Dear Jim:
Assuming this will be a basic seahorse setup and not a modified reef tank, plain old Instant Ocean artificial salt mix generally works just fine. The substrate you use is not really terribly important, since seahorses can be kept successfully in aquariums with a bare glass bottom, crushed coral, or dolomite, or using a substrate consisting of live sand and live rock, which is what I prefer, to list just a few of the possible substrates you can choose from, sir.
If these will be your first seahorses, James, then I think the best way for you to get started would be to read through the Ocean Rider Seahorse Training Program beforehand to assure that you will be well prepared to give your ponies the best possible care. The training course is completely free of charge and I would be happy to send you the complete training manual in PDF format as an attachment to an e-mail so that you can download it, save it on your computer, and then read through the material at your leisure from the comfort of your own home.
The training manual is quite comprehensive, consisting of several hundred pages of text and more than 250 full color illustrations, and it will teach you everything you need to know in order to keep seahorses successfully in a home aquarium. It will explain how to optimize your aquariums to create an ideal habitat for the ponies.
If you would like to examine the free manual for the training program, just send me a brief reply to that effect that includes your full name (first and last) via e-mail, and I will send you a copy in return.
You can reach me anytime at the following e-mail address:
I can assure you that reading through the seahorse training manual will be time well spent and that you are going to have an absolute blast with your new Ocean Riders when all is said and done!
Happy Trails!
Pete Giwojna, Ocean Rider Tech Support
Ocean Rider, Inc. is an Organic Hawaiian-Based Seahorse Aqua-Farm & Aquarium that Follows Strict Good Farming Practices in Raising Seahorses and Other Aquatic Life.
