Newbie with lots of questions

Z

Zadmin

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Nov 26, 2004
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Baton Rouge, LA
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While out christmas shopping for my son today I bought a Nano CUbe for him at a local aquarium shop. I am wanting to get him started in a good hobby.

We have never had a saltwater tank before, so can you please point us in the right direction on what we need to do to get started. He isnt going to get the cube till dec the 25th, but I was wondering if there is anything I need to do to prep the tank before hand. All I have right now is the Nano Cube itself and what it comes with.

How long does it take to cycle before I can add fish? What do I need to do? I am wanting a basic saltwater system. The fish I am leaning towards is possibly a few damsels & maybe a clown. Just trying to keep it simple to get started.

Thanks

PS, very nice site you have here. Lots of helpful information.
 
Well, my best recommendation is go out and get the book "Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies", not to call you a dummy. I just got it (it was like 25 bucks) and read the whole thing in 2 days, it ready very easily and is a great book for beginner/intermediate hobbyists. It really tought me a lot and answered every single question I had.

If you're not in the mood for readin then if you just get some salt mix, and add it to some water in the tank, and add some sort of bacteria you'll start the cycle. There are many topics here on this forum about this so I'll let you find them. Just search for "cycle" or read one of the sticky posts about how to set up an aquarium. Damsels are aggressive fish so you might want to get 2 clowns instead (2 clowns are better than 1 and should always be put into the tank at the same time so they get along)
 
Thanks for the advice guys,

I am now debating:

I am giving the aquarium to my son for Christmas. Should I,

Have the tank cycled before I give it to him, where all we have to do is go get fish

Or wait and let him learn everything about it. Keep in mind he is young (3) so patience is probably an issue...
 
Most adults don't have the patience!!!!

I'd have it all ready to go so you can either let him discover it all set up on Xmas morning or you could put a nemo pic in a box and let him go with you to the pet shop the next day to get your first fish

Hes not going to care about anything but the critters
 
Agreed. I have a 3 year-old myself, and apart from wanting to see crabs and mussels (just happen to be his fav. food) in the tank, he likes nothing more than to sit and look at the fish swim (at least in the fw tank). Right now he has no interest in the SW tank that I'm cycling. He does love to go to the lfs and look at the fish though - better to take him out and pick out his fish - guessing "Nemo" and "Dori" fish are going to be his favorites!
 
richardiv87 said:
Agreed. I have a 3 year-old myself, and apart from wanting to see crabs and mussels (just happen to be his fav. food) in the tank, he likes nothing more than to sit and look at the fish swim (at least in the fw tank). Right now he has no interest in the SW tank that I'm cycling. He does love to go to the lfs and look at the fish though - better to take him out and pick out his fish - guessing "Nemo" and "Dori" fish are going to be his favorites!
Click to expand...

And just too make sure we're all on the same page, Dori is wayyyyy too big for a 10 gal ;)

If you want to know what size fish are OK in a eight gallon or larger tank, check out this website: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?siteid=20&pCatId=2124&TopCatId=2124
 
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