New Cichlid Tank Setup - Q & A
For African Cichlids

Note:

These are my points of view and questions I had when setting up a new Cichlid tank. I hope this will answer your questions and help you in getting started with the fun and excitement of raising Cichlids.


Before you spend any money

      Before you go out and start spending money there are things you need to think about.
  1. Responsibility
  2. How big of a tank do I need?
  3. How long and many WATTS should I get for a heater?
  4. What kind of gravel should I use?
  5. Should I use plants and/or stones?
  6. What kind of filtration do I need?
  7. What chemicals do I need to add to the water?



Responsibility

      Responsibility is one of the key factors of enjoying the hobby of raising fish. Fish, just like any other animal, requires daily attention. Daily responsibilities include feeding the fish small portions 2 to 3 times a day, checking the temperature of the water to make sure not only the water is at the correct tempurature by also the heater is still working. Fish need a constant temperature and a clean enviroment to stay healthy. The filtration system will do most of the work for you but you still need check and change the filter media as needed. Also, to maintain that clean environment you'll need to "vacuum" the gravel, keeping alae off the glass and change 30-40% of the water every week or two, depending on the number of fish you have.
If you can handle these few responsibilities you can easily have a successful tank and have many years of enjoyment.

How big of a tank do I need?

      Choosing the size of your tank will depend upon the space you have and Responsibility. Remember, the bigger the tank the more time you'll need to spend cleaning and keeping up maintenance. For starters I would recommend a rectangular tank around 25 to 30 gallons. I recommend this size because it's not to small and not to large. Smaller tanks, unless thats all you can afford or have space for, tend to become out grown, by the owner, and can't hold as many fish. Bigger than 30 gals tends to be more work for a beginner and of course cost more.

How long and many WATTS should I get for a heater?

      A heater is a vital part in keeping you fish healthy. Fish just like humans don't like to be either too cold or too hot. A heater is designed to keep the water at a constant temperature.
Heaters come in 2 forms:
• submersible     - Heaters that can be completely under water
• non-submersible - The tube that encases the heater is the ONLY part
                    that can be in the water.

I would recommend a submersible heater for the fact that you don't have to watch the water level as closely as with a non-submersible heater.

To determine how long your heater needs to be will depend on how tall you tank is. Just measure from the top of the water line to the top of the rocks and buy a long enough heater with the substantial amount of WATTS.
To determine how many WATTS your heater needs to be you need to calculate 3 to 5 WATTS per gallon. I multiple 5 WATTS x total gallons and get the next highest rating.
(for example) 5 Watts x 26 gallons = 130 WATT heater. Since heaters usually come in increments of 50 WATTS I would choose a 150 WATT heater. Here's the exception, If the tempurature of the water is 10 to 15 degrees higher than the tempurature where the tank is located I would recommend getting a heater twice the size. In the case of my example, a 200 WATT heater will be sufficient.
Remember: The smaller the heater the more work it has to do to maintain a constant tempurature which in turn makes it less reliable.

What kind of gravel should I use?

      Choosing gravel is really your choice. People use different sizes of regular gravel, decorative gravel, crushed coral, or dolimite just to name a few. Since cichlids require a high pH (Malawi cichlids 7.7 - 8.6, Tanganyika cichlids 8.6 - 9.2) the best gravel to use is dolimite. I use dolimite because it buffers the water and help keep the pH high, plus the younger cichlids can pick it up and spit it out, pretty entertaining. Crushed coral is another good alternative if you can't find dolimite.

Should I use plants and/or stones?

      Stones and rocks are very important in a cichlid tank since they are in their natural environment. Cichlids also need caves or places to hide. In my tank setup I have created caves by using slate and stones with plastic plants as cover. A word on live plants. It is possible to keep live plants in a cichlid aquarium, but remember, some cichlids are destructive. I guess the rule of thumb is to do research on the fish you want to keep and most of all... Be Creative.

What kind of filtration do I need?

      This is a very tough question to answer because there are a lot of different kinds of filters out there. Different people will tell you that THIS one or THAT one works better. All I can tell you is the ones i'm familiar with and my experience with them.

Kinds of filters, just to name a few:
• Power Filter
• Under Gravel Filter (aka.UGF)
• Canister filters
• Diatom Filters

I only have had experience with power filters. I use power filters because of there generally cheap, quiet, easy to use and require low maintenance. Power filters use an motor with an impeller,the only moving part, to draw water from the intake tube. The water then passes through the filter media, then charcoal, and usually a foam block, which is home for the nitrifying bacteria, then back into the tank.

What chemicals do I need to add to the water?

      Before introducing any new fish you need to add salt, chlorine remover, ammonia remover, nitrifying bacteria, and get the pH to a proper level. I use Instant Ocean salt(1 tablespoon per 10 gals) to help fight off diseases and to promote the fishes natural slim coat, NovAqua to get rid of the chlorine, AmQuel to get rid of an ammonia caused from the break down of chlorine, Stress Zyme to give the fish their natural slime coat and also adds nitrifying bacteria, and Proper pH 8.2 to lock the pH at 8.2. I also add African Cichlid Chemistry (by Kent). This will add the necessary trace elements back to the water that is used up by the cichlids and lost through filtration.
After adding everything you need in the water, let the water set with the filter running for at least 3 - 4 weeks to start the nitrogen cycle. Start doing water changes every week and don't forget to add the correct amount of chemicals back when you change the water.


I believe this covers everything you need to start your own cichlid tank. Please do further research before you purchase anything... any most of all ENJOY!!!
Please E-mail us if you have any suggestions, questions, or comments


©1998 by :
Robert & Karee Briggs

Page Updated: 11/18/98