LauraFrog
Fish Gatherer
Our hobby can be an expensive one. I'm an Australian teenager and I have to rely on my pocket money most of the time because I'm still too young to legally get part time work. Most of my money still ends up in a fish tank - what else do I have to spend it on? - but I'm always looking for ways to save money. So I thought I'd put a few up here. Anybody with your own eco-tips or money saving tips, please add them. We can turn this thread into a great resource if enough people put up their tips.
Making Filters Out Of Empty Drinks Bottles
A lot of plastic drink bottles go to landfill. Tanks without filters need more water changes. So this is helping the environment in two ways as well as saving money.
This is for an air-driven filter. I haven't included the measurements I used because I know that most of you are from the US or UK where the brands and bottle sizes are all different. As far as I can work out, there is no reason this wouldn't work with any plastic drinks bottle.
1. Draw a line around the drinks bottle, around 7-10cm up from the bottom, closer to 10cm (4") if the bottle is large (>1/2 gallon).
2. Cut neatly around the line.
3. Draw another line around the neck of the bottle, just where it starts to narrow. Cut around this line.
4. Stuff the cut off neck of the bottle into the bottom so that it points directly upwards. This is an improvised airlift. It works very well.
5. Pack filter media into it. You can use anything. I start with a small layer of filter wool, then top it with carbon, biorings and more filter wool.
6. Cut a squarish piece of mosquito netting or muslin so that the edge is about 2-3cm (1") from the edges of the filter when it sits in the middle.
7. Cut a small hole in the middle of the mosquito netting.
8. Push an airstone on its line through the hole.
9. Use a cable tie to bunch the cut edge of the hole in the middle of the mosquito netting around the air line. Tie it tightly, but don't compress the tube.
10. Use a rubber band to secure the other edge of the muslin around the filter. This stops the filter media floating out.
11. Silicone something heavy to the bottom or tie rocks around the outside with fishing line. Otherwise the filter floats.
12. Place it in the tank (waiting for silicone to dry if necessary) and turn on the air pump.
This filter is as reliable as your air pump so you never come home from a weekend away to find it's blown, you've lost the cycle and half your fish are dead. They are effective biologically if suitable media (ie ceramic rings or bio balls) is used. Mine grow algae on the outside when it's not present anywhere else in the tank, so they are making nitrates from harmful waste (ammonia/nitrites). Because they can be made from small bottles (and are therefore smaller than most commercially available filters) they are ideal for very small tanks (<5gal). They create little current and are suitable for small fry or bettas.
Cheap Filter Media
We often get charged a lot for filter wool (not counting filter sponges or pads). Instead of forking out for it at the LFS, go to a craft store. You can buy it as stuffing for cushions or soft toys. It needs to be boiled for a few minutes but I have had no problems using it instead of purpose made filter wool. It can be bought by the huge bagful (500g odd) for around the same price as a small bag of aquarium filter wool.
Obtaining Fish Cheap
- LOCAL MARKETS, STREET STALLS, HAWKERS. There's a woman at mine selling livebearers, neons, bristlenoses, cory cats and just about every other cheap and easy to breed fish you care to name. I know that she is trustworthy - if you don't know the seller personally it pays to QUARANTINE anything you buy. You're not likely to pick up rare or expensive fish there, but you can get common community fish very cheap. When you're stocking a large display, prices of small schooling fish really stack up when you have to pay $3 or $4 each for them - that's $60 to $80 for a comfortable school of twenty neons.
- CLOSING DOWN SALES. Need I say more? They have to sell or the fish will be destroyed. Haggle haggle haggle. Go twice - once near the start to pick up anything that will be sold fast, and once again near the end to get some really good bargains. It's not just fish - aquarium equipment goes cheap too.
- LOCAL CLUB AUCTIONS (Tolak) In exchange for help setting up etc, great bargains available. Rarer species might be available as well because you are buying from people who keep the fish because they love them, not because they HAVE to sell them to make al iving.
Cheap Fish Equipment
- NEWSPAPERS. It's always sad when people can't keep their aquarium or didn't get off to a good start, but you have to admit it's a good source of bargains.
- DEPARTMENT STORES. They sell newbie kits cheap which are ideal for bettas. I paid $33 AU for a 5 gal tank for a betta, only $10 more than a 1/8 gallon cube, no kidding I swear.
- THINGS THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE FISH EQUIPMENT BUT ARE. Strong plastic containers are ideal if you are breeding or raising fish. They make crap displays, granted, but there is no reason why fish can't live in them. Plastic containers cost about $15-20 for a good strong one (20-ish gallon). In mine are gravel, air driven filtration or cheap internal box, live plants, ornaments and fish that can cope with smallish tanks. I use them for raising fry, and to hold all the fish I'm not allowed to keep inside because of space constraints.
Cheap Fish Food
- BREAD. Most fish like it as an occasional treat but obviously not suitable as a staple diet.
- VEGETABLES. Frozen peas, chopped zucchini (courgette), cauliflower, broccoli, potato, sweet potato, choko, pumpkin and most other vegetables go down well with a lot of fish.
- MEAT. Fed sparingly offal can be used as fish food.
- FRUIT. My bristlenoses can't get enough mango.
If anybody can add to the existing categories, please tell me and I'll modify this post. If you have your own category post it below. Like I said this could become a really valuable resource. Eco tips welcome.
Making Filters Out Of Empty Drinks Bottles
A lot of plastic drink bottles go to landfill. Tanks without filters need more water changes. So this is helping the environment in two ways as well as saving money.
This is for an air-driven filter. I haven't included the measurements I used because I know that most of you are from the US or UK where the brands and bottle sizes are all different. As far as I can work out, there is no reason this wouldn't work with any plastic drinks bottle.
1. Draw a line around the drinks bottle, around 7-10cm up from the bottom, closer to 10cm (4") if the bottle is large (>1/2 gallon).
2. Cut neatly around the line.
3. Draw another line around the neck of the bottle, just where it starts to narrow. Cut around this line.
4. Stuff the cut off neck of the bottle into the bottom so that it points directly upwards. This is an improvised airlift. It works very well.
5. Pack filter media into it. You can use anything. I start with a small layer of filter wool, then top it with carbon, biorings and more filter wool.
6. Cut a squarish piece of mosquito netting or muslin so that the edge is about 2-3cm (1") from the edges of the filter when it sits in the middle.
7. Cut a small hole in the middle of the mosquito netting.
8. Push an airstone on its line through the hole.
9. Use a cable tie to bunch the cut edge of the hole in the middle of the mosquito netting around the air line. Tie it tightly, but don't compress the tube.
10. Use a rubber band to secure the other edge of the muslin around the filter. This stops the filter media floating out.
11. Silicone something heavy to the bottom or tie rocks around the outside with fishing line. Otherwise the filter floats.
12. Place it in the tank (waiting for silicone to dry if necessary) and turn on the air pump.
This filter is as reliable as your air pump so you never come home from a weekend away to find it's blown, you've lost the cycle and half your fish are dead. They are effective biologically if suitable media (ie ceramic rings or bio balls) is used. Mine grow algae on the outside when it's not present anywhere else in the tank, so they are making nitrates from harmful waste (ammonia/nitrites). Because they can be made from small bottles (and are therefore smaller than most commercially available filters) they are ideal for very small tanks (<5gal). They create little current and are suitable for small fry or bettas.
Cheap Filter Media
We often get charged a lot for filter wool (not counting filter sponges or pads). Instead of forking out for it at the LFS, go to a craft store. You can buy it as stuffing for cushions or soft toys. It needs to be boiled for a few minutes but I have had no problems using it instead of purpose made filter wool. It can be bought by the huge bagful (500g odd) for around the same price as a small bag of aquarium filter wool.
Obtaining Fish Cheap
- LOCAL MARKETS, STREET STALLS, HAWKERS. There's a woman at mine selling livebearers, neons, bristlenoses, cory cats and just about every other cheap and easy to breed fish you care to name. I know that she is trustworthy - if you don't know the seller personally it pays to QUARANTINE anything you buy. You're not likely to pick up rare or expensive fish there, but you can get common community fish very cheap. When you're stocking a large display, prices of small schooling fish really stack up when you have to pay $3 or $4 each for them - that's $60 to $80 for a comfortable school of twenty neons.
- CLOSING DOWN SALES. Need I say more? They have to sell or the fish will be destroyed. Haggle haggle haggle. Go twice - once near the start to pick up anything that will be sold fast, and once again near the end to get some really good bargains. It's not just fish - aquarium equipment goes cheap too.
- LOCAL CLUB AUCTIONS (Tolak) In exchange for help setting up etc, great bargains available. Rarer species might be available as well because you are buying from people who keep the fish because they love them, not because they HAVE to sell them to make al iving.
Cheap Fish Equipment
- NEWSPAPERS. It's always sad when people can't keep their aquarium or didn't get off to a good start, but you have to admit it's a good source of bargains.
- DEPARTMENT STORES. They sell newbie kits cheap which are ideal for bettas. I paid $33 AU for a 5 gal tank for a betta, only $10 more than a 1/8 gallon cube, no kidding I swear.
- THINGS THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE FISH EQUIPMENT BUT ARE. Strong plastic containers are ideal if you are breeding or raising fish. They make crap displays, granted, but there is no reason why fish can't live in them. Plastic containers cost about $15-20 for a good strong one (20-ish gallon). In mine are gravel, air driven filtration or cheap internal box, live plants, ornaments and fish that can cope with smallish tanks. I use them for raising fry, and to hold all the fish I'm not allowed to keep inside because of space constraints.
Cheap Fish Food
- BREAD. Most fish like it as an occasional treat but obviously not suitable as a staple diet.
- VEGETABLES. Frozen peas, chopped zucchini (courgette), cauliflower, broccoli, potato, sweet potato, choko, pumpkin and most other vegetables go down well with a lot of fish.
- MEAT. Fed sparingly offal can be used as fish food.
- FRUIT. My bristlenoses can't get enough mango.
If anybody can add to the existing categories, please tell me and I'll modify this post. If you have your own category post it below. Like I said this could become a really valuable resource. Eco tips welcome.
/fins.actwin.com/dir/clubs.php
