an expensive hobby this fishkeeping

i was just sorting out my budget(after the fact cause its all blown now),was working out how much i spent on my tanks this month and its actually scary.food alone
1.tetra cichlid sticks R76(a month
2.tetra algae wafers R67(a month)
3.frozen bloodworm R25(a week) R100
4.crickets R40(a week) R160

happy fish priceless
wallet just less

thats besides startin this darn planted tank which has cost me close on R1000 already.plus the little odds and ends.
anyone else in the same boat?

 

Yep! Though I don't have such expensive fish to maintain! Broke the bank in Jan, collecting all the bits & pieces for planting (chose NOT to add it all up!) and resolved firmly not to spend any more money on the tanks for at least 6 months. Ha Ha! Till the lfs got my latest wish fish (brochis splendens) which of course must be kept in groups..... then by a freaky accident, water got into a ballast... POOF! just when the plants were starting to thrive... hey ho hey ho back to the store we go!

 

Ja im also on a cost cutting mission here,i'v cut it down to life and death purchases,gonna start raiding the garden for goggas.lookout for a new diy thread on lizid traps lol

 

Eish you guys pend alot.I have 100 bucks a month .Thats my entire pocket money.

 

Here's what I spent in the past 3 months:

Tank Fix - R 500.00
Canopy - R 250.00
Boyu Tubes - R 150.00
Hopar T5 x 2 - R 300.00
Ballast x 2 - R 200.00
Water Pump - R 200.00
Air Pump - R 320.00
Airline - R 20.00
Airstones - R 80.00
UVS - R 350.00
Plumbing - R 50.00
Sump - R 250.00
Level Alarm - R 14.00
Thermometer - R 10.00

TOTAL: +- R 2800.00

That's a load of cash, but taking into consideration the sheer awesomeness of my tank, not really that much. The benefit of importing & DYI!

 

I suggest you stay away from marine tanks then, just 700L of water changes would cost you R800-1000+

 

Mother Russia

 

to top it off the resale value doesn't exist

 

ja i'll stick to my freshwater bottomless holes lol

 

thats the sad thing really

 

i'd need to sell my aro at 2 grand to get my money back

 

Ah yes...was just doing the "sommetjies" for my new tank last night too ... +-R1500 and counting. A leeeeetle bit more than I had planned/anticipated.

 

Well, I'm sure I'll be able to sell my setup for R 2,500? R 2,000?

I don't know...

 

You guys did not mention the electricity bill. That is hectic!!! Imagine, here in the Freestate Bethlehem, it gets below 0. The heaters is on the whole time.

 

Set up a worm farm, will have endless amount of worms and composite for your garden and all you feed them is your food scraps. And the fish loves real worms

 

i do raid the garden when i got the time,moths,worms,snails,beetles but im really after the garden lizids their all over the place im just to bang to catch them.so im gonna devise a trap to catch them will save me plenty.

 

erm...so you just going to through the lizid in the tank???so sorry had to ask....i got this mental picture im hoping you can help get rid of....

 

You guys are actually spot on.

I have started sacrificing personal wants (Movies, etc etc....) to support my fish keeping.

But at the end of the day its worth it

 

Get your mind out the gutter lol

 

I also don't understand about the lizards :wacko: However, my cat is great at catching lizards but he doesn't eat them, just kills them and leaves dead lizards all over the garden. Oscar Freak - you're welcome to collect - I think you live close to me

We catch fruit flies and feed them to the fish. Here's how - Kick the compost bucket. Wave a net above the bucket to catch the flies that rise up. Close the net with an elastic to stop the flies escaping. Put the net in the freezer for about 3 minutes. This puts the flies to sleep. Empty the net into the tank. Grubs up!

I just started my fish fetish in Jan, so in the past 3 months I've had that whole start up expense. :amazed: