Setting Up an Aquarium
If your new to the hobby and you’re thinking of setting up an aquarium then the following pages should be of some use. Before you make your purchase you should have a good idea of what you want, and how much it will cost, If you feel we have missed anything out of this section please let us know via the contact us page and we will add the missing information.
Budget
You should have a rough idea of what its all going to cost, and how much you can afford to spend. If your budget is limited then think about buying second hand equipment. Your local pet shop will probably have some second hand equipment, and there will certainly be plenty of tanks for sale in your local newspaper. There is nothing wrong with buying second hand equipment as long as you inspect it closely before purchasing, and shop around a little , there are plenty of nearly new aquaria for sale, if you search hard enough. If you are buying second hand then take a friend who has some experience in the hobby, if purchasing a second hand tank, inspect the glass for scratches before purchasing.
Here is an example of how costs can mount up NEW VERSUS OLD:
| Setting up a African Rift Lake Tank 400 litres (NEW SET UP) | ||
| Rio 400 Aquarium with accessories and stand | � | £600 |
| Fluval 4 External filter | � | £100 |
| Sand | � | £30 |
| Ocean Rock / Tuffa Rock | � | £100 |
| Selection of Malawi Cichlids | � | £250 |
| � | Total | £1080 |
�
| Setting up a African Rift Lake Tank 400 litres (SECOND HAND SET UP) | ||
| Second hand 18 month old Rio 400 tank and stand | � | £200 |
| Second hand Fluval 4 External filter | � | £40 |
| Sand | � | £30 |
| Ocean Rock / Tuffa Rock | � | £100 |
| Selection of Malawi Cichlids | � | £250 |
| � | Total | £620 |