HolyKnightBeral
New Member
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?
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?
This helps cause Im BROKE 
