Seahorse in Refugium tank

[zico]

Has anyone turn the refugium into a "display tank" and keep seahorses in it?

My tank-maker say I can consider that as I am keeping a sizeable refugium.

I Googled it and has mixed reviews on doing this.

Anyone has any experience with this to share?

[Gouldian]

Has anyone turn the refugium into a "display tank" and keep seahorses in it?

My tank-maker say I can consider that as I am keeping a sizeable refugium.

I Googled it and has mixed reviews on doing this.

Anyone has any experience with this to share?

If you are having coarse live-sand and macro-algae in your refugium and intend to have 1 or 2 seahorses, it should be fine.

• Too many seahorses will deplete micro-fauna which will defeat your initial intention of setting up a refugium
  
• You should need to mature your refugium before adding seahorses to minimize risk of the above
  
• Feed seahorses sparingly so as they do not have to fully depends on the micro-fauna
  
• Excess food and waste will increase bio-load
  

Hope that helps.

[zico]

Bro. Tx for the tips.

Any idea if seahorse are easy to survive in such a refugium.

Its a tough decision for me.... If i want to turn the refugium into a display tank, i will need to cut a square hole in front of the cabinet door to display my refugium. So i gotta be v sure i want this. Else there will be an unsightly hole on cabinet door if the display refugium turns out a failure.

Secondly ... How to put chaeto and seahorse in the same tank?

[Gouldian]

Bro. Tx for the tips.

Any idea if seahorse are easy to survive in such a refugium.

Its a tough decision for me.... If i want to turn the refugium into a display tank, i will need to cut a square hole in front of the cabinet door to display my refugium. So i gotta be v sure i want this. Else there will be an unsightly hole on cabinet door if the display refugium turns out a failure.

Secondly ... How to put chaeto and seahorse in the same tank?

Seahorses are slow feeders thus they will be out-competed in the main tank with fishes. That's why most will recommend that they are to be kept in species tank. If your fuge only contains a pair of seahorses, I don't see any reasons why they will not survive.

Cheato tends to float clump together thus no issues with them together in your fuge.

[zico]

Thanks again for the feedback.

I am now more inclined towards making up this refugium display.

Yes, will keep max 2 or 3 seahorses.

I am quite fearful of keeping delicate creatures + I want the space for the chaeto. So, yes, max 2 (or 3 ) seahorses for me.

[yellowtang]

Zico, sorry that i may traumatise you. A refugium sole purpose is to support the main tank. if you start to keep fishes or sea horses in it, you are compromising the benefit of having a refugium. Believe me, you will never stop at 3 sea horses if you start it. Dont make the same mistake as me.

You can actually have nice sea plants in your refugium. And it provides a steady stream of live food for your animals in the main tank.

Then again, every situation differs. Every reefer knows his interest best. You decide.

Cheers and happy trading and happy reefing.

mike

[zico]

Thanks Mike, your views are always appreciated and sought after.

Ok... understand your point... will weigh this carefully.

I do not intend to keep any fishes in refugium... as u say, if fishes are in there, all the pods etc will be gone. With SH, I hope with ample feeding, the pods get to thrive in the same refugium tank w the SH.

Am going down to tank maker and fish farm to understand more before I make a final decision. Once the tank cabinet door is cut, I am in it to beautify the refugium... with or without SH.

[Gouldian]

Thanks Mike, your views are always appreciated and sought after.

Ok... understand your point... will weigh this carefully.

I do not intend to keep any fishes in refugium... as u say, if fishes are in there, all the pods etc will be gone. With SH, I hope with ample feeding, the pods get to thrive in the same refugium tank w the SH.

Am going down to tank maker and fish farm to understand more before I make a final decision. Once the tank cabinet door is cut, I am in it to beautify the refugium... with or without SH.

Bro,

Pods are part of micro-fauna and will be consumed by the carnivorous SH. Thus I mentioned earlier that too many SH will depletes the micro-fauna. However, if you managed to create a balance by having a large enough matured refugium with small SH population, these pods will still be able to flourish.

Only solace is that SH are weaker hunters compared to fishes thus your chance of striking a balance is higher compared to having fishes in fuge.

For fuge that do not have SH or fishes the micro-fauna populations will also be controlled naturally through limitation of food and natural attrition.

[zico]

Tx Bro.

Actually i know what to do to create a balance . Am seeing the tank maker to tell him in.person what i want.

Essentially i will separate the chaeto and the horses via an eggcrate. Display will only show the horses side of the tank.

Secondly. My flow will be from sea horse side ---> chaeto side ----> return pump.

That way pods can good solace on the chaeto and more likely they will flow out to return pump compartment. Some may escape towards the seahorse side of the refugium which is perfect.

Let me know if i dun make any sense.

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[RushAct]

cool idea bro, cant wait for you to start your tank thread

Wonder how will the whole outlook will be like and interesting idea.

In theory it should work out fine!

[zico]

I hope it works too. A bit of a challenge so I hope the tank maker can do an ideal job.

Yes bro, will start a tank thread on this when the tank is delivered.

[allantang]

I would like to add, SH needs depth... ^__^

[zico]

Thanks Allantang for reminder.

Am aware of that requirement for SH.

My refugium is deep.

I ve 2 down drain pipe from main tank.

1 to the mechanical filters ----> skimmer ---> return pump

1 to this refugium (at low flow & high water level) ---> return pump

[Gouldian]

Good work, will be looking out for your tank thread.

[zico]

Thanks Gouldian, fingers crossed, the tank maker can do as communicated w them.

Will only dare stock the refugium w seahorse after the whole tank is well and stable...

BTW, where to find good supply of SH?

Iwarna has some (I think endangered) yellow species in their special corner (restricted from outsiders).

I think captive bred. They are not feeding any frozen food at the moment, only taking in live foods for now. Looks beautiful... a bit like plastic toys.

[Gouldian]

Thanks Gouldian, fingers crossed, the tank maker can do as communicated w them.

Will only dare stock the refugium w seahorse after the whole tank is well and stable...

BTW, where to find good supply of SH?

Iwarna has some (I think endangered) yellow species in their special corner (restricted from outsiders).

I think captive bred. They are not feeding any frozen food at the moment, only taking in live foods for now. Looks beautiful... a bit like plastic toys.

I was at Iwarna yesterday too and visited I must admit their SH are

[allantang]

SH are curious creatures, although they don't move much. Do block the passage that leads to other dangerous compartments.

[allantang]

Thanks Gouldian, fingers crossed, the tank maker can do as communicated w them.

Will only dare stock the refugium w seahorse after the whole tank is well and stable...

BTW, where to find good supply of SH?

Iwarna has some (I think endangered) yellow species in their special corner (restricted from outsiders).

I think captive bred. They are not feeding any frozen food at the moment, only taking in live foods for now. Looks beautiful... a bit like plastic toys.

Would suggest u do not buy the wild ones, it takes enormous amount of time n $ to look after them. Also, we do not encourage them to be taken from the wild. CF do hv supply of Kuda that is captive breed.

[zico]

Ok noted.

Will only go for captives. Prefer those feeding on frozen food. I do not ve patience to feed them live food forever.

Tx.

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[Gouldian]

Would suggest u do not buy the wild ones, it takes enormous amount of time n $ to look after them. Also, we do not encourage them to be taken from the wild. CF do hv supply of Kuda that is captive breed.

Fully agree!

Aquafauna Supplies SH are captive-bred and they intends to breed them for this region to keep costs down for us. For reefers who try to buy CB SH from US, they will know the hassles - not only are they expensive, most also do not have the necessary docs to export to this region.

Kudos to Aquafauna Supplies for this new venture.

[zico]

I just confirmed that my refugium height is 14 ".

Minus 2 " for sand bed... will be left with 12 inches .

Still ok to keep SH ?

small ones should be ok ya?

[Gouldian]

Ya... H.barbouri - http://www.seahorsesource.com/barbouri.html

[zico]

Ok tx. Will check w Aquafauna if they have this.

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