Suggestions for tank for 7 year old?

[rcmike]

Hey guys,

Our 7 year old has been bugging us constantly to get an aquarium for his room. He has always been very interested in my tank and is really serious about it. My wife and I have finally decided to get him one. We really like the 28g Nano cube with the led lights but they are a a little pricey. We like the fact that is has a full lid and the LED lights are a lot cooler and more energy efficient. We're really looking for a good all in one setup that I won't have to customize too much. I have enough of that with my tank. I would say the nano cube is about the maximum size we could have in his room. Does anyone have any recommendations for a tank like this? I haven't really paid much attention to smaller tanks in the last few years.

 

[poolkeeper1]

I think Andywe had one for sale Brand new at the swap, Not sure if he sold it or not? I think it was a 29 gal AIO. Or another option would be a Solana but they are open top and come in 2 sizes 34gal and 28gal i think but come AIO with lights and skimmer and return pump plus stand.
Bill

 

[rcmike]

Thanks, I sent him a PM to see if he still has it. I really like the LED version but not quite enough to pay twice as much for it I don't think. How are the CF bulbs nowadays? I have been a little leery of them since I bought a couple of sets for a reef and freshwater tank several years ago and both of them had the ballasts go out within 6 months.

 

[VegasMike]

Got my 7 yr old (he was actually 6 at the time) a five gallon tank setup from Walmart for a small freshwater setup. He loves it just as much as my larger tanks and loves to watch/feed "his" fish. The best part is that I barely have to do anything with his tank.

 

[rcmike]

lol, yeah I was thinking the same thing but this kid knows a lot about fish and is obsessed with them. He has been researching what kind of fish he can keep and actually tried to talk me into a large tank so he can have a tang. I told him we would have to move out his bed if we got one that large.

 

[Fcamdog]

I'd buy him a 180g tall. He could literally, swim with the fishes.

Fcamdog

 

[pelagic7]

I bet your kid loves you very much. :celeb1:

I'd buy him a 180g tall. He could literally, swim with the fishes.

Fcamdog

 

[tkimmons85]

do a ricordia/mushroom and blenny/goby nano set up. That would be sweet

 

[NeveSSL]

lol, yeah I was thinking the same thing but this kid knows a lot about fish and is obsessed with them. He has been researching what kind of fish he can keep and actually tried to talk me into a large tank so he can have a tang. I told him we would have to move out his bed if we got one that large.

I love it! That is just too cool.

If you want LEDs, we can do LEDs. Let me know if you need more details.

Especially if you do like tkimmons is suggesting... wouldn't take a whole lot of LEDs to do softies and LPS... could upgrade later for SPS if he wanted, but it sounds like he's more into fish than corals for now anyway.

Brandon

 

[rcmike]

Were actually headed to AC now to see what they have. If we got a nano cube could the leds be retrofitted into the stock hood easily? How much would it cost to do that? Or would it even be worth doing?

 

[NeveSSL]

It all depends on what you want to do. For about 28gs or so, it would probably be around $300 give or take $30 to do an all-out LED fixture for SPS with dimming. If you wanted to just add a few LEDs for great color and LPS/Softies, I think that could be done for maybe $150 to $200.

I think it would be worth it, personally. But I'm biased. For what your son wants, it may be that just good ole PCs would work fine (assuming he's more into fish).

Brandon

 

[rcmike]

Well, we just went ahead and ordered the LED version last night. We are planning some sps for it and I will really be taking care of it for the most part of course. It is in his room but is more for the whole family. It was a little more than I wanted to spend but he is more exited than Christmas. That said, I probably won't be buying too much airplane stuff for a while.

 

[NeveSSL]

Nice Mike! Keep us updated on it. Sounds like its going to be a really nice little tank.

Brandon