Tips for reducing costs of fishkeeping...

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
im all about saving money, but if we dont support our lfs we wont have any. i agree filters and the like are outrageous at lfs, so i tend to buy them online. filter media and foods i like to buy local. fish if i can find what i want or my lfs can get it for me i like to buy from them. most fish im interested in need to be ordered though. lfs struggle to make ends meet, its not as cheap to buy from them most of the time but it does help to keep them around. and without them where would i go in my free time?
 
buy tanks used on craigslist, etc. The cost for used is 20 to 50% of a new setup.
 
Bderick67;1382996; said:
buy tanks used on craigslist, etc. The cost for used is 20 to 50% of a new setup.
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Beat me to it. Almost all of the expensive parts (stands, tanks, lights) were bought off of craigslist.

The biggest money saver I've found next to Craigslist is the DIY section of this site. I'm building a w/d filter for less than half of a new one. I've built my own stands and canopies.

Another way I've been able to fund my tanks is through the sale of excess equipment. We're all guilty of impulse buying. So just sell off the old piece of equipment when I replace it with the impulse purchase. I went through all of my extra equipment this last weekend and found I have a complete 55 gallon set-up (tank, stand, filters, heaters, ph's, decor, substrate, etc...).
 
Dexman, thats what I plan on doing here in a few weeks. Gathering all of my "fish stuff" that I don't use and selling it on ebay. Also random house crap that we never use.
 
i agree will all of you , the easiest way to save alot of money is to shop online (etc. ebay and craigslist) but also if you have alot of big fish that like to eat little fish you can get some sort of net and go catch your own fish food instead of buying it from lfs .
 
Purina Game Fish Chow is $17 for a 50 lb bag. Most feed stores have it or can get it.
 
like Weylin said
i got off that feed everyday stuff and saved a ton
i figured out you can feed only 2 to 3 times a week.
all my fish are fine and havent lost fish cus of hunger.

my secret to saving money.........................
i net most of my fish!
lfs is just full of ich and crap
my lfs "fl" is the cleanest lfs around. :ROFL:
also catch all my feeders
so my fish and feeders are free!!
 
Miles;1382956; said:
Use PRIME- It's more concentrated :)
Change Water - Don't rely on chemicals, carbon, and when you have healthy water you never have to spend money on chemicals, when your fish never get sick..
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Exactly what I was gonna say! I buy Pond Prime & dilute it by 50%. Lasts forever!

The best way to save $$$ in my book is large, weekly water changes. Can't beat it for keeping fish healthy & long lived (no spending more $$$ for replacements) & I can't tell you the last time I bought meds, other than Melafix, which I also buy in the Pond concentrate. I purchase my FD foods in bulk from here: http://www.jehmco.com/

Do a ton of research before buying any fish you aren't familiar with. It will save you $$$ in the long run too!
 
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