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GUIDE TO THE LOW COST AQUARIUM

"A successful aquarium doesn't mean it has to complicated or "high -tech".

So, you want to get started in the aquarium hobby, but are sparse for cash or have a budget to go by. Getting started in an aquarium can sometimes be expensive, but it doesn't have to be. If you want an aquarium but don't want to spend that much on setting one up, then here's a low cost aquarium set up for you.

THE ORIGINAL APPROACH

If you want to stick to the basic, bottom of the line aquarium, then i would suggest a goldfish bowl, although i wouldn't recommend keeping goldfish in it. Goldfish need a lot of room and require water with a higher oxygen content. Bowls can't offer this for goldfish and aren't really proper water conditions for anyfish. But the plain jane bowl can be "spiced" up a little with a simple airpump, air stone and some tubing.

If you are decided on a bowl, keep only small fishes that don't require heat or tropical conditions. The white cloud or "mountain minnow" is just the right species for a bowl. They are actually quite colorful and about an inch in length. Around 2-3 of these fishes in a bowl from 3-4 gallons should be okay.

THE 10 GALLON

Better than a bowl by far and a better for beginners aquarium, the 10 gallon offers more room for your fishy friends and better water quality than with a bowl. They can be purchased with or without a canopy at a cheap price.

If you want to just keep cool water fish such as small goldfish or white clouds, then you don't need a heater (which can increase the price). Just a small corner filter and airpump will take care of maintaining proper water conditions.

But, if you want to keep tropical fish, then a heater will have to be purchased. There are many types of these, but i would recommend a submersible heater. They are so much nicer and relieable. So far, i haven't had any problems with mine.

You can keep a tiny school of neon tetras, say around 7-8 individuals. Be sure to avoid over-accumulation of fish, for the ammonia and nitrite levels would soon get out of control. If the fish get larger than an inch, then a smaller amount of fish must be taken into consideration. Say around 5-6 if they are within 2 inches in length.

LOW TECH/COST FILTERS

NATURAL FILTERS: Natural? you ask. Yes, natural filters are the true basic, low tech approach to filtering your aquarium. After all, you don't see under gravel filters bubbling on our ocean floors or see power filters trickling on our shores of lakes. There are many things in nature that act as filters to purify the water.

One such thing is easily used in aquariums, plants. They filter out the wastes produced by the fish and other organisms and use it as food. But plants may not always thrive and some can be expensive. They range in price and some are more hardy than others. Some people have trouble with keeping live plants, so you may not want to try plants as your main source of filtration.

But, you still have to be careful on how much you feed your fish. Sure, plants do remove waste products, but too much food can't be absorbed just like that, and the water would be fouled. A bit too much food can pollute the water quickly in a short time. Only feed small amounts, depending on the number of fishes in the aquarium.

SIMPLE MAN-MADE FILTERS: Sponge filters are an inexspensive way to filter your aquarium. They are cheap to buy and also don't cost much to "operate". All you need is an airpump or powerhead. When used in conjunction with gravel plants, the sponge filter proves to be a good inexpensive filter. The sponge filter holds the bacteria you need for the nitrogen cycle that goes on in your tank. And they are easily cleaned. Just dip and wring the filter out in the bucket of water siphoned from your tank when you clean it.

Personally, I would want more than just a sponge filter. They are okay if you are raising fry and don't want the babies to get sucked up, but overall they aren't really good for filtering a larger tank, only the smaller ones like a 10 gallon (unless there are really big sponge filters, i have only seen small ones). Filters that have activated carbon are a much more better idea.

A box or corner filter is an inexspensive tool that requires carbon and a fibrous material called "angel hair" or floss. These can be purchased at probably any pet supply store and usually come already equipped with the carbon and angel hair as well as an airstone inside. Once again, you need an airpump to run this sort of set up. The one thing I don't like about these filters is that the angel hair and carbon both need to be changed on a regular basis. About once a month, depending on the number of fishes and plants in your aquarium. It is more likely that you will have to change the angel hair more frequently, whenever it becomes plugged with algae and destrius, or fish waste. When you do have to change it, to keep an active biological filtration culture, leave behind part of the old carbon or filter floss with each cleaning.

Peronsally, I don't like these filters much either. My cousin had one and it was annoying to clean. But if it is what you want, then I would recommend this filter. It is better than a sponge filter, I would say anyways.

If you don't mind spending a little more on a good filter that is easy to clean and to maintain, then I would recommend the outside power filter. You don't need an airpump or airstone, and the actual carbon and angel hair come assembled in a filter cartridge that is disposable. The cartridges are much more clean and easy to deal with. You just take out the old filter cartridge whenever it is "done" with, and pop in a new one. Simple as that. And, you can use the cartridges more than once. The first time or two it gets dirtied, just remove it, rinse it thoroughly with a strong blast of water, and replace. The cartridge should only have to be totally replaced once a month. Replaceable cartridges can be purchased at a low price from any local pet supply store, but I find that they are cheapest at Wal-Mart.

The filter I use is a "Penguine Mini" power filter. It has proved to be a good, reliable, easy to maintain filter.

LIGHTING

If you decide that you want lighting, then you will need to buy or make a lighting system, or you could just stick the aquarium in front of a window, but that could cause temperature fluctuations and an outburst in algae growth. My aquarium is infront of a window, but it is northern based and doesn't recieve that much sunlight as with a southern, eastern or western window. I guess it depends on where you live actually. But anyways, smaller tanks like a bowl or 2 gallon could have problems (with temperature changes) so I wouldn't recommend a window.

A simple shop light can be hung above the aquarium to give it light. Or, you could put a row of spotlights behind the aquarium and substitute plant bulbs instead of regular incandescent bulbes to help attain healthy plant growth if you do decide on plants.

Before I got my canopy, I used a vertical lamp set to the side of the aquarium. It had 2 bulbs on it and did a fairly good job. A canopy is more nice and a better looking approach, but they can be pricey.

DECORATIONS

There are many types of aquarium decorations that you can purchase that are inexspensive and aquarium safe. Of course you want your decorations to be aquarium safe, you don't want any pollutants entering the water off of non-aquarium made objects. If you aren't having real plants, then I suggest that you get fake ones. They look just as nice as real ones and most of them look just as real too! The more elaborate ones can cost more, but the plants that are simple and just as nice are cheaper. I picked up mine for 1.99 each at a local pet supply store. The larger plants are usually a bit more, maybe two or three dollars more, but they aren't that expensive. Other things like artificial logs or rocks usually cost a bit more, so if you want to save a few bucks then I suggest getting your own material. But you have to be careful about selecting certain items.

ROCKS: You can put rocks from home in your aquarium, but there are only certain kinds that you can put in your aquarium safely. Unfortuneatly, I can't remember what kinds are bad and safe, so big help there eh? I will try to find out more. I think that you can seal them in an aquarium safe sealant, but I not too sure. Usually there are rocks and lava rocks that can be purchased for not too high a price at some local pet supply stores that are aquarium safe.

LOGS: Only put in drift wood that has been treated for aquarium use. This can also be purchased at a local pet supply store for not too high a price. Don't use logs and such from your local wood, for the sap and other stuff naturally occuring in the wood will seep out into the water, poisoning it.

OTHER OBJECTS: Other objects such as those small clay pots can be placed safely in your aquarium. Just be sure to wash thorougly under warm or cold water (NO SOAP) to remove any dust and debris. Shells collected at the beach or purchased at just about anywheres can also be placed in your aquarium. But once again be sure to wash thoroughly before placing them in the aquarium.

So what I am trying to say about decorations is that most can be purchased at low prices at any pet supply store or even at Wal-Mart. Whether it be plants, or rocks, or wood, etc. It's just that usually the more elaborate things, like the plastic logs, larger plants, and other aquarium safe objects (like your sunken ships, animated objects, etc) seem to cost more. And don't use things found at home unless they are deemed aquarium safe. Ask your local fish store if it's okay to put an object you had in mind in your aquarium before you do so.

So, good luck in your hunt for the ultimate, cheap, or low tech aquarium set up. Hope this offered some solutions.

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