Buy a goldfish, lol. Fresh water or saltwater? We have saltwater tanks (60 and 125 gallons) and there is no cheap way to go about it if you want to do it correctly.
Unfortunately salt water aquaria are not for novices or those with small budgets. Even keeping freah water fish well is expensive.
That said and realizing that a low budget for a 50-100 gal tank is a relative thing, I will make a suggestion that petshops will hate. I have made several very large aquariums from plywood covered by formica or a similar counter top material and assembled into a box with one side open. Then 3/8" or 1/2" glass is fixed to the open side frame with silicone and all the corners are sealed with the same. This makes a 'cheap' tank. Also, you can use ribbed plastic shed roofing as your undergravel filter plate. Cut slices in the ribs (part way through) and install a manifold of 3/8 or 1/2 in PVC pipe under it. Run a submersible pump (300-1200 gph) into the filter manifold and cover with 4" of small gravel. This makes an unbeatable reverse flow UG filter. The best place to purchase the pumps is a place like WW Grainger. You will pay less than half what a pet shop will ask for the same thing. Also, just make your top from 1/8" plexiglass and place Grolux florescent lamps over this. If put in a wooden enclosure this can make a lovely top that is actually superior to what you can purchase.) Good luck.
If you live near a source of clean ocean water you can start up a salt water aquarium on a low budget otherwise start with a freshwater tank and learn the ropes on cheaper fish. Find an aquarium club near you, you can obtain aquaria and help from experienced people there, and better quality fish as well. Don't try to go it alone,some good help will save money,fish and frustration.Good luck in a great hobby. Pee Tee
No cheap way. Can cost around $300 or so. Depends how big the aquarium is. I could start one for under 100 for a ten gallon, but anyway heres a list of supplies:
Tank
Filter*
heater*
bubbler**
net
test kit
plants
decor
gravel
Light hood(the cover on top with the light)
A vacumm(hose like thing)
Thats just about it. Ask how to set up a tank if you dont know how
salt water is way to expensive. just get freshwater, the cheapest to start off with. first get a cheap small tank from discount stores such as GOLO or Walmart. Then put water and tap conditioner. then choose whatever fish and plants you want. all this plus a filter normally costs about 30 dollars AUD.
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Buy a goldfish, lol. Fresh water or saltwater? We have saltwater tanks (60 and 125 gallons) and there is no cheap way to go about it if you want to do it correctly.
Unfortunately salt water aquaria are not for novices or those with small budgets. Even keeping freah water fish well is expensive.
That said and realizing that a low budget for a 50-100 gal tank is a relative thing, I will make a suggestion that petshops will hate. I have made several very large aquariums from plywood covered by formica or a similar counter top material and assembled into a box with one side open. Then 3/8" or 1/2" glass is fixed to the open side frame with silicone and all the corners are sealed with the same. This makes a 'cheap' tank. Also, you can use ribbed plastic shed roofing as your undergravel filter plate. Cut slices in the ribs (part way through) and install a manifold of 3/8 or 1/2 in PVC pipe under it. Run a submersible pump (300-1200 gph) into the filter manifold and cover with 4" of small gravel. This makes an unbeatable reverse flow UG filter. The best place to purchase the pumps is a place like WW Grainger. You will pay less than half what a pet shop will ask for the same thing. Also, just make your top from 1/8" plexiglass and place Grolux florescent lamps over this. If put in a wooden enclosure this can make a lovely top that is actually superior to what you can purchase.) Good luck.
If you live near a source of clean ocean water you can start up a salt water aquarium on a low budget otherwise start with a freshwater tank and learn the ropes on cheaper fish. Find an aquarium club near you, you can obtain aquaria and help from experienced people there, and better quality fish as well. Don't try to go it alone,some good help will save money,fish and frustration.Good luck in a great hobby. Pee Tee
50 - 100 GL tanks, isn't on a budget!
Start off with a 10 or 20 GL tank.
Be successfull with one of these, then graduate to a 50 + tank.
Salt water fish and Tropical fish are NOT the same.
Saltwater fish can't live in Fresh water.
Tropical Fish (Freshwater fish) can't live in Saltwater.
Also, Saltwater tanks are much more expensive and lots harder to keep then Tropical (Freshwater).
No cheap way. Can cost around $300 or so. Depends how big the aquarium is. I could start one for under 100 for a ten gallon, but anyway heres a list of supplies:
Tank
Filter*
heater*
bubbler**
net
test kit
plants
decor
gravel
Light hood(the cover on top with the light)
A vacumm(hose like thing)
Thats just about it. Ask how to set up a tank if you dont know how
salt water is way to expensive. just get freshwater, the cheapest to start off with. first get a cheap small tank from discount stores such as GOLO or Walmart. Then put water and tap conditioner. then choose whatever fish and plants you want. all this plus a filter normally costs about 30 dollars AUD.
Raise money by doing carwashes. Buy an aquarium. Steal salt from mcdonalds. steal water from a rec center. im serious
i would start out with a freshwater one to gain some experiance salt water tanks can also get pretty costly
Get a small fish tank bowl and put some plants in there. Get food and fish and then ur done!!!