Dwarf seahorse ranch, under construction.

[bikerbutter]

Hello all!! My wife Brittany and I are beginning the build of a 36 gallon bow front tank(petsmart, on sale for 199.99 with cabinet/stand) with a 15 gallon refugium for 10 dwarf seahorses to start. They are to be joined by 10 little blue leg hermits, 5-10(hopefully 10) sexy shrimp, and a few snails. I'm a little nervous about live rock. We will be starting with dry rock. I'm going to TRY to load pics but it may take me a spell to figure out how, lol. We truly appreciate seahorses and wish to keep them HAPPY to the max and thriving. With this in mind, we intend to be very patient, creating a perfect environment for them. We estimate a month for the cycle. We will then allow 2 months for the tank to mature a bit. Get a steady stream of copes and rots flowing for our ponies to graze on, lots of positive algae and bacteria can grow, and let our gorgonians take hold firmly. We will run 2-3 bbs hatcheries and keep an enrichment schedule for maximum nutritional value. I'm long winded i know, lol. Will post again soon, and will do my best to answer any questions and entertain any ideas. Thank you.

 

[*GAREEF*]

Hello all!! My wife Brittany and I are beginning the build of a 36 gallon bow front tank(petsmart, on sale for 199.99 with cabinet/stand) with a 15 gallon refugium for 10 dwarf seahorses to start. They are to be joined by 10 little blue leg hermits, 5-10(hopefully 10) sexy shrimp, and a few snails. I'm a little nervous about live rock. We will be starting with dry rock. I'm going to TRY to load pics but it may take me a spell to figure out how, lol. We truly appreciate seahorses and wish to keep them HAPPY to the max and thriving. With this in mind, we intend to be very patient, creating a perfect environment for them. We estimate a month for the cycle. We will then allow 2 months for the tank to mature a bit. Get a steady stream of copes and rots flowing for our ponies to graze on, lots of positive algae and bacteria can grow, and let our gorgonians take hold firmly. We will run 2-3 bbs hatcheries and keep an enrichment schedule for maximum nutritional value. I'm long winded i know, lol. Will post again soon, and will do my best to answer any questions and entertain any ideas. Thank you.

I look forward to following it along.
How very exciting!

 

[bikerbutter]

I look forward to following it along.
How very exciting!

Thank you very much for the support. I'm so stoked about this, i feel like I'm gonna be a dad again...almost!! Lol. Do you have a build going?

 

[*GAREEF*]

Thank you very much for the support. I'm so stoked about this, i feel like I'm gonna be a dad again...almost!! Lol. Do you have a build going?

Not seahorse at the moment but I’ve successfully kept many varieties throughout the years.
I love seahorses!
Right now I just have a reef tank.

 

[bikerbutter]

Not seahorse at the moment but I’ve successfully kept many varieties throughout the years.
I love seahorses!
Right now I just have a reef tank.

HOLY SHEDOODLE!! Wow! What a beautiful tank. Very impressive. Life has amazing colors and you've certainly captured the essence of them. What size? How long has it been growing? And do my eyes deceive me, or do you have plant life on the glass? I'm sure you have countless hours invested. Your work is paying off. Gotta get some sleep. Have a great night.

 

[*GAREEF*]

HOLY SHEDOODLE!! Wow! What a beautiful tank. Very impressive. Life has amazing colors and you've certainly captured the essence of them. What size? How long has it been growing? And do my eyes deceive me, or do you have plant life on the glass? I'm sure you have countless hours invested. Your work is paying off. Gotta get some sleep. Have a great night.

Thank you that means a lot to me.
When you get a chance you can check out my tank thread. Click on my tank thread in my banner. It’s all in there.

 

[bikerbutter]

Hello all!! My wife Brittany and I are beginning the build of a 36 gallon bow front tank(petsmart, on sale for 199.99 with cabinet/stand) with a 15 gallon refugium for 10 dwarf seahorses to start. They are to be joined by 10 little blue leg hermits, 5-10(hopefully 10) sexy shrimp, and a few snails. I'm a little nervous about live rock. We will be starting with dry rock. I'm going to TRY to load pics but it may take me a spell to figure out how, lol. We truly appreciate seahorses and wish to keep them HAPPY to the max and thriving. With this in mind, we intend to be very patient, creating a perfect environment for them. We estimate a month for the cycle. We will then allow 2 months for the tank to mature a bit. Get a steady stream of copes and rots flowing for our ponies to graze on, lots of positive algae and bacteria can grow, and let our gorgonians take hold firmly. We will run 2-3 bbs hatcheries and keep an enrichment schedule for maximum nutritional value. I'm long winded i know, lol. Will post again soon, and will do my best to answer any questions and entertain any ideas. Thank you.

UPDATE!! We got it set up and started the cycle today!! As soon as this is complete we will add some gorgonians, and if it's still available, a spectacular cabbage leather which currently resides at our lfs. Oh yea, and 3 bottles of Tigger pods!! But...dreams must hold, for now we just wait for the cycle. Lolol. It really sucks having to be patient but it helps knowing that patients are rewarded greatly!! More to come.

 

[ieatbugman]

nice!!!! As a fellow impatient fish keeper, you got this! Slow and steady definitely wins this race.

Really cool build!!!

 

[ieatbugman]

have you considered some macro algae for this tank? It is quite pretty and will provide more (perches?) for the seahorses

 

[bikerbutter]

nice!!!! As a fellow impatient fish keeper, you got this! Slow and steady definitely wins this race.

Really cool build!!!

Thanks! We are going to add a couple Nesarius Snails,10ish blue leg Hermits, 8ish sexy shrimp, and 10 dwarf seahorses to start. The ponies and the shrimp will be added after 3 months, giving time for the gorgonians to take hold firmly and the copepods to multiply lots! As much as I want it all right now, we know that our livestock will appreciate a more mature tank. We don't just want them to survive. We want them to thrive and be super happy!! I feel like we owe it to them to do right by them.

 

[bikerbutter]

have you considered some macro algae for this tank? It is quite pretty and will provide more (perches?) for the seahorses

Yes. That is definitely something we're interested in. Theres a ton of benefits and no real downside. Was also wondering about some sort of seagrass.

 

[ieatbugman]

That would be super cool

 

[Astrangia]

Great job!! Love the "Don't tap on glass sign", lol. Yeah patience is hard, but you'll have a thriving heard before you know it

 

[bikerbutter]

Great job!! Love the "Don't tap on glass sign", lol. Yeah patience is hard, but you'll have a thriving heard before you know it

Thanks! We're loving everything about this. I guess to be honest I must say the cycle wait time is a good thing to. We aren't just waiting. We are actively seeking any and all information on everything going in our tank. We really want them to be happy. Ty very much for the feedback.

 

[keepingfishwithnoidea]

Nice!!!

 

[bikerbutter]

UPDATE!! We got it set up and started the cycle today!! As soon as this is complete we will add some gorgonians, and if it's still available, a spectacular cabbage leather which currently resides at our lfs. Oh yea, and 3 bottles of Tigger pods!! But...dreams must hold, for now we just wait for the cycle. Lolol. It really sucks having to be patient but it helps knowing that patients are rewarded greatly!! More to come.

So...I've been working on safe ways to make lots of hitches for our ponies. We have focused on their comfort and happiness in this build. Still no live coral, we are seeing ammonia but nitrites aren't here yet. But it will be worth the wait!!

 

[vlangel]

Yes. That is definitely something we're interested in. Theres a ton of benefits and no real downside. Was also wondering about some sort of seagrass.

Hi bikerbutter! Hey, I used to have erectus seahorses in a 36g bowfront.

The one downside to macroalgae in a dwarf tank is hitch hiking hydroids that can sting your little herd. I love macroalgae in a seahorse tank and there is dips that can be used to kill the hydroids, although I can't remember what it is called. You will need to be on the look out for hydroids with hatching artemia too as that can also introduce them into your tank. Keeping dsh is not for the faint of heart.

Here is a pic of my ponies in the day:

 

[bikerbutter]

Hi bikerbutter! Hey, I used to have erectus seahorses in a 36g bowfront.

The one downside to macroalgae in a dwarf tank is hitch hiking hydroids that can sting your little herd. I love macroalgae in a seahorse tank and there is dips that can be used to kill the hydroids, although I can't remember what it is called. You will need to be on the look out for hydroids with hatching artemia too as that can also introduce them into your tank. Keeping dsh is not for the faint of heart.

Here is a pic of my ponies in the day:

Thanks for the advice. We most certainly don't want anything stinging ponies. Hydroids reminds me of hemorrhoids, there both a pain. Lol! I'll be doing some research on this subject for sure.

Your tank is spectacular!! It's great to see not only seahorse tanks, but to see what you've created with the same style tank as we have chosen. Magnificent!!

 

[bikerbutter]

Hello all!! My wife Brittany and I are beginning the build of a 36 gallon bow front tank(petsmart, on sale for 199.99 with cabinet/stand) with a 15 gallon refugium for 10 dwarf seahorses to start. They are to be joined by 10 little blue leg hermits, 5-10(hopefully 10) sexy shrimp, and a few snails. I'm a little nervous about live rock. We will be starting with dry rock. I'm going to TRY to load pics but it may take me a spell to figure out how, lol. We truly appreciate seahorses and wish to keep them HAPPY to the max and thriving. With this in mind, we intend to be very patient, creating a perfect environment for them. We estimate a month for the cycle. We will then allow 2 months for the tank to mature a bit. Get a steady stream of copes and rots flowing for our ponies to graze on, lots of positive algae and bacteria can grow, and let our gorgonians take hold firmly. We will run 2-3 bbs hatcheries and keep an enrichment schedule for maximum nutritional value. I'm long winded i know, lol. Will post again soon, and will do my best to answer any questions and entertain any ideas. Thank you.

Finally!! After 33 days!! We have nitrites!

 

[bikerbutter]

Hello all!! My wife Brittany and I are beginning the build of a 36 gallon bow front tank(petsmart, on sale for 199.99 with cabinet/stand) with a 15 gallon refugium for 10 dwarf seahorses to start. They are to be joined by 10 little blue leg hermits, 5-10(hopefully 10) sexy shrimp, and a few snails. I'm a little nervous about live rock. We will be starting with dry rock. I'm going to TRY to load pics but it may take me a spell to figure out how, lol. We truly appreciate seahorses and wish to keep them HAPPY to the max and thriving. With this in mind, we intend to be very patient, creating a perfect environment for them. We estimate a month for the cycle. We will then allow 2 months for the tank to mature a bit. Get a steady stream of copes and rots flowing for our ponies to graze on, lots of positive algae and bacteria can grow, and let our gorgonians take hold firmly. We will run 2-3 bbs hatcheries and keep an enrichment schedule for maximum nutritional value. I'm long winded i know, lol. Will post again soon, and will do my best to answer any questions and entertain any ideas. Thank you.

hello all, sorry so long since an update. Unfortunately, our progress has been limited by our funds. We are making great progress, our ecosystem is loaded with blue leg Hermits and copepods. We've added 10 to 12 micro brittle sea stars, 2 stomatella snails, and just today we got our first healthy sexy shrimp. I'm as excited as a kid at Christmas!! we also added 3 soft corals, (2 died) and a beautiful burnt orange zoa. On my next check I'll order 2 brine shrimp hatcheries and 4-8oz cans of bbs cists. We like to be prepared. Then hopefully we'll order the ponies at the beginning of April. Photos to follow in a day or two.