Fishkeeping on the cheap

There are always folks dumping their tanks, stands and other equipment in the local newspaper here. There is also a local "classifieds" paper that often has stuff in it too. I haven't used it but I've seen craigslist.com mentioned as a place to pick up bargains. For new items there are a multitude of shopping bots (like Yahoo shopping and froogle.com) that can help you find the lowest price on a specific item.
I bought my 65 gallon and one of my 1o gallons from ads in the local newspaper. All of my other stuff I purchased new. I've spent a ton on my first "real" tank. When I go for tank #2 I'm going to use all the knowledge I've gained here and other places to do it for much cheaper, where possible. I have bought some fish and plants "on the cheap" at aquabid. Cheap vs. what they would have cost me from a regular store or internet store, anyway.
 
I've spent about $1200 so far on getting my 50 gallon tank setup and I still dont have fish in it yet :)

the little things you buy, and some of the DIY stuff, turns out to be rather costly at times, And I will probably still end up spending about $200 on fittings and hose to plumb everything in the way I have planned.
 
craigslist.org has been like my best friend. LOL.. soo many people getting rid of barely used things for cheap. i got two canister filters two heaters two power heads plants rocks sand extra parts for the filters enough extra media to last me forever and air pumps for a hundred. My current tank only cost me two hundred. 55 g truvu tank with show stand and canopy for free! in turn i'll be giving away some unused items on CL as well. yay for free stuff!
 
darksoul said:
I've spent about $1200 so far on getting my 50 gallon tank setup and I still dont have fish in it yet :)

the little things you buy, and some of the DIY stuff, turns out to be rather costly at times, And I will probably still end up spending about $200 on fittings and hose to plumb everything in the way I have planned.
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Can't wait for those picks Darksoul! No pressure ... ;)

Last night on CL I saw a 125G tank w/ working hood and lights for HO plants selling for $150 :eek:

The wife just wouldn't go for it :cry:
 
i got my 10g and 26g for free from family friends( a lot of people get tired of tank maintenance) and i got my 100g on craigslist with everything(except fish and d-wood) for 350$

my 100g:

PICT0676.JPG PICT0708.JPG
 
ct-death said:
Can't wait for those picks Darksoul! No pressure ... ;)

Last night on CL I saw a 125G tank w/ working hood and lights for HO plants selling for $150 :eek:

The wife just wouldn't go for it :cry:
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I bought alot of stuff that was retardedly over priced at big als.

$180 for my hood, including fixture.
$300 for my Eheim 2213 (If I knew then what I know now...) $90 CAD/Shipped for a second one on ebay :)
$200 for my stand.
$90 for my python (They only had the 100' model though)

This project started about 10 years ago, when I bought a 50 gallon tank, that sat around doing nothing until 2005, When I dropped $900 out of my tax return to buy most of the stuff I needed for it.

Over the past year it has sat on the stand, mostly empty, but more complete.

I most recently have spent more money buying things for my RO unit, (water storage tank) and other such things like a Tom 3 in 1 cleaner, Test Kit, etc.

Now I'm hoping I can really get something in there soon. I will be using tapwater at first, after I get my filters plumbed in (thread in DIY) then I can get my RO unit plumbed into its side of the cabinet.

This is what I call my "Water Purification Plant"... hopefully I can get it all to fit in there.

Water%20Purification%20Plant.jpg


UV Sterilizer, to sterilize the water before it gets to the RO unit, then it will go to a water pump boosting the pressure to 120PSI, then through the RO filter, out to a storage tank behind the wall.

I'm trying to think of a way I can hook up the aquarium filters to the UV sterilizer so that if need be, I can switch the water flow through the UV sterilizer for a short period of time. doesn't make sense as I say it, But I know what I mean :)
 
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I remember your DIY thread. Impressive setup too btw!

So one question: Who has the better water? You or the fish?! :heh:
 
ct-death said:
I remember your DIY thread. Impressive setup too btw!

So one question: Who has the better water? You or the fish?! :heh:
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the fish will when its hooked up. :D

My tap water is actually pretty ideal for hardness, pH, chlorine etc.

But I will have it setup to allow for drinking water as well.
 
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