Should I do it?

[panmanmatt]

First off, I commend you for not giving up on keeping the ponies. I can tell you are very dedicated to them and you will succeed this time. We will make this happen for you.

The Seios should be fine as long as you make sure the impeller isn't accessible. I believe it isn't as long as you leave it in the rectangular configuration you'll be fine.

Putting the chiller solely on this take will definitely take care of the temp issues.

On the hospital tank, I am going to suggest you just keep an empty 10 gallon tank on hand in case it is needed. Reason being is that you do NOT want a cycled tank for a hospital tank. Just a bare bottom with either an airline or small HOB filter is all you will use. All the meds you may use are biofilter toxic, no matter what the package says. If you use a cycled tank, it will kill of the biofilter and cause major water quality issues that will only add to the problem at hand.

Another reason I suggest a 10 gallon tank is, all our dosages are based on a 10 gallon set up, I'm sure I could figure out dosages for a 24 gallon if I had to, but it's just easier with 10 gallons to make sure we are getting accurate and effective dosing.

Just a couple things I can see for now. I'll continue to look/think this over for you and let you know if I come up with anything else.

[billyr98]

lynn, i know you asked the question... but all I have to say, is good luck with new tank

I hope the ponies bring a smile to your face again... you were always so happy with ponies...

and just keep talking with panmatt for any advice, he is so great with these animals

[DrHank]

I do have one question (because I know so little about them). What about feeding? I have heard that it is much easier to feed them in a smaller volume of water. Not trying to discourage you Lynn. Just wondering if such a large tank is advisable?

[sasquatch]

As your doing a dedicated tank, what would be optimal for water movement? somehow powerheads seem a little rough

[panmanmatt]

Originally Posted by DrHank

I do have one question (because I know so little about them). What about feeding? I have heard that it is much easier to feed them in a smaller volume of water. Not trying to discourage you Lynn. Just wondering if such a large tank is advisable?

Hank, good question. This can be addressed in a number of ways:

1. Feed in the same location every time and the horses will learn to come to that part of the tank for food. Thus reducing the need to dump a ton of food in and hope they get to it before the filters do.

2. Train them to eat from a feeding dish. Basically the same idea as above, but instead of just putting the food in the water column, you put it in a dish and the horses learn to wait at the dish when they are hungry. Can be quite comical to see at times.

I know a few folks that have 100+ gallon seahorse tanks.

[panmanmatt]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

As your doing a dedicated tank, what would be optimal for water movement? somehow powerheads seem a little rough

I am a big fan of powerheads in seahorse tanks. They can be placed/directed to put the flow exactly where you want/need it. I run them in all my seahorse tanks.

It used to be that a turnover rate of 3-5x is what we'd recommend for ponies, however we are now finding that they can indeed handle a higher flow rate. Personally I like 7-10x rates myself. But I use spraybars to break up the flow. I wouldn't use 10x flow coming out of a single outlet, but coming from a spraybar it is a rather gentle flow.

As long as the horses aren't being beaten by the current and they have some lower flow areas to rest and relax they will be fine. Most of my horses spend a couple hours a day, spread out through the day not all at once, playing in the stream from the powerheads and returns from the filters. Kind of like a carnival ride for them.

[lcstorc]

ooohhh! I like the spray bar idea. Easy to do and sounds like a great way to get flow without too much flow.
What powerheads would you recommend for a 72bow? I guess it will depend somewhat on the return but now I am thinking I may use the spraybar for the return. Does that make sense? Sorry plumbing is not my thing.

I will take your advice on the hospital tank. I have a hob on the 20 that I really don't need since I added the skimmer so I'll just put it away for the hospital tank. A 10g tank is easy and cheap to get and I can always find something else for the 24 or even sell it like hubby wants me to do.
Ffrankie I did debate over BrianE's cube. The problem is that he is so far away. Either I would have to take a major road trip or pay a ton for shipping. The other thing is that the bow will give me more viewing area than a cube. If he were closer I would give on that but the distance is the killer there.
Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions. Keep em coming. I really want to do this right or not do it at all.

[panmanmatt]

One of the best things about making your own spray bar, you can have the holes facing at different angles. Some facing the surface for gas exchange, some blowing straight out and some facing downward. You can get flow to multiple areas with a single bar.
Or you can even have multiple spray bars off the same return, at different levels in the tank.

Yes, you can basically use your return pump to eliminate the need for powerheads with a few strategically placed return lines.

Your return plumbing is only limited by your imagination.

[lcstorc]

See I told you I stink at plumbing. I thought I was limited by the overflow? Can I really just put a large return pump and then a manifold or spray bar to move water wherever I want it? That would be super cool. I guess if I am limited by the overlow I could kind of do a closed loop kind of thing but put the intakeover the side of the tank instead of drilling a hole and then adding the a spray bar or two.
I am likeing this idea for the flow. It would help eliminate the possibility of a pony getting sucked in somewhere where it couldn't get away. How bout I put it on a wavemaker even. Then if one did get stuck it could swim away when it turned off. Oh the possibilities. Better start talking to hubby about this since he is way better than I am on plumbing stuff.
Great ideas. This is lookind more and more like it may happen.
My biggest hesitation is what Sas said. I get so attached that I reallu really want them to live and be happy in my care. The more confident I get on that aspect the more likely I am to do it.

[lcstorc]

I just thought of another advantge to this part of the plan. Less heat. One of my biggest problems before. I can get exernal pumps for about everything but the skimmer so no heat from the rest.

[sasquatch]

Shall we move on to nutrient rich water and possible filtration methods( finally some fun on a sunday!)

[panmanmatt]

Yes, your return pump size is limited by your overflow. But as long as your pump is within the flow rate of your overflow, you can have a manifold and multiple returns running off of it.

A closed loop is definitely another possibility for running the spray bars off of.

Definitely less heat with running external pumps.

Why don't you confer with the hubby and get an idea of what you'd like for a return set up. Once you have that, let us know and we can help fine tune it if need be.

To be honest, plumbing is not my greatest attribute. However, I know for a fact that there are some other seahorse keepers on this site that have extensive plumbing experience. They are just laying low, but I may have to give them a wake up call.

*cough silverseahorse* *cough seahorsedreams*

[goldenmean]

Hey its 12:30 pm in FL.
I thought you would have a pic of you new tank up by now.
LFS has been open for a half hour already
hee hee

[caitrina]

uhhh, I had to go get the gift for the party, and figured before I leave which is here in one second I would see if you were still online, knowing that if you are you haven't gone yet...hmmmmm, Lynn LFS has been open now for almost an hour...what cha waitin for? I'm so excited!!!! lol...go on, it is calling you, I hear it way down here...LYNN LYNN ok, gotta run, I am late....

[bluespotjawfish]

I hope she left already.

Pan - Can you post some pics of all this plumbing stuff you are talking about. I like the spraybar thing a ma bob idea, but show me... Can I do that on my 30 gallon breeder using just an internal pump?

Lynn - I'd stop at the jawfish and ponies, mostly to keep the WQ excellent and bioload as light as you can.