CUTTING COSTS
Any hobby can be expensive but for each hobby there are ways we can cut costs. That's no different with fish keeping. When first setting up and getting into fish keeping you will find it is expensive. There is no getting around the initial financial output but after that you can find many ways to cut the costs in this hobby.
One excellent example is purchasing substrate. Substrate is simply the material used for the bottom of your aquarium. I personally use sand in all my aquariums.
There are beautiful types of sand you can purchase at Local Fish Stores (LFS) specifically for African cichlids. You will soon find anything labeled for "fish" will be very expensive but there are always alternatives.
The sand substrate I use costs a fraction of the price and is as good or even better. Most fish keepers that use sand buy pool filter sand for their aquariums as it's a wonderful product for a manageable price. There are also many different brands, types, colours and coarseness of sand available. It may take you a little time to find the one you like best.
I have tried a few myself and have settled on Fairmount Minerals Pool Filter Silica Sand - crushed quarts. This particular sand is a little more expensive but it is clean. By that, I mean it needs a quick rinse and is ready for use. Many types of sand need to be thoroughly washed before use. It can take a couple hours of rinsing to get it clean. If it's not cleaned properly it's not harmful but it will take days for your aquarium to clear from the dust storm it creates.
There are other substrates that can be used such as gravel but for African Cichlids I recommend sand as they are diggers and can injure themselves if the substrates is too big or has sharp edges.
Their are no cut and dried rules for fish keeping. You must find what works best for your setup and your fish. There are many opinions that will help you find what suits your needs.