I think i know what to get my daughter for her birthday...

[DarkSoul]

a fish tank :)

It will give me something to tend to while i continue working on my cracked out setup, and focus some attention on apt redecorating on our small budget, as well as giving me a little experience in the process.

also, Im hoping to give my gf a little taste of MTS.... and im hoping to convince her that getting rid of some of our furniture is a good idea ;)

Ive seen some cheap tanks listed on kijiji and was thinking I could get a 35 gallon setup for her bedroom, and teach her to properly care for fish.

she is a very smart little girl, and already understands that she cant always get every fish that she might want, because its too big for the tank etc. so i think it would be good for her.
she also loves animals, and our cat is rather fond of her :D

ive seen a few setups for like $70....
good birthday present or what?

[Rbishop]

I say yes! Get them hooked when they are young!

[DarkSoul]

the only problem is the space in her room is very limited :( she has a massive 6' tall dollhouse, and a large bed, as well as a big desk, and a billion other 5 year old girl toys.

I think the tank would go on her desk, which I believe is construced well enough to hold a fully stocked 30 gallon.
its quite a sturdy beast, and is built from solid wood.

[Rbishop]

Even a 10 gal for a betta would be nice or a 20 long with cardinals and plants.

[DarkSoul]

ya, I wanted to get her a tank that would be sized enough to allow for a fair variety of a few fish, because she is a child, and probably would lose interest in just a single fish or two, dont you agree?

so instead of being stupid and getting a small tank, and putting a ton of fish in it all willy nilly like most uneducated parents would do, I figured wtf, just get a tank large enough to support a decent bioload.

I would like to get her a betta, and possibly a couple of other fish. I know she likes those weird looking goldfish with the big puffy sacs under their eyes, but i want to try and sway her away from a typical childs goldfish tank.

a low light, lightly planted tropical setup would be ideal i believe.
it also allows me to have a cycled tank ready for when my 50 gallon is up and running..... and the 35 gallon im going to buy for myself.... (ssshhhhh... dont tell the wife)

im trying to convince my gf that getting a 125g for our living room to replace the 50 gallon is a GREAT idea.....

[FireDancer7905]

Great idea! I've had fish since I was that age, and I'm stilll hooked. I'm loving my 20g long! She would love watching cardinals and cories play together! It's a great size for a tank! With new gravel, a second HOB (to augment my AC 30), tons of live plants and a few new fish, I set mine up for about $200. Of course, if you fishless cycle, you can spred the money over a few months.

[magakitty]

I got my daughter a 15 for her birthday. She loves it, and we went to petsmart and got a decent looking, kind of feminine, wrought Iron stand for $40 as well. She is keeping Platies in it.

[DarkSoul]

Great idea! I've had fish since I was that age, and I'm stilll hooked. I'm loving my 20g long! She would love watching cardinals and cories play together! It's a great size for a tank! With new gravel, a second HOB (to augment my AC 30), tons of live plants and a few new fish, I set mine up for about $200. Of course, if you fishless cycle, you can spred the money over a few months.

I can pickup a tank for probably $60 with an AC filter, and a canopy. thats 35 gallon.

I have heaters, gravel, deco, air pumps etc to get it running.

i can get a 35 gallon tank alone for $35, and it was a ten gallon with filter and lights for $25.... but the ten is gone, but the guy is looking for another one for me, I asked him to go larger :)

It will probably be about $60 for another tank with accessories, so thats 2 tanks, one of them setup, for less than $100, and my parents will pay for half .... so thats $50 for me.

[magakitty]

that's cool. My mom paid for $30 of the stand

How old is your daughter?

[DarkSoul]

5 going on 6

[magakitty]

ooohhhh - I love that age :) fawn just turned 13. she is really a good kid, and loves her fish!!!

[b_evans06]

That sounds like a really good birthday present. I Wish I could have gotten into the hobby at an earlier age.

[legendaryfrog]

Thats a great price for the tank and equipment although i would be a little hesitant of keeping it in a little kid's room. If anything, I would keep the fish food AWAY from her room and only let the parents feed.

[IceH2O]

I set up a 15 gallon for my son ( 5 yrs old ) last week, he loves it. I won't let him do pwcs but I let him feed them. We use it as a night light for his room.

He also tries to claim the 30 gallon Convict tank as his tank lol.

[DarkSoul]

Thats a great price for the tank and equipment although i would be a little hesitant of keeping it in a little kid's room. If anything, I would keep the fish food AWAY from her room and only let the parents feed.

I will keep the fish food away, but will teach her feeding and what not.

I know my kid, she will be excited at first, and want to overtend the tank, but given a week or so, and she will understand that she basically just needs to let it be, and keep on top of basic maintainence.

I believe she will be able to care for the fish with a little guidance :D

[fishyfawn]

wtg darksoul! I think that is an awsome Idea for your daughter! I wish when i was 5 or 6 that i had a fish tank, i am 13 now and love the hobby!

[DarkSoul]

the tank is in her room now, and setup.... mostly.

no deco, only gravel for now, but filter, light, hood, heater, water.... center brace, and the sheet of foam for under the tank, means its good to start cycling.

if only I didnt get screwed on that ammonium chloride I bought.
ugh, now I need more.

although, I was unable to procure a used tank, so we got her a new one.
35g tank, perfecto hood, and penguin 200 $188.30

me and my mom each paid $94 for it.

[mudskippers]

I think you've thought of a lovly b-day present! You seem like a great father who will teach her lots in her journey through Aquaria. I think that its soo great that your going to get your daughter involved in your hobby. :) She will remember it forever!

[ostrangeone89]

Happy Birthday to your daughter, that is a wonderful idea! I think fishes for a child can be wonderful, they just love them and they learn responsiability in the process. ohh and I love kijiji, alot of ppl don't know about kijiji and you can find some super deals on there, even cheaper then craigslist.

[plantling]

That was a great and thoughtful gift DarkSoul. My 5 year old son loves helping me feed the fish and his favorite are the oto's who are always busy at work and play. But since you won't get any algae for awhile, cories are nice, too.

[DarkSoul]

its not technically my hobby perse, as My main 50g isnt setup yet :)
Thats been sort of put on hold, so we can do some redecorating in the apartment, so thats where our money is going to be for a little while.

We mysterously got a cheque for $250 cause of some government thing, and the store only had one 35g, one lid for a 35g and one penguin 200..... it was meant to be.
I had enough lying around to finish off her setup.
just need to get a powerbar, timer, and background.... possibly.

everything is ready to go now, so I can begin cycling.... havent decided how yet.

ammonia in its pure form seems to be hard to find here, its all got other crap in it, and I think I got the shaft from the guy I bought some ammonium chloride from on ebay.

I'm thinking of either fishy cycling, with a betta perhaps, or just plain dumping some fish food in the filter and letting it be.
we don't have any raw shrimp and arent going to the grocery store for another week or two.

[DarkSoul]

I just realized, ive repeated myself like 5 times in this thread.