Help for a beginner

[aflipfly]

Hi. I am new to the hobby. My daughter received a 9 gallon nano cube for her birthday. The tank is set up with live rock and has been cycling for almost three weeks. I just did a water test and the pH is around 8.2, the ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, and nirate was pretty close to 0. So what now??? I have several beginner type questions and welcome any advice. I hope it is ok to ask multiple questions one one thread.
1. Is an initial water change required before introducing some snails,etc.?
2. Once we are ready to introduce a fish...my daughter has her heart set on a royal gramma. Since her tank is a 9 gallon all-in-one I am under the impression that the display portion of the tank is actually less than 9 gal so I am guessing that that type of fish would not work out. Your thoughts?

I have a lot more questions, but I'll try to pace myself. THANKS

 

[Tahoe61]

1. The initial water change is not required but I like to do one and then wait a day retest, if everything is still fine add some members of the clean up crew.
2. You could put a Royal Gramma in the tank but no other fish. The Royal Grammas can be very shy initially and hide in their bolt hole, it make take a couple weeks for the fish to be out and about most of the time. A fantasic fish though.

 

[NanaReefer]

A water change wont hurt but isn't needed atm. As for the fish, your right. Her tank is way to small. Show her some pics of Clown Goby's or even a Goby/Pistol Shrimp pair, Neon Goby's. These fish stay small.


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[Gauge]

You don't need to do a water change. Feel free to put some snails or a shrimp in there. You would be ok with one fish, but that's about it. Depending on your lights you could try a few easier corals too like xenia.

 

[NanaReefer]

Totally disagree with Xenia suggestion. Very invasive coral and can spread like crazy under the right conditions. Definitely not a coral for a nano tank.


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[teddy13]

for a little girl i would do a few zoa's they are pretty, colorful, and IMO easy to grow.. and yes in a 9 gal look at the small gobies, or blennies,

 

[aflipfly]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Here's the update: We've decided a 9 gallon is too limiting (we couldn't pick just one fish) so we've borrowed my brother's 30 gallon set up since he just moved into a 60. I think we'll be using the biocube for a quarantine while we build. I am bursting with excitement...and questions. Lots and lots or questions!

 

[glb]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Here's the update: We've decided a 9 gallon is too limiting (we couldn't pick just one fish) so we've borrowed my brother's 30 gallon set up since he just moved into a 60. I think we'll be using the biocube for a quarantine while we build. I am bursting with excitement...and questions. Lots and lots or questions!

That's a super idea! Good luck!