It isn't as difficult to set up or maintain an African
Cichlid tank as you might think. The only real thing to consider is what size
tank you’re going to have or can afford and what fish you want to keep in it.
These fish need their space. Even the small Mbuna require space, as they are
territorial and need a lot of rocks to separate it up between them.
It is recommended that a four foot long tank is the minimum
size to go for, but this size tank isn't really big enough to keep the larger Mbuna
or Haps in. Before doing anything, you need to consider the tank size: the
bigger the tank, the more variety and amount of fish you can get. Quite often,
a starter will try and grab every type of fish in the local fish store and put
them in an unsuitable tank. This will often result in you having to fork out
more in the long-run, having to buy a bigger tank to suit your fish.
It is recommended that good filtration is the key to the
health of your fish. African Cichlid tanks can be over-stocked slightly. To do
this, however, you need great filtration and water movement. External filters
are the best for the job in this case, as they don’t take up any space in the
tank and are often more efficient. Good makes of filter are Rena, Aqua One,
Fluval and APS. These are a hardy fish, but good filtration to look after the
water is still essential.
Most folk also add wave makers. These are usually used on
marine set ups and are available through eBay for as little as
£10.00. A recommended make for these would be Sun Sun. Another option could be
an airstone and airpump, which provides the necessary oxygen for the fish but
does not provide the same water movement.
Other equipment that you will need includes a heater and
lights. Heaters are essential in keeping your tank at a stable 25-28 °C. These
are best placed near good flow, so that there is an even cover of heat. Buy a
thermometer to monitor the temperature and identify any problems. The Aqua One
range of heaters is good, providing different sized heaters for different
volumes of water.
Lights will often come in a hood when you buy commercial
tanks. A common combination is having one white bar and one blue bar, bringing
out the best colours for your fish. Many fishkeepers will always purchase LED
lights. To learn more about tank equipment, or to ask any questions, go here.
Aquascaping
Aquascaping is an art and it can take a lot of practice to
get your tank looking the way you want it.
Malawi Cichlids vary differently. For more information on
this, click here.In
short, Mbuna are rock-dwellers, and should live in a rocky environment, and
Haps and Peacocks should have more open water and sand for free-swimming space.
If you want a more natural looking tank go for natural rocks
found at the Garden centre, which will be much cheaper than your fish store.
Grey rocks like slate & cobble stones will help bring
out the colours of your fish, creating a sharp contrast.
Another option is ocean rock. This is a good choice and will
look more natural once covered in algae. It stacks safer as the rocks interlock
with each other. It creates more caves and has holes in it for fry or weaker
fish to hide.
Plants and bogwood usually aren’t used in Malawi tanks, as
there are very few in their natural habitat of Lake Malawi. Any plants that you
put in will most likely just be attacked and eaten by the fish. Bogwood will
also lower pH, so it isn’t advised to include it in a Malawi Tank.
Substrate

Play sand is another good option, although if you get it
from somewhere like Argos it can be very fine and really hard to get clean. With
play sand you have to stir it up regularly as it compacts down and can trap
toxic gasses. Play sand is a clean option, and good for the fish as they dig
and sift through the substrate (coral sand can be sharper and may irritate the
gills).
You could also go for kiln dried or sharp sand which are both
used by a lot of people.
Available from most DIY stores or builders merchants,
it is not the preferred substrate as coarse or big gravel is not good for your Cichlids
as they like to sift through it. River gravel or any other type of substrate is
not recommended for African cichlid set ups.
Whatever you decide to use, it should be cleaned thoroughly
making sure as much dirt, dust and finer grains are washed out. If it isn't
washed out it will make your tank water all milky and it can take days to
clear. This can cause damage to your filter.
There are a couple of methods on how to wash your substrate.
The most common one is to wash it in a bucket under a fast running cold tap,
mixing it around with your hands to help get rid of all the bits that you don't
want in your tank. You need to do this for a good ten minutes, to ensure that
all dirt is removed.
You can also put a hose pipe at the bottom of the bucket
with some of the sand / gravel on top and turn it on to full power, leaving it
to clean itself out in the garden. Better to do a good job the first time, as
it’s a lot harder to do once the tank is established.
Do I buffer the water or not?
Simple answer is no. You are much better off leaving the
water alone even if it is a little low for African cichlids, who require
slightly alkaline water of around pH 8.The exception is wild caught African
Cichlids, as these will be used to the Lake’s natural parameters and extra care
needs to be given to these delicate fish.
The main thing to note here is that it is better to have a
stable pH that you will have more control over, rather than having a slightly
higher pH that you mess about with, which could fluctuate more (which is worse
for the fish).
Cycling your tank
The boring part. I’m afraid that, once you’ve done all of
the above and filled the tank with water, you still can’t add fish. You need to
complete a ‘fishless cycle’, where you wait a couple of weeks until the
bacterial colonies which convert Ammonia to Nitrites and then to Nitrates have
become established. If you have other tanks, add some filter media or substrate
from it and you will be transferring the bacteria with it.
Another option is to use Tetra Safestart, which will
immediately add the necessary bacteria for the aquarium’s biological balance.
It is essential that these bacteria are introduced to your aquarium: they will
help to establish a natural balance and maintain a good water quality. Once the
water parameters have balanced, it’s time to add your fish. If they are all
juvies, you will probably be able to add them all at once. If you’re
introducing adults, you should stagger their introduction so you don’t overload
the biological balance and cause an ammonia spike which can cause diseases.
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Thanks Ashley! My tank is cycling as I type. Your blog is excellent and correct in every way. Im an experienced hobbyist who knows a good soul when I read one. Thank you. Merry Christmas Happy new year. God bless. - Bruce
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