IOAOI Dwarf Seahorse Ranch

[ben townsend]

Hello R2R!

Had the chance to try out the new IOAOI 8 gallon tank and figured I'd try my hand with some dwarf seahorses.

Equipment:

• Kessil 360 blue
• Innovative marine Nuvoskim desktop skimmer
• Mighty Jet 850103 return pump
• Aquamarine heater

Stocking:

• 1 pepermint shrimp
• 2 bumblebee shrimp
• 1 blue cleaner goby??
• 10 -15 dwarf seahorses

Macroalgae list:

• To be continued.. have lots in mind but nothing is finalized

Overall Goals:

I want to create a beautiful macroalgae display with a mixture of tall and bushlike macros. I've read a lot about a seahorse's natural habitat and the whole underwater grassland is fascinating to me, I want to as closely replicate that as I can. I'm wanting the color scheme to be full of reds, oranges, blues, and purples, with some large grassy patches mixed in. (..also considering a gsp covered back-wall..) The tank will be on my desk so I'm hoping to create a unique, and exciting looking tank I can enjoy up close for many years>

My second goal is to document every process in an effort to provide more information for someone looking to set up their very own seahorse tank. In my weeks and weeks of researching I've struggled to find and substantial information about keeping seahorses, and oftentimes the research is contradictory to another source from somewhere else.... hense my desire to document my own personal experience.

Third and final goal is to get the tank to a point where I can propagate the macroalgae and succesfully raise seahorse babies, distribute them locally, and share the love. (Sadly in Spokane, Washington there is a severe lack of fish people.. hopefully we can convert a few more with cute little baby ponies.)

Thanks for bearing with me and without further adieu, let the shenanigains begin!!

 

[Peace River]

Nice! Congratulations and best of luck on your adventure!!!

 

[ben townsend]

Picture Log:

May 25th, 2025

 

[bikerbutter]

Hello R2R!

Had the chance to try out the new IOAOI 8 gallon tank and figured I'd try my hand with some dwarf seahorses.

Equipment:

• Kessil 360 blue
• Innovative marine Nuvoskim desktop skimmer
• jaebo SLW-10 wavemaker
• Mighty Jet 850103 return pump
• Aquamarine heater

(All equipment ordered as of 5/18/2025 and we'll see if we have too much flow going on for the ponies.. might have to use the wavemaker on a different build, but we shall see)

Stocking:

• 1 pepermint shrimp
• 2 bumblebee shrimp
• 1 yellow clown goby??
• 10 -15 dwarf seahorses

Macroalgae list:

• To be continued.. have lots in mind but nothing is finalized

Overall Goals:

I want to create a beautiful macroalgae display with a mixture of tall and bushlike macros. I've read a lot about a seahorse's natural habitat and the whole underwater grassland is fascinating to me, I want to as closely replicate that as I can. I'm wanting the color scheme to be full of reds, oranges, blues, and purples, with some large grassy patches mixed in. (..also considering a gsp covered back-wall..) The tank will be on my desk so I'm hoping to create a unique, and exciting looking tank I can enjoy up close for many years>

My second goal is to document every process in an effort to provide more information for someone looking to set up their very own seahorse tank. In my weeks and weeks of researching I've struggled to find and substantial information about keeping seahorses, and oftentimes the research is contradictory to another source from somewhere else.... hense my desire to document my own personal experience.

Third and final goal is to get the tank to a point where I can propagate the macroalgae and succesfully raise seahorse babies, distribute them locally, and share the love. (Sadly in Spokane, Washington there is a severe lack of fish people.. hopefully we can convert a few more with cute little baby ponies.)

Thanks for bearing with me and without further adieu, let the shenanigains begin!!

Hey, thanks for reaching out and were wishing you the best of luck with your build.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Can't wait to see the pictures!

 

[ben townsend]

As I suspected the wave pump created far too much flow so I'll have to rely on the return pump for flow, don't think it will be an issue but we shall see..

Having some slight troubles keeping the water level up in the back (there's hardly any free space in the chamber with the skimmer and I suspect that it could be limiting water flow) but otherwise all is looking good!

Buying my first algae in a few days and will add a small blue cleaner goby and peppermint shrimp to generate waste as I wait for the algae to grow large enough to support seahorses. (Hoping to have ponies by the end of June)

Some pics! What do you guys think of the rock scape? And any suggestions whatsoever??

 

[bikerbutter]

As I suspected the wave pump created far too much flow so I'll have to rely on the return pump for flow, don't think it will be an issue but we shall see..

Having some slight troubles keeping the water level up in the back (there's hardly any free space in the chamber with the skimmer and I suspect that it could be limiting water flow) but otherwise all is looking good!

Buying my first algae in a few days and will add a small blue cleaner goby and peppermint shrimp to generate waste as I wait for the algae to grow large enough to support seahorses. (Hoping to have ponies by the end of June)

Some pics! What do you guys think of the rock scape? And any suggestions whatsoever??

Nice!!