A HOB will set you back around £10 on ebay, but likely won't have the litres per hour required. Hang on the Back (HOB) filtration is usually quite cheap too. If using sponge filters, water changes should be twice weekly bare minimum as there is little mechanical filtration. You can also buy air pumps with multiple outlets, or buy a splitter (this will share the current air between two or more filters so the flow will be reduced) and run two or more sponge filters. Granted, you'll need an air pump (£5-10, buy the biggest LPH you can afford) and some tubing and a check valve (usually comes with the pump, but costs under £2 for both pieces if not). Sponge filters are the diamond of cheap filtration. A good canister can be had for a few pounds and though the media may need replacing (recommended, bleach thoroughly if you do plan on keeping it), it's a great place to find cheap filtration that fits the needs of your Goldfish. Second hand sales, again, are great places to buy your filter. There's no real replacement, but with a good water change schedule and a little mechanical and biological filtration, we can work around it. Nothing beats a good canister filter or sump, with a minimum 8-10×tank volume turnover per hour. Call it a pond and you sound dead fancy!īased on personal experience, I have found the inflatable and firm sided pools are quite weak and the base and sides are easily punctured.įully plastic pools, that are set as one moulded piece and frame pools are much more durable meaning there's less risk of wet floors and dry pools. Kiddie/paddling pools also make great Goldfish homes. Round tubs are also stronger and don't bow as easily. Shallow tubs are sturdier than taller tubs, which may need bracing (duct tape can be wrapped around the middle of the tub, prior to filling as a centre brace, or wood panels clamped in place can hold the sides up to stop them from bowing). It's always useful to have a couple on standby should you need them.Įnsure that they are food grade plastic and buy them as sturdy as you can. Plastic tubs make great temporary homes/quarantine tanks too. They can be purchased from hardware or homeware stores and many supermarkets also stock large tubs. Plastic storage tubs, builders mixing tubs, totes, those kind of things make fantastic make shift tanks. Silicone will shrink over time, so it's always a good idea to reseal a second hand tank prior to filling anyway, to save you a job further down the line. Resealing is cheap and easy, so don't let old silicone put you off. Ensure you are buying an aquarium, vivariums and terrariums aren't designed to hold a tank full of water and can easily break. Bargains can be found on local Facebook selling groups, Gumtree, Preloved, Craigslist, eBay, in Charity shops, car boot sales, anywhere that sells second hand stuff may well have that bargain tank you've been searching for.Īvoid tanks that are cracked, glass can be replaced, but it can be expensive, especially on top of the purchase of the tank. Emergency upgrades or lack of disposable income mean that cheaper alternatives may need to be sought. However, it's not always possible to buy a brand new tank and stand. If you can afford one, by all means, treat yourself!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |