ECONOMY HOBBYING

[oscartank]

Hey all fellow fish lovers, ive been obsessed with the hobby for years. I had a few community tanks in my teenage years but came back to the hobby with a bang recently with a 100g a 55g and a 75g.

Anyway I was wondering if any of u had a tips how to save cash. I buy all foods in bulk, human fish food is much cheaper than prepared fish food. I buy deals in sales like wild alaskian salmon £5 for 750g and make up vitiamin enriched food for my babys with added shrimp greens garlic etc ect. I always by the large bottles of dechlorinator and plant foods. Buying plants in bulk and selecting certain others [for that special area of the tank]is also a cheap way to furnish yr tanks. I purchase pea natural gravel from builders merchants [always check for chemical spillage by smell and touch] and wash thourghly through several stages.

I like to purchase batches of fish if i have the space, and select the best of the swarm and sell on the rest to lfs. I normally get my fish for free that way as i wait for them to grow and get a better price when selling.

Every tank ive bought is second hand bar one wich was an amazing deal consisting of everthing i needed at the time.

All I am after is any tips u many have found or created yrself. All are welcome, share the knowledge for a better life for our honoured guests!!!!!! Cheers

 

[SubRosa]

Start keeping coldwater species. You save money on the heaters and the power to run them!

 

[GEV83]

Start keeping coldwater species. You save money on the heaters and the power to run them!

Move to a warmer climate could help save money on heaters as well lol. We dont need heaters here in cali in the summer.

Buying prepared fish food in bulk can save you some money as well. Thats what im doing.

 

[Squawkbert]

Dry Ferts: RexGrigg

CO2: go Pressurized

Filters: Canister (Eheim or Rena), ceramic media: use forever, Floss: from the Hobby Section of your local big box store, Carbon: don't bother except for initial setup, removal of meds, other special occasions

Flourish Excel (if desired): Metricide 14 (don't add the activator solution) is WAY cheaper. Use dlightly less than you would use Excel

Drop Checkers, Retrofit HO Lighting, CO2 setups - DIY/Cobble together yourself is frequently cheaper than prefab rigs, though more research and effort are required.

Ultimate cheapskate setup: El Natural (Walstad type setup) - obviates the need for most of the above, pares setup down to light, and a filter or power head(s) for circulation, maybe a heater.

 

[froglover007]

I need some tips too. You seem to be doing a pretty good job on keeping prices down.

 

[Lupin]

1. Buy everything in bulk. I do with selected food products, equipments, etc.

2. Prepare gel foods. Saves a lot of cash in the long run.

3. Shove the equipments away from your sight and forget them for a few months. When you need them, think of cleaning up your fishroom and you will be surprised you have extra equipments when you needed them badly.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I believe those with planted tanks can save by having a UV sterilizer. I grow house plants out of my HOBs and ever since I installed UV sterilizers I can now leave the lights off during the day and allow strong indirect sunlight to hit my aquarium without algae blooms or growth. Lamps just don't compare with full spectrum sunlight and saves money. No more concerns over placing aquariums near or across from windows. In fact now that I use UV sterilizers I plan my aquarium locations around windows and my house plants grow out of my HOB like crazy sucking out nitrates.

 

[GEV83]

I believe those with planted tanks can save by having a UV sterilizer. I grow house plants out of my HOBs and ever since I installed UV sterilizers I can now leave the lights off during the day and allow strong indirect sunlight to hit my aquarium without algae blooms or growth. Lamps just don't compare with full spectrum sunlight and saves money. No more concerns over placing aquariums near or across from windows. In fact now that I use UV sterilizers I plan my aquarium locations around windows and my house plants grow out of my HOB like crazy sucking out nitrates.

What kind of plants are safe or unsafe for this? I know some plants are toxic and can release a white sap. Ive been debating on this minus the UV sterilizer which I never thought about. I got mostly crotons, philodendrons some calatheas and pothos. Wouldnt the soil there in be bad for the tank enviroment??? I know you rinse the roots but there would still be some stuck.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

I always shop around for the best deals when looking for something specifically. Buy only what you need and don't fall victim to every new miracle product in fancy packaging that makes claim to being revolutionary to the hobby.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

What kind of plants are safe or unsafe for this? I know some plants are toxic and can release a white sap. Ive been debating on this minus the UV sterilizer which I never thought about. I got mostly crotons, philodendrons some calatheas and pothos. Wouldnt the soil there in be bad for the tank enviroment??? I know you rinse the roots but there would still be some stuck.

I don't use any soil in my HOB (350 bio wheels). The plants root naked into the dirty filter cartridge which actually stay somewhat clean because the plants pull the nutrients out mostly nitrates and convert them into growth. I grow Chinese money tree's and English Ivy. Since the plants are low light Amazon rain forest species, they require only indirect light.