Cheap fish tanks

(New tank, old tank, second-hand or used, what’s the best option? And how to get a discount?)

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At some time in everyone’s life, there comes a point when you want something so bad, but just can’t afford it. Fish-keeping is no different. Many aquarists start out with a small tank or bowl, but very soon realise that it’s just not good enough! So this is when they start to count their savings and work out what they can afford to do next. Are you there yet? Most of us are always looking for bigger and better and are prepared to struggle to the point of broke to get it.

But do we need to? If you love the hobby as most do, then the answer is yes. For the love of our pets, and the desire to give them the best in life, for the wish to have more fish, and more tanks, we need to! It’s an addiction for many, and one that you can’t get away from. Fish are relaxing, peaceful, company, friends, fascinating and much more for the devoted aquarist. When I come into the room, the first thing I look at is the tanks, all 18 of them! Yes, I’m a fanatic about fish, I just can’t help myself! I spend hours watching them, looking for new fish that have appeared without any help from us, trimming the plants and changing the water, or just admiring my little world of water.

Build your own:

So, are there any short-cuts, are there any cheap fish tanks? Yes, there are. One of the cheapest tanks to own is the one you build yourself! For the cost of the cut-to-size glass and a little silicon and time, you have a new fish tank! It doesn’t need a lot of skill, just a little planning and the ability to work out the glass sizes and thicknesses needed. The glazier will usually help if you tell him what you want.

Custom Built:

Very often, custom-build companies will offer good deals on tanks. They sometimes have tanks left over from contracts that have either been built the wrong size or are not suitable for the task intended. Quite often they can build a tank for you cheaper than you can build it yourself; simply because they buy so much glass that they get it at very low cost! It’s always worth a phone call to find out.

Online Auctions:

Places like E-Bay are good places to look for bargains too. Often there are real bargains that just need a little time to place the winning bid. I recently got a fantastic deal on E-Bay for 17 tanks, with all the racking and equipment!

Garage/Boot Sales:

Garage sales and Car-Boot sales are another good place to look for used equipment and tanks, and they have the added advantage of being able to inspect before you buy.

Classified Ads:

You can buy second-hand or used tanks from other people through the classified advertisements in the local papers. These are often in good order, but even if they are damaged, most can be repaired and made good again.

Alternatives to glass:

Some of the more unusual alternatives are plastic storage boxes, which can be utilised as fish tanks with a little care, and these cost very little. In emergency situations they are very quick and simple, need very little setting up and can be running and working in less than an hour. I wouldn’t want to rely on them for a long period of time, but as a holding tank, they are very good.

How to get a discount?

I was surprised how many sellers can lower the price if you ask for it. These days, when everything is usually too expensive, prices are excessive. Fishkeeping is no exception. In the Europe and in the USA people don't usually ask for better prices, although they can! When I go shopping (aquarium accessories or computers, there is no difference), I always buy more items; Preferably for $400-$500 at least. Then one can ask for a discount. In my experience the discount is between 10% and 15% (saving $100 out of $500 is enough for me). It's not a matter of if you can or cannot afford a thing; It's a matter of business. Sellers still make money and in order to keep the customer happy, they are willing to sacrifice some small revenue.

It all depends on what you want, how badly you want it, and how much you are prepared to spend!
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Cheap fish tanks

has been viewed times since June 30, 2009.