I need to shoot an underwater scene that contains an aquarium like setting. I know what you're thinking, and yes, I do live in proximity to a tourist aquarium, but I checked the hourly rates, and they're massive. How can I DIY this scene?
It depends on the scene that you're trying to shoot. It might be possible to shoot a friend's aquarium and just loop it, so that you get more footage. You could use a green screen to insert people into the shot.
The mossy rocks and coral would be the easiest bit to fake on a mass scale. I'm not sure how you'd pull off the fish, though. Maybe reset the scene to a creek.
Oh wow! That's a tough one. I'd almost say you might have to bite the bullet and pay.
I've seen some people that have large fish tanks. You could always post on Facebook asking about this.