Tips and Tricks

HolyKnightBeral

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Hi there! I don't really know if this has been done here before or not. I know that everyone has learned little tricks and such that make keeping aquariums easier and cheaper. So I figure, why not make a post where everyone can post how they save money and time? ^_^

I'll start with what I have learned.

* Keeping a large number of Bettas can be very expensive if you use dry food. One little container costs 3.99 where I am from and doesn't last nearly long enough.

Answer: Baby Cichlid pellets have the exact same makeup as Betta food with tiny exceptions on protein and fiber. So it stands to reason that you can save a lot of money by buying Baby Cichlid pellets in larger bags. Make sure they are the smallest variety sold at your lfs or your Bettas won't be able to eat them.

* Everyone hates when they find that their fish are sick with Ich or other parasites. Medications can cost so much though, what do you do?

Answer: If you have a little spare time and an unused tank you can buy the pond varieties of many medications. These medications are very concentrated and need to be dilluted into a solution. This works just as well as the predilluted mixtured for aquarium fish.

* A lot of us use filters that require cartridges or large ammounts of filter floss. These can cost a lot of money and need to be replaced very regularly.

Answer: I learned from a very experienced fish keeper and shop owner that you can use that wonderous thing called pantyhose or stockings to keep filter media together w/o the need for filter floss. This may seem a bit weird but try it, you'll be very impressed.

* Filter Carbon can cost a lot and lasts about a month before becoming useless. What can you do here?

Answer: Bake that Carbon! it won't work like brand new but if you are hard up for money getting a cookie sheet and spreading the carbon out thinly will reactivate carbon when the oven is heated to 400 degrees F. I've found that this saves me a lot of money now that I have so many tanks to take care of and it does work.

Anyone else got anything?
 
Make your own tank backgrounds outta construction paper. :p Get tank decorations from outside, but be sure to boil and soak them before placing them in tank. (and make sure that all wood you put in is dead)
 
good post, someone should pin this :thumbs:

i got one

instead of waisting your time with a cycle you can take water from another tank and out it in and shortens the cycle alot, some tiems no need for cycles
 
For cheap filter floss just buy the Poly-fil from the craft department (pillow stuffin').You get a huge back for like 2 bucks. I've used it in my tanks for over a year with no problems :thumbs:
 
Become friends with a breeder and get free fish :thumbs:
 
Great Advice everyone. I have two more tips for everyone that I remembered.

* Bored and want to express yourself? need a tank background?

Answer: Buy Tempura (sp?) paints from your local hobby store and paint your own tank backing with whatever you want. It doesn't hold too well and can scratch but the comedy value is well worth it. Be creative :D

Answer2: Laminate a movie poster or old picture print. it can give it a sort of stylish look without buying the store backing. much more flexible.

* Can't afford that 200 gallon tank with hood and stand?

Answer: A lot of people fall into the trap of buying new tanks and paying waaay too much. Every day people get out of our hobby because they can't afford it or sell a tank because they have up/downsized. This leaves you with cheap filters, heaters, and tanks :D
My LFS buys up used equipment and resells it. I got a 29 gallon tank from them with driftwood and heater for 5 dollars! Many similar deals are in the paper's classifieds and in pawn shops around town. You canafford to upgrade yourself to the next level of fishy fiendishness without selling bodily fluids and/or organs.

that's all I have for now. Thanks for putting up with this :D!
 

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