow,

Welcome to the Reef Tank!