Hmm, what do you mean "not good"? What are the ammonia, nitrite & nitrate #s? An easy way to get the good bacteria is to use some decor from your big tank (rocks, decorations, fake plants, even substrate you can put in a mesh bag like panty hose). Let the sponge filter run to help oxygenate & spread the beneficial bacteria. Leave them for a month or so. Water change as needed. Have him get in the habit of changing 25% or more every week if he's old enough. Otherwise you'll need to help.
Skip the tank water, there's not much in it besides a little nitrate that you won't need. There's probably enough beneficial bacteria on the plants for a (few) shrimp (oops, NO!) Oh, I see they are going to be new plants, not from your 54g. They were probably (almost positively) grown without fish, so not much bacteria on them. I think I'd just run the sponge filter in the tiny tank with new plants & old decor. The shrimp will love grazing on the moss balls especially.
Wait to buy the shrimp until things look safer. They're so small & eat & poo so little it'll be hard to tell but ammonia & nitrite can hurt them (you this, right?) I would only get 4 or 6 shrimp, neocaridinas (1 color) are easier than caridinas (bee shrimp red & white, black & white, etc.) IME. Neo shrimp the females are more colorful; the males kinda clear with some faint color. The colors will mix in a not too pretty brownish way so get all red, yellow or blue, etc. Make sure to get a male (or 2 in case of accident). The others all females. You or the lfs should be able to tell even if they're fairly small.
They should breed pretty easily so make a plan! It's interesting to watch the females hold the eggs & then try to find the very tiny new shrimplets. Be very careful to feed only a very tiny amount & maybe not every day. A little spec of cooked veg or fish food (any) like the size of a sesame seed or so. You won't need special foods.
He might be able to sell some of the offspring back to the lfs, at his school? or maybe social media (be very careful about creepy people, meet somewhere busy) But it might be another interesting aspect & earn a few $. Or if that doesn't sound doable you might feed shrimplets to your big tank. They might even survive & provide continuing live food. How old is your son? That could be upsetting or cool/gross, I don't have kids.
Skip the tank water, there's not much in it besides a little nitrate that you won't need. There's probably enough beneficial bacteria on the plants for a (few) shrimp (oops, NO!) Oh, I see they are going to be new plants, not from your 54g. They were probably (almost positively) grown without fish, so not much bacteria on them. I think I'd just run the sponge filter in the tiny tank with new plants & old decor. The shrimp will love grazing on the moss balls especially.
Wait to buy the shrimp until things look safer. They're so small & eat & poo so little it'll be hard to tell but ammonia & nitrite can hurt them (you this, right?) I would only get 4 or 6 shrimp, neocaridinas (1 color) are easier than caridinas (bee shrimp red & white, black & white, etc.) IME. Neo shrimp the females are more colorful; the males kinda clear with some faint color. The colors will mix in a not too pretty brownish way so get all red, yellow or blue, etc. Make sure to get a male (or 2 in case of accident). The others all females. You or the lfs should be able to tell even if they're fairly small.
They should breed pretty easily so make a plan! It's interesting to watch the females hold the eggs & then try to find the very tiny new shrimplets. Be very careful to feed only a very tiny amount & maybe not every day. A little spec of cooked veg or fish food (any) like the size of a sesame seed or so. You won't need special foods.
He might be able to sell some of the offspring back to the lfs, at his school? or maybe social media (be very careful about creepy people, meet somewhere busy) But it might be another interesting aspect & earn a few $. Or if that doesn't sound doable you might feed shrimplets to your big tank. They might even survive & provide continuing live food. How old is your son? That could be upsetting or cool/gross, I don't have kids.
. And then weekly water changes even with no animal life in there? Do I need to dose ammonia or anything?
