KISS FOWLR - Equipment & Stocking Questions

[ScorpiosWife]

Thanks, Q. I did my homework on the mandarin (read all the nightmares & successes on HFB & online at random places) & it's gonna be a chore, as are the seahorses, but I'm willing to give it a try for Brandon. Gonna get some pods in a bottle and get that started today. Will wait a few more weeks & then try to find one already eating locally. Called Live Aquaria & talked to them about all of the stock/feeding as well. I don't have an account on MarshReef. I'll make one today & check it out.

[eklikewhoa]

Careful with the mandarin, they have a bad rep thriving in captivity.

Check on marshreef, there's a guy selling bonded pairs of seahorses.

[ScorpiosWife]

Alright, the baby has done his layout & this is what he came up with...





He wants to start with a chocolate chip starfish, 2 seahorses & a green mandarin goby. He also wanted a snowflake eel but I nixed that idea by telling him it may end up in his bed, lol.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1635+551&pcatid=551

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+528+2967&pcatid=2967

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+40+2419&pcatid=2419

Need input and opinions on his choice of stock and layout!

I tested parameters this morning & everything is 0 except nitrates which are around 20ppm. How big of a water change should I do? 30 gallon tank & has been running 30 days now with no stock.

[suicune]

I like that... teaching your children responsibility and how to appreciate nature.

[ScorpiosWife]

He has had GSP's for over a year, but his interest level has feigned so it was time for something new. I'm excited for him, too!

[suicune]

I'm so excited for him!!!! getting his first aquarium.!!!!

[ScorpiosWife]

The rocks & sand are in but I just put them anywhere when I started it up. Gonna let the baby decide where he wants what tomorrow & then I'll take a picture when he's done.

[mistahoo]

Any pics of the layout?

[ScorpiosWife]

Tonight we took the little one to see a Chocolate Chip Starfish & learned that he also likes the Lawnmower Blennys, Arrow Crabs & Seahorses. Also a little fish called a Cardinal, I think? They're black & white. At any rate, could he go that route with all/some/any of the above? I think I remember someone mentioning that seahorses aren't easy somewhere in all the information I've read (my brain hurts)...

The tank has been has been running for 25 days with no livestock at 1.014. I added more salt today & the tank is now at 1.023. Do I need to raise it to 1.026?

Probably going to start trying to find stock within the next 2 weeks as long as the parameters and salinity are good.

[suicune]

cute!!! I'm all for a nemo set up, let me know how it goes.

[ScorpiosWife]

Cool beanz. I'll write that down & show him what it looks like.

[AhKwaB]

Chocolate chip starfish are easy to keep.

[ScorpiosWife]

I know you are doing fish only now, but if you decide to do corals in the future, please note that some corals such as zoas and polyps contain very deadly palytoxins. I am mentioning this since you said your son will be taking care of it. Just something to keep in mind. Also if you decide to keep anemonies and such, some people are allergic to their stings.

Some fish are equally if not, more potent in regards to venom/poison.

Thank you both very much. My plan is to get him easy stuff when I start getting fish. Of course he wants Nemo, etc., but he also wants a starfish & I'm not quite sure how realistic that's going to be. He has Autism, so I'm trying to keep this as minimal as possible but keep his interest at the same time, which is the challenge. Tank is still running empty of fish for now.

[AhKwaB]

Some fish are equally if not, more potent in regards to venom/poison.

[Hangman]

I know you are doing fish only now, but if you decide to do corals in the future, please note that some corals such as zoas and polyps contain very deadly palytoxins. I am mentioning this since you said your son will be taking care of it. Just something to keep in mind. Also if you decide to keep anemonies and such, some people are allergic to their stings.