Should I jump start her tank or not?

[Chaz88]

40ish complete setup for my daughter-Des Moines,IA-Pick up

Looking for a complete, minus fish, inexpensive 40-55g. set up for my daughter. She desperately wants to be responsible for her own tank. She helps with mine and has some input on stocking but wants a tank she can make all the decisions for (don't worry I will step in if required). I have put her off for a long time, because I did not want to end up taking care of a tank that doesn't interest me, but I think she is at the point that she can handle it on her own. In the Des Moines aria would be preferred. I don't want to travel very far for a small setup unless the deal too good to pass up.

I posted the above in the market place recently. So even if I don't find a used tank she will be getting a setup soon.

I would like some opinions on if I should jump start her tank with water and media form one of mine, or would it better for her to learn from scratch. I am leaning on the side of having her start from nothing and learn the process and patients of cycling and establishing a tank. On the other hand I know how frustrating it can be to have a running tank with no fish in it for a long time. She is 11 by the way.

 

[jayclarke]

She is 11, help her out

 

[bettafish15]

Yeah, with an 11 year old, I cant imagine shes got much patience, so jump start the tank for her. She might get bored of the tank altogether, being that shes 11.

 

[Clay]

While it's important to learn the nitrogen cycle, I think it's only fair to help out a new hobbyist as best you can (especially if it's your daughter!!!). I would do it for any other local hobbyist, and I would appreciate the same.

You don't want to bore her with an empty glass box, do you?

 

[Chaz88]

You guys are probably right. I was thinking along the lines of having her learn as much as possible so she will know what to do in the future when she is on her own as a MFKeeper. But she will have plenty of supervised time to learn before then.