People everywhere are tightening their budgets, and aquarists are looking to do the same. But rather than buying cheap equipment that is sure to fail or low-quality food that could compromise fish health and water quality, try the suggestions given here to cut costs.
invest in LED
Switching to energy-efficient
LED lighting can reduce your lighting costs significantly. Pair a LED fixture with an
automatic timer to create a natural light cycle and eliminate energy waste - no more worrying about whether or not you turned off the lights.
buy in bulk
Many aquarists save money by taking advantage of bulk discounts on supplies such as
filter media or
aquarium salt, and the same can be done with fish food.
Frozen foods are available at a significant savings to the customer and provide a nutritious alternative to dried foods.
combine filter media
Combination filter media such as our
Bio3 Filter Cartridges contains mechanical floss, activated carbon, and a biological sponge media for complete three-stage filtration in a single product.
Reusable and rechargeable filter media will also save you money long-term over purchasing single-use media.
go green wisely
If you have a
planted freshwater aquarium, stick with plants such as
Java Fern and
Cryptocoryne that require less intense lighting. Lower wattage lights won't eat up as much energy, and the plants will still provide free filtration benefits to your aquarium by utilizing excess nutrients and adding oxygen to the aquarium water.
upgrade to a package
Those looking to add a new system to their fish room can save hundreds of dollars by purchasing a
packaged system that includes all of the components necessary to get the system started rather than buying the aquarium and components individually.
out with the old
Your "old faithful" pump has served you well over the years, but it may be wasting energy. Replace old pumps and equipment with new, energy-efficient equipment to reduce electrical costs while maintaining or even improving performance.
Of course, the easiest thing you can do is to keep up with regular maintenance to equipment and water changes. It will pay dividends in the long run.
