Help from U nanos

[Tasslehoff]

I need some opinions.

I've had a 150 about 8 years. It was my first and only tank.

I'm traveling to see my neice tommorrow. I'm in Tennessee, she's in Pensacola. I'd like to get her a small setup.

Can she handle the tank at 12yrs old without any help?

What size etc would you suggest?

Thanks
Tass

[EdgeKrusher]

Wouldn't suggest it. nano's are more apt to crash because of a mistake or temp flux. If you don't keep up on the weekly water changes things go bad really fast. If you don't use a skimmer 2 water changes a week are needed IMO. you have to be careful of what you put in such as fish, inverts. It may be small, but they still require your dedicated attention.
Weely testing is a must IMO. I thought it'd be easier, then I got it going. I haven't had many big problems, but I'm anal about the water quality, what fish I have, feeding, water flow, cleaning, testing, water changes, and what additives are used (I only drip Kalk).
But if you think she has the drive, and attention span to take care of it, then go for it!

Peace

EK

[jks1]

i agree w/ Edge, but perhaps she could handle a small FOWLR, maybe a clown setup. She will need her parents help of course. JMO

[Tasslehoff]

Thanks for your help.

I have to say I now agree with you after visiting her. Maybe in a few more years. I started her on Scuba lessons instead.

Thanks again

tass

[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!

[wooddood]

i say no.let her get a little older first,great thought though.

[Tasslehoff]

Thanks flipper for the opposing viewpoint. It must be a great adventure for you to share with your daughter. I'm completely envious.
Unfortunately Allison and I are separated by 500 miles. Her father passed last year and her mom is pushing her towards cheerleading, gymnastics, and karate. I think the separation is just too hard to overcome. What I am doing is writing her a weekly letter that tells her what's up with my tank. Perhaps I can grow a little seed in her for a later harvest. The hard part for me is going to be getting her to realize that my approach to reefing is completely different than most people. I will introduce her to this fine place at a later date where she can be introduced to "normal reefers" (Major Oxymoron So for now I'll have to go with wooddood and the others.

I really want to thank all of you for helping me think this out. I'm feeling pretty good about the direction now.

Tass

[Flipper]

Perhaps I can grow a little seed in her for a later harvest.

Take her to the best lfs you can find when you're visiting her. That may be the best seed you can plant.

Good luck. I hope the seed takes soon!

[Travis]

Hey Tass, you might want to pick up the latest issue of Tropical Fish Hobbyist, most of the magazine is dedicated to kids and the aquarium hobby. Some nice articles.

Travis

[fidojoe]

I am with most of you, I would say wait. My 13 y.o. cousin wanted to set up a small SW tank, after his betta died, I told him flat out NO. I said, wait a few years, then I'll help you, cause first you need a job. I told him how much my 50 costed ,and told him a smaller one would cost about the same. I did offer to help him set up a FW tank, which we did. He has been successfully been keeping his 5 gallon FW tank running for 2 months. Not counting the first 2 weeks where his 3 year old brother dumped a whole container of flake food into the tank, netted one of the fish, squished it, and suffocated the rest in a ziploc bag and said "Look, I just got back from the fishie store." and held up the bag with the dead fish in it, needless to say, he was stuck in "time out" for a day and a half.

[Tasslehoff]

Travis, Thanks for the TFH. That was a good find.

Fidoe, I can't help but think of the little girl in Nemo when you talk about the 3yr old. To funny.

Hey you guys may as well meet her. This was her first scuba lesson. She's wearing my wifes gear. Took to it like a Tang.



Tass

[Curtswearing]

Originally posted by Tasslehoff
Her father passed last year

I'm very sorry to hear that

Perhaps I can grow a little seed in her for a later harvest.

It is very admirable what you are doing for her. Keep up the good work.

[Cougra]

SCUBA diving is a great hobby that will serve her well in the future as well. I'm glad that she likes her newfound sport!

As for setting up a tank for a child, that really depends on the child and the childs parents/aunts/uncles and family closest to that child would be the best people to make the call. Every child is different and I know some 6 year olds I would be more then happy to set up a marine (FO) tank for and some 18 years old I wont let near my tank with a 10 foot pole!

It's the maturity of the individual in question that should be called into question, not the age!

[Tasslehoff]

Thanks curt.

Originally posted by Cougra
SCUBA diving is a great hobby that will serve her well in the future as well. I'm glad that she likes her newfound sport!

It's the maturity of the individual in question that should be called into question, not the age!

Cougra that's deep man. But too true.

As to the diving, I'm sick of diving in the Mississippi River so my ulterior motive.......grow me a built in dive buddy who has a house in Florida I can stay at.

Tass

[Flipper]

Originally posted by Cougra
It's the maturity of the individual in question that should be called into question, not the age!

By the time Laura is 12, she'll be running my 55! I guarantee it!