My 6 year old sons 7 gallon nano build

[Mr Cheezy]

My son has wished for a tank for a few years now.

So for christmas this year I got him a 7 gallon nano tank

Equipment

Light - Kessil A80 (orded)
Sicce Voyager Nano 1000 (orded)

Started the tank with water from my sps tank and with LR

Now waiting for led and pump to arrive and then start with some frags.

Thinking some Ricordea and Lps with one or two sps on the top.

However my son really whats some
Zoanthus Rastas and La lakers etc
But I dont feel thats totally safe.
Whats do you guys say?

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

Why wouldn’t it be safe? Are they poisonous? Unless you think he would eat them .

 

[sbash]

That's amazing! I would love for my kids to take an interest My eldest, at 3, has started watching Octonauts and he loves discovering things in my 220.

I'm not sure if you zoa concern is palytoxin based, but either way, just make sure he doesn't move them around with his bare hands, eat them, put them up his nose or in his siblings hair... no touching in general really...

If he can't keep his hands out of the tank, then it would be better to not house any zoas.

 

[sbash]

Why wouldn’t it be safe? Are they poisonous? Unless you think he would eat them .

Zoanthids are potentially toxic. There are several studies on this, and not all zoas contain palytoxin, but most have at least trace amounts. Palythoas however, definitely contain the toxin. This debate gets even more muddy when a lot of large head/polyp zoas are sold as palys...

Anyway, if you keep zoas and/or palys, look it up: Palytoxin.

 

[Bryce M.]

I personally don't see Palytoxin as a threat honestly, zoas are super easy and lots of fun
I consider them beginner
If he's not touching them with his hands they are a very good coral for him

 

[Mr Cheezy]

My sons light and streampump has arrived.

I gave him one of my frags a montipora digitata ”superman”

 

[Mr Cheezy]

Did some par testning on the Kessil A80 at 100% intensity

 

[Mr Cheezy]

 

[Mr Cheezy]

 

[Mr Cheezy]

 

[Mr Cheezy]

 

[Mr Cheezy]

A new little friend

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Amazing photos, what a dad. Thanks for sharing

 

[BeejReef]

I'm already very suspect that this is your "son's tank" lol. ;Smuggrin

I have a tank bc my near 3yo son badly wanted a fish for successfully potty training!!!

I think you have to let him have the zoa corals he wants if you're going to continue to call it his tank

Seriously though, all that I've read is that the palytoxin thing is most often overblown. Basically, if they are under water, he's entirely safe. If you have to remove a zoa-covered rock, I'd play it safe and not have little kids around.

 

[Jose Berry]

My sons about to be two, this kid hangs around my 225 and will drag his high chair and scream until he is seated in front of the tank. I enjoy moments like this lol

 

[Katrina71]

Ok, my son is a zoa fan too. I started from the beginning with gloves, mask, and protective eyewear. The love affair won't end. Just teach him the right way from the start. Jmo

 

[Mr Cheezy]

He got some rasta zoa two weekend ago, he paid for both them and the trimma fish with hus own money.

I only help him with waterchange every weekend.

 

[ReefGrammie]

What a great thread!! I think teaching youngsters tank responsibility is great. My son (almost 30) can't wait to start a tank for his son. He was very involved in my first build as a teenager, and the love doesn't go away. My grandson is just a baby, but he is mesmerized by the tank. If he's fussy, just put him in front of the tank!

As far as zoanthids, I'd be hesitant of him handling them at first, but if he demonstrates great responsibility, I'd let him (supervised, of course). I was terrified of my first zoanthids, but ended up fragging them. I always wore gloves, and definitely eyewear. I've been squirted before! And thorough hand/arm washing afterwards.

I look forward to his progress!

 

[chanathon]

Looks like things are starting off great! Father/son projects will definitely make an impression on his life

 

[Oliver d]

It is always great to see ones kids taking an interest in there parents hobbies,nice start by the way