tank for school

jessie

jessie

AC Members
Mar 3, 2004
448
0
0
51
indiana
Visit site
my finace is a high school teacher, she had a 1 gallon tank with a crab and a betta in it this year. she would like to buy a nano cube and take it with her to school this next year. it works out pretty good, she plays learning games and the winner gets to feed the fish for the day, the even like to clean the tank for her. i would like to keep the tank really interesting with maybe 2-3 small fish, a few shrimp and some corals. i myself have just gotten started into corals and dont have a very big database of whats easy and whats not. so with the lights that come on the nano can anyone tell me a couple hardy, nice looking corals for a beginner. i still have a couple months before i need to get started on this. i just would like some names of stuff so i can find a pic to show her. all help would be appreciated!
 
A small SW setup will require a good deal more work than a similar sized FW setup to keep stable. For fish, this will be limited to some gobies, maybe some clowns, etc. You'll need to identify exactly what lights the nano comes with before we can offer much in that way--for inverts, a huge number of shrimp and crabs will be appropriate, and the role the detrivores play in maintaining the tank and fish could be a very good lesson, so are a great place to start.
 
I agree that there are many mobile inverebrates that will work very well.

In my opinion, getting a "package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater might be a great idea. With all the macroalgae and animals that ride along with it, the kids would learn a lot about different kinds of life. She probably won't need to add corals.

Assuming there's enough light, mushrooms (corallimorpharians), anthelia, star polyps (briareum or pachyclavularia) and yellow polyps (parazoanthus) are all very hardy and good for a beginning setup.
 
i was just gonna buy one of the 12 gallon nanos. the ones that already have a better light and back filtration in them. i figured i would put 10-15 pounds of rock in and some cleaner stuff. maybe a couple small gobies and a few corals if i can.
 
www.nano-reef.com has some very good articles about setting up small tanks, including cycling and fish choice. I would suggest you read those. But as was mentioned small nano tanks tend to be a lot more work than larger tanks and freshwater tanks.
 
i have 10, 55 and 135 gallon tanks now. i just bought a green banded gobie to go in the nano when i get it ready. tiny thing, only about 3/4 of an inch long. one question would be if i take sand rock and water out of my 55 or 135 for it, then it wouldnt need to cycle would it? it would be just like compressing my 55 down to 12 gallons. and i know its a little more work for the smaller tanks, but i think the kids would enjoy it a little more. i planned on adding 5 blue leg hermits and 5 scarlet reef hermits from my other tanks to it. maybe pull out one of the skunk cleaners too. im not sure exactly what im gonna do. i dont even have the nano yet, just in the planning, just getting the fish ahead of time so i can make sure they are healthy when i put them in. wouldnt want the kids to come in and see a little nemo floating on top after a couple days now would we.
 
Yep, you can use rock and sand from a healthy setup and avoid the cycle completely.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom