Quote:

Don't use table salt, it includes a number of caking agents which would be harmful to fish. Use plain Sea Salt or aquarium tonic salt. Don't use table salt or rock salt.

If you use test strips to check your water . Lay them on a cutting board and use a scalpel or Stanley blade to slice them longways . This will turn a tube of 25 test strips into 50 .

Do I win a prize ????

How about "don't use test strips as they cost more than twice as much per test as a liquid test and are half as accurate!"

You know you have to post your price comparison and documents to prove they are not as accurate now ,
how do I buy something cheaper and better with no brand recomendations

Seachem Prime. Last forever, especially if you do lots of water changes on lots of tanks.

Cheap play sand available from asda at the moment.

Use the syphoned old water from your water changes to water the garden / house plants. High in nutrients and saves tap water.

(were there too many 'water' s in that sentance?)

any tips where i can get cheap gravel for my fish tank or is sand just as good?

The type of substrate you chose depends on the type of fish and plants you wish to keep

Be careful of cheap stuff! You are in the Cheshire area yes? Other FK members here in your area report softer more acidic water (fab for lots of tropical fish ) We need your water readings to be sure first though.

Some types of gravel gravel will push up pH and GH so you may need inert gravel depending what you want to keep. I've just had this problem with the P@H brand and switched to Unipak.

Different fish have different decor needs just as Flaps has said.

Post some water readings and let us know what you initially fancy? Is it going to be planted?