Hello my name is Tammy and my son is Chris. This is a venture we are attacking together. Last weekend we started a small 14 gallon all in one tank. We live at the South Jersey Shore, is salt water isn’t new to us, just in a tank it is.
My son is 15 years old and is in Natural Science at his HS. He loves everything about that class (that is until “Rona” came an ruined his Hands on experience. I thought that a salt water tank would be a good Hands on Lesson for him. I have always wanted one but was very intimidated by the prices of the fish and the time I heard that it took to maintain one. I have a pond with Koi, shupunkins, Comets, snails and Large Goldfish in it. That was a learning experience also, especially when winter comes. I also gave a 55 gallon tank at my office that had Goldfish, Shupunkins and Algae eaters in it (in the winter my tank gets fairly chilly 67 degrees because it’s in my shop area), hardy fish are the best for that type of tank.
So last weekend while getting a few fish for my pond, I saw an all in one 14 gallon salt water tank. I called to confirm with my husband that he thought it would be a good idea. I came home with the tank, salt water ready (as I learned not totally ready) water and sand. The gentleman at the shop I went to told me to let the tank run for 24 hours and I could come back and get some starter fish. Started the tank and didn’t have enough salt water. Went back to the store and the owner was there and he was honest with me and explained the whole process to me. I bought a few pieces of live rock from him and started my tank last Sunday. He also gave me a Salinity meter to keep an eye on salt. Waited a week with consistent salt readings. Today my son and I went and got our first two fish. We came home with a black velvet damselfish and a blue w/gold tail damselfish. The owner said we had to allow the bacteria in the tank to grow and to keep an eye on Nitrate and ammonia tests for at least a month before getting more fish, anemones and corals. I know we can’t go crazy as it’s only 14 gallons...but we are excited to see how it all goes.
I would absolutely love any advice for this newbie and her son. I know this is all going to be a learning experience and there is going to be some ugly to get to pretty.
My son is 15 years old and is in Natural Science at his HS. He loves everything about that class (that is until “Rona” came an ruined his Hands on experience. I thought that a salt water tank would be a good Hands on Lesson for him. I have always wanted one but was very intimidated by the prices of the fish and the time I heard that it took to maintain one. I have a pond with Koi, shupunkins, Comets, snails and Large Goldfish in it. That was a learning experience also, especially when winter comes. I also gave a 55 gallon tank at my office that had Goldfish, Shupunkins and Algae eaters in it (in the winter my tank gets fairly chilly 67 degrees because it’s in my shop area), hardy fish are the best for that type of tank.
So last weekend while getting a few fish for my pond, I saw an all in one 14 gallon salt water tank. I called to confirm with my husband that he thought it would be a good idea. I came home with the tank, salt water ready (as I learned not totally ready) water and sand. The gentleman at the shop I went to told me to let the tank run for 24 hours and I could come back and get some starter fish. Started the tank and didn’t have enough salt water. Went back to the store and the owner was there and he was honest with me and explained the whole process to me. I bought a few pieces of live rock from him and started my tank last Sunday. He also gave me a Salinity meter to keep an eye on salt. Waited a week with consistent salt readings. Today my son and I went and got our first two fish. We came home with a black velvet damselfish and a blue w/gold tail damselfish. The owner said we had to allow the bacteria in the tank to grow and to keep an eye on Nitrate and ammonia tests for at least a month before getting more fish, anemones and corals. I know we can’t go crazy as it’s only 14 gallons...but we are excited to see how it all goes.
I would absolutely love any advice for this newbie and her son. I know this is all going to be a learning experience and there is going to be some ugly to get to pretty.
