Really Cheap Aquarium

[Kiwilover]

My friend, who is tight on funds ATM, wants fish, so he got a bright idea, will it work?

He has an unused 30 gallon see through rubbermaid plastic container. He's "modded" it to fit his old filter, but he's worried about heaters, will they melt the plastic? He's also rigged a light for it.

My question is, would this be a viable way to make a coldwater aquarium if you're tight on funds? Is it safe for the fish? Is a heater on it a good idea?

 

[Jayhawk]

Heaters will melt the plastic if they're in direct contact with it, but you can get something to mount an underwater filter to it (piece of slate maybe...at an angle and tied on?), it would work. People use these things as emergency tanks and for breeding tanks.

However, some are sturdier than others...make sure it'll hold water for a week or so prior to adding fish.

Eric

 

[livebearerfreak]

whats the dims of the rubbermaid?

 

[Kiwilover]

whats the dims of the rubbermaid?

What do you mean by that?

And he's working on making the heater so it won't touch the container's walls. He's had water with the filter running for 3 days now, so we'll see if it's leaking or anything.

 

[Kiwilover]

Sorry, I accidentally double posted. Delete this.

 

[livebearerfreak]

i ment whats the lengthxwidthxhigh of the rubbermaid?

 

[Kiwilover]

I don't know. I'll have to ask him. It says 29 gallons on the side.

 

[livebearerfreak]

so 30 long 12 wide ? high

 

[WeedCali]

yeah if your on a budget that should be fine for now. maybe if he saves up, he could get a 29 gallon tank and hood combo at petsmart. they run pretty cheap and apparently he already has a filter and a heater so that already takes off a little of the cost.

Playsand for substrate. like 3 bucks for a 50lb bag at lowes which is more than enough for that tank so he would have some leftover.

I would also reccommend quilt batting for filter media. I bought some from walmart and its only 9 buck and i got about 87" by 91". just make your own filter cartridges and you can add as much media as you want.

I could think of other low-budget supplies but not right at the moment

 

[Kiwilover]

Yeah, I'm going over tomorrow with him to help him out with it. He's not sure how to get the lighting good on it.