My sons first saltwater tank

Art13 · 08/07/2015, 09:48 AM

After bugging me for a while, I decided to give in. This will be his first journey into any type of fish tank, and his main fish will be a puffer. I let him design the rock work and with a little help from me gluing it together, here is the start of his tank, just set up yesterday. I'm teaching him along the way why the tank has to sit and cycle and also how to mix the water and how the filtered water works, so he can learn not just what to do but why. So far he's learning a bit about the cycle and how to use the refractometer, and also what his favorite fish eats. Here is the first photo of his tank, a 40g breeder.

fishstick41 · 08/07/2015, 09:13 PM

good luck!

Art13 · 08/08/2015, 07:30 AM

Thanks, he wanted to share with everyone, so once things start moving along I'll have him start doing the tank updates, he's extremely excited for it all.

trembz · 08/08/2015, 07:38 AM

Just curious, (not that it matter), but how old is your son ?

Art13 · 08/08/2015, 08:16 AM

He's 11, I've already made him aware not to stick his hands in the tank and nothing but food goes into it unless I say otherwise.

Art13 · 08/08/2015, 08:40 AM

Here is a couple more shots that capture the rock work a bit better, he's quite proud of it, I'm pretty sure it's more creative than my own tank as well, lol.

TimKelley · 08/08/2015, 09:11 AM

how much rock did that weigh out to?

ijnoj09 · 08/08/2015, 09:48 AM

cool.. always awesome seeing kids interested in aquaria. good luck!

Art13 · 08/08/2015, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimKelley

how much rock did that weigh out to?

Between 30-40 pounds

Quote:

Originally Posted by ijnoj09

cool.. always awesome seeing kids interested in aquaria. good luck!

Thanks, appreciate it.

PsymonStark · 08/08/2015, 05:11 PM

What puffer does he want?

Art13 · 08/08/2015, 05:16 PM

Not 100% yet, I think that there are like three choices for that tank, he likes the blue spot or valenini.

nerose · 08/09/2015, 04:47 PM

I have saltwater and all my kids have FW. Well, my oldest daughter is 17 and wants SW really bad. She tried to spend her car money on a SW tank.

Razor Blade · 08/09/2015, 05:01 PM

Wow, your son has talent! That rock work is amazing

Art13 · 08/09/2015, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor Blade

Wow, your son has talent! That rock work is amazing

He says thanks!

Art13 · 08/09/2015, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nerose

I have saltwater and all my kids have FW. Well, my oldest daughter is 17 and wants SW really bad. She tried to spend her car money on a SW tank.

My other son has a freshwater tank, I gave them both a choice but told the one a saltwater tank would take a lot longer, he chose to wait, the other one wasn't so patient, lol.

Art13 · 09/15/2015, 05:20 AM

Well, i finally was able to get him some of his first inhabitants. And yes, i'm well aware of the size this puffer will get, this is not his final home, and i do have one ready for when he outgrows it. Theres also a little blue damsel next to him, a bit hard to make out.

Forced 2 Farm · 10/14/2015, 11:04 AM

Dog face puffers are one of my favorite! I bet he love it!

Art13 · 10/30/2015, 11:38 AM

He does, that guy has some personality to him, i think when he outgrows the tank i might be too attached and do an upgrade instead.

Bcrowe2012 · 10/31/2015, 01:47 PM

Love the puffer! How is a fowlr different than a reef tank? Or is there a difference besides corals or not.

Art13 · 11/05/2015, 06:34 AM

fowlr stands for fish only with live rock. Only difference is there is no coral.

08/07/2015, 09:48 AM	#1
Art13 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,444	My sons first saltwater tank After bugging me for a while, I decided to give in. This will be his first journey into any type of fish tank, and his main fish will be a puffer. I let him design the rock work and with a little help from me gluing it together, here is the start of his tank, just set up yesterday. I'm teaching him along the way why the tank has to sit and cycle and also how to mix the water and how the filtered water works, so he can learn not just what to do but why. So far he's learning a bit about the cycle and how to use the refractometer, and also what his favorite fish eats. Here is the first photo of his tank, a 40g breeder.

08/07/2015, 09:13 PM	#2
fishstick41 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 141	good luck!

08/08/2015, 07:30 AM	#3
Art13 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,444	Thanks, he wanted to share with everyone, so once things start moving along I'll have him start doing the tank updates, he's extremely excited for it all.

08/08/2015, 07:38 AM	#4
trembz Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 245	Just curious, (not that it matter), but how old is your son ?

08/08/2015, 08:16 AM	#5
Art13 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,444	He's 11, I've already made him aware not to stick his hands in the tank and nothing but food goes into it unless I say otherwise.

08/08/2015, 08:40 AM	#6
Art13 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,444	Here is a couple more shots that capture the rock work a bit better, he's quite proud of it, I'm pretty sure it's more creative than my own tank as well, lol.

08/08/2015, 09:11 AM	#7
TimKelley Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 45	how much rock did that weigh out to?

08/08/2015, 09:48 AM	#8
ijnoj09 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Chino, CA Posts: 68	cool.. always awesome seeing kids interested in aquaria. good luck!

08/08/2015, 05:11 PM	#10
PsymonStark Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Europe Posts: 125	What puffer does he want?

08/08/2015, 05:16 PM	#11
Art13 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,444	Not 100% yet, I think that there are like three choices for that tank, he likes the blue spot or valenini.

08/09/2015, 04:47 PM	#12
nerose Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Black Mountain, NC Posts: 20	I have saltwater and all my kids have FW. Well, my oldest daughter is 17 and wants SW really bad. She tried to spend her car money on a SW tank.

08/09/2015, 05:01 PM	#13
Razor Blade Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 63	Wow, your son has talent! That rock work is amazing

09/15/2015, 05:20 AM	#16
Art13 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,444	Well, i finally was able to get him some of his first inhabitants. And yes, i'm well aware of the size this puffer will get, this is not his final home, and i do have one ready for when he outgrows it. Theres also a little blue damsel next to him, a bit hard to make out.

10/14/2015, 11:04 AM	#17
Forced 2 Farm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: West central Illinois Posts: 17	Dog face puffers are one of my favorite! I bet he love it!

10/30/2015, 11:38 AM	#18
Art13 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,444	He does, that guy has some personality to him, i think when he outgrows the tank i might be too attached and do an upgrade instead.

10/31/2015, 01:47 PM	#19
Bcrowe2012 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Ohio Posts: 72	Love the puffer! How is a fowlr different than a reef tank? Or is there a difference besides corals or not.

11/05/2015, 06:34 AM	#20
Art13 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,444	fowlr stands for fish only with live rock. Only difference is there is no coral.