For the homemade chow, I make 2 large ziplock baggys full of it with my coffee grinder. Last months... The water gel crystals found in any plant nursery, a couple teaspoons of the dried crystals with water will make a gallon of that to save in a big jug, last you months as well as long as it's sealed. Then you still have the rest of the bag of dried crystals to make more once you run out, which you wont for a very long time. Much cheaper, you can still buy the flukers food if you want to, but to save money in the long run and grind up your own chow that you know what's in it. Well worth it.