STEVIEG

Hi all this is my first thread i have an 312litre saltwater tank just set up no stock yet want to buy an Eheim 2080 external filter pro3 just wondering how other people found this system?i believe its the best money can buy i have two other tropical tanks with juwel internal filters they work fine this is my first venture into marine so want to get it right marine fish to expensive and beautiful to be letting die thanks guys

Peterpiper

Hi and welcome to fishlore! yay another saltie dog!
Mate, checked the spec's on this and I want one.
So what you planning to keep in this SW tank?

STEVIEG

hi plan to keep a variety of fish clown e.t.c but i am big into seahorses hope to keep several of these all going well

Peterpiper

MATE! Seahorses are great! I have 2 H.Redi and 2 H bardouri, just got a new barb as we lost one to GBD. Dont think they will go with the clowns
I have a compatibility chart that may help you pick what is safe with the seahorses

http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/c...lity_chart.cfm

Peterpiper

Our male Redi trying to impress the female. He is flashing colours

Attached Images

IMG_1045.jpg (81.9 KB, 33 views)

GreenMan13

Are you going to be getting a skimmer? And are you doing a sump? You going to use live rock? If not those might be a better way to spend the money then a canister filter. Canister filters are not as widely used in saltwater as freshwater since most have Live Rock that does the same function already.

agsansoo

I totally agree with GreenMan13, canister filter are more a freshwater filter. Protein skimmers , live rock/sand is the saltwater way to filter. Biological vs mechanical.

STEVIEG

Ive been told by my supplier that seahorses will get on with the clowns he keeps them with a variety of fish this guy is the first person in ireland to breed seahorses in captivity with success he breeds hippocampus kuda from the indo pacific & hippocampus reidi from brazil he has recieved awards from the Irish goverment for his work & research in seahorses if interested checkout seahorse Ireland been advised not to try breed them as is very difficult should just keep same sex looking forward to getting some thanks pete for your advice picture is great

STEVIEG

have just added 12kg of live rock to start was'nt going to get skimmer yet as have not added any coral and plan to keep stock very small until well established so thanks for your advice geenman&agsansoo more live rock it is then

agsansoo

I would look to add a skimmer anytime after your tank finishes cycling.

STEVIEG

what skimmer would you recommend?

GreenMan13

Skimmers are not for just coral, they are for taking the bad stuff out of the water like fish poo and excess food.

STEVIEG

Thats good to know was told different what skimmer would you recommend?

Mike

check out the tunze, aquac or euroreef skimmers - top notch

STEVIEG

Thanks mike ill check them out

GreenMan13

I don't know much about different brands but I have done a lot of reading about a DIY skimmer. If you want to look into making one I can post some links.

STEVIEG

That be great thank you

GreenMan13

Snailman'S Counter Current
RandyStacye's Needle Wheel

Some info on skimmers:
Skimmer Info

Peterpiper

Hi agsansoo, GreenMan13 & STEVIEG,
I agree that in a FOWLR or Reef tank, the Canister filter can be taken out. With the high flow rates used in these systems, and the addition of a sump with a filter sock, the canister filter would not be required.
The flow rates for seahorse tanks are very low due to their nature.
Seahorses are slow feeders, and require the flow to be reduced during feeding. When I feed our's, all pumps and filters are turned off, the protein skimmer is left on. The seahorses are given 20 minutes to feed, then the filter etc are turned back on.
The canister filter must filter the tank volume a min of 4 times per hour, 6 x volume is better. Without the high flow the biofiltration of the LR is reduced and you will start to see algaes and other issues. With the lower flow rates a lot of particles are suspended lower in the water column, and would not be removed by the over flow.

Skimmers are a must have, once you see what they pull out of the water you would never run a marine system without one. They reduce nitrate build up, and that means a lower % water change. They remove proteins from the water, when the proteins breakdown they are a food for algaes.
Some skimmers produce a lot of micro bubbles, for female seahorses this is not a issue, but it is for the males. The males have been known to get air bubbles in the pouch while flushing. It is for this reason we changed to a air lift type skimmer, the skimmer is in the tank. If you have a sump then I would go for the needle wheel skimmer and use bubble traps to remove the micro bubbles.

Tank mates for Seahorses,
It is good you can get your SH from a breeder, this reduces pressure on the wild stocks and as they are from the same system the seahorses will have the same immunities.
Issues with pathogens can happen when introducing fish from different locations as the fish have been exposed to different things. For this reason I would recommend running a UV if you are mixing fish from different locations. ( and it helps control algaes )
Due to the slow nature of the seahorse, some fish and corals have no place being in the same tank with them as they will stress, sting and or kill the seahorse. this will give you some idea of what is good or not and why.

http://www.seahorse.org/library/arti...ankmates.shtml

GreenMan13

Peterpiper - How much water flow do you have in your tank when everything is on? Cause if the canister is 6x and you have a little more from the skimmer thats about 10x tank volume at least. I have seen many tanks with only 10x flow and no canister only LR. I understand sea horses need lower flow then most fish but it seems like you have about the same amount as some lower flow tanks with out canisters.

STEVIEG

Thanks pete for info on seahorses will let you know when i get them and will clarify what fish is best tank companion for them with the breeder

Peterpiper

Our tanks flow is just over 10 x tank volume, all of the outlets have been defused, so we have no jets so to speak. The flow is a slow soft current from one end to the other.
It is a challenge to get the flow right for the seahorses and keep enough flow to eliminate dead spots in the LR.
The other issue is with the type of tank used for seahorses, seahorse tanks are high tanks, ie they should be 3 x the height of the adult seahorse. Our tank is 1000mm x 400mm x 600mm high ( about 36" x 16" x 24" high )