[Flipper]

My nano (7 gal) requires about 5 minutes of maintenance every day (well, 5 days a week, since it's in my office). This includes top-off, a 20 ouce water change, testing S.G., feeding. Weekly, I test pH and nitrate. I keep shrooms, zoos and polyps (easy stuff) in the tank, along with eleven pounds of rock and 2-3 inches of sand.

My 4-1/2 year old, who has shared the SW experience with me since she was two, has come in here with me on weekends and helped me with the chores. She knows what has to be done, even if her size and coordination prohibit her from doing most of it by herself. If your 12 year old niece is WILLING to give it five minutes a day, and there is an adult present who will remind her if need be, and help her with physically demanding aspects, such as lugging salt buckets, she IS capable!

Besides the wonderful learning experience of the reef, it is a valuable lesson in responsibility and husbandry. A nano, IMO, is still far less demanding than a dog, and far more educational. A phone call a few nights a week to 'coach' her, and get reports on her progress and success (of failures), is an added bonus!

I would not hesitate to help her set one up!!! It has been the most rewarding gift that I have given to my daughter!