saving money on aquariums

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breaker_1113

AC Members
Sep 13, 2002
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Coquitlam, BC, Canada
im not sure if i should post this here or gen chit-chat but its some what related to aquariums so yeah
ne ways what would be the cheapest and most reliable way to get an aquarium and everything you need to get started.
like what things are neccesary and what things arent for eg. is a light neccesary or would somehting else save you alot of $$ and still suffice. im still studentand my budget is very tight cause i dont even have a job or ne thing but what would be the cheapest way to get an aquarium started. i have a 45 gallon tank that cost me over 500 dollars canadian in all but is there ne cheaper ways. is online a good thing, or making things by your self??
just a couple questions that i would like to know in the long run
 
Im only 13 and i barely get by( actually i couldnt even consider myself getting by) I havent done anything to make it cheap, i jsut save up for the best.
 
garage sales, classified ads in newspapers are ways to find good deals. Also if local aquarium clubs are available they usually have auctions that you can possibly get stuff cheaper. DIY is also a good way, but it's important to make sure you can't get it for cheaper just buying it :)

Aaron
 
imo, lighting could be one of the cheapest things on a tank. a friend bought 48" double flourescent fixtures from walmart for 12 bucks. 6500K bulbs is 3 bucks each at home depot.

if you have limited space on top of your tank, you can ODNO. there's always a way around lighting. but some stuff like filters, best to buy used or cheap.
 
if you have the equiptment and the time and energy to do it, then yes, it is quite possible and possibly money saving. Most people build theirs out of 2x4 or larger wood with matching wood on the outside as their tank. However, you must make sure that the stand you build is sturdy enough (especially with the 90 gallon you're considering)


Aaron
 
I built a stand out of 4x4's, 4x6's, and 2x4's for about $60. We had three 26 year olds jumping up and down on it and it didn't even flinch.

Garage sales are a great way to get a tank, but make sure you test it somewhere it can't do damage before you set it up in your house. You wouldn't want to fill a 90 only to have it go out that night.

Most flourescent light strips are 48" long. You can save money if you get a tank that can take these lights. (as CHINABOY suggested).

I would not buy a used filter. You never know where it's been or what they did to it. Better off buying a Rena Filstar for ~$100. Same with a heater.

For substrate you can get ~$30-40 worth of flourite and fill it in with river rock. There are also DIY methods (peat, kitty-litter, sand etc) that are inexpensive, but they can be a bit less practical.

For plants get to know some people in your area. Join the local aquariast society and put the word out that you'll pay for other peoples trimmings. They won't charge much if anything and can give you good tips on ideal conditions. One negative here is that to avoid algae you really should start with as many plants as possible. You can also get a starter kit from aquariumgarden or aquabotanic... something with crypts, an anubias or 2, horn-wort or penny wort etc... just something to get you started.

It can be done on the cheap, but it takes quite a bit more work and time.
 
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