Seahorse & Pipefish Haven Part II

[Domboski]

I decided to set up a seperate 36 gallon Bow Front tank for macro algae and local species. I'm in the very beginning stages of pulling this together but here is where I am so far:

Full Tank Shot:

A black background will be added later today.

 

[Domboski]

Locally collected Macro Algae:

Other Macro Algae:

 

[Domboski]

Locally Collected Critters (Pipefish):

 

[Domboski]

Locally Collected Critters (Shrimp):

 

[Domboski]

Locally Collected Critters (Snails):

 

[NYreefNoob]

great way to save if you can get it out of the ocean, where do you go to get the pipefish. nice start so far, letting my 12g ap cycl and then doing the same with pipefish and probably the darf seahorse's. and since i dont live close to the shore ill probably be ordering from one of the vendors a variety of macro algea

 

[steveo32]

I second the pipefish ouestion. I like the setup you have a variety of specimens in there. I was begining to wonder on the larger tank since I saw no seahorse and potenial preditors lol But Both tanks look great.

 

[Josh]

What temperature are you going to run it at?

 

[cb747]

Pipefish can be collected locally around here. I caught a bunch last summer.

 

[Domboski]

great way to save if you can get it out of the ocean, where do you go to get the pipefish. nice start so far, letting my 12g ap cycl and then doing the same with pipefish and probably the darf seahorse's. and since i dont live close to the shore ill probably be ordering from one of the vendors a variety of macro algea

I caught them in the LI sound. They were everywhere. I only brought two home though.

 

[Domboski]

I second the pipefish ouestion. I like the setup you have a variety of specimens in there. I was begining to wonder on the larger tank since I saw no seahorse and potenial preditors lol But Both tanks look great.

LOL. This is only the beginning but I'm hoping to add live rock and a lot more sand soon. When I re-worked the other tank it was fine until the corals and gorg grew out. It changed the format of the tank and it was no longer condusive to seahorses and pipefish . I decided to set up a seperate tank for them alone.

 

[Domboski]

What temperature are you going to run it at?

I'm keeping the tank at 70 degrees. I figure it is a good compromise for the caribbean macro algae and the locally collected species. I'm expecting that some of the locally collected macros will die. Hopefully not though. 70 degrees is perfect for the pipefish. They have been eating live foods agressively already. Hopefully they'll take mysis in a week or so.

 

[Domboski]

Tonight I am going to glue all of the macros to live rock. I'm still hunting down additional live rock and sand though. I'm going to post for live sand on the wanted thread. I want to have about 6-8 inches of sand in this tank. I have two yellow head jawfish that I would like to move into this tank and they'll need more sand than I have now.

Full tank shot with background (black foam board):

 

[cb747]

Looks awesome as always

 

[Domboski]

Looks awesome as always

Thanks Chris. Pretty bare at the moment. I can't wait for everything to grow in.

Good news: One of the pipefish is eating mysis already!

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

When you have time, can you get a closep of the following aglae?

 

[Domboski]

When you have time, can you get a closep of the following aglae?

Sure. Probably Monday I can get a close up. What you circled is halimeda and a shaving brush. I got them from Reef Cleaners.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Sure. Probably Monday I can get a close up. What you circled is halimeda and a shaving brush. I got them from Reef Cleaners.

Thanks,

No need for the close up anymore, I know what they are then. I thought that you also collected them in the area so I wonder what they could be.

 

[jhale]

very cool Dom. do you think the local pipefish would acclimate to a warmer temp?
keeping the tank at 70 won't be cheap. the shallow parts of the sound must get warm in the summer.

 

[Domboski]

very cool Dom. do you think the local pipefish would acclimate to a warmer temp?
keeping the tank at 70 won't be cheap. the shallow parts of the sound must get warm in the summer.

Thanks Jonathan. Well, I keep my apartment at 68-70 all year round (finally) so the chiller should not go on too much. I bought a heavy duty air conditioner to help with all of my tanks. I've burnt through 3 ACs in 4 years so I went for a commercial grade. :splitspin The lighting is only compact fluorescents as well. Hopefully the cost won't be too bad.

In the past, I haven't had luck keeping the pipefish long term in warmer temps. IME, 75 is about the warmest I've been able to keep them. I had two for a year in 74-75 degree water and when I moved it up to 78, they died in about a week. It's hard to say it was definitely the temp but I'm pretty sure the water on LI never gets up to 75 for an extended period of time if at all. Maybe in tidepools where pipefish are found as well but still only for a short period of time. I'm also exploring salinity because the local waters I tested this weekend were only at 1.016 SG.

As for the tank, I need to get more macro algae that will grow towards the surface. I have a few that should but I would like to get some Red Garcilaria or something similar.