THE AFRICAN CICHLID TANK (Basic Setup)
When starting a Cichlid tank there are a few things one should take into consideration. The following should help you to set up and successfully maintain a general African tank setup. The following is the basics of what you are going to need.
THE TANK: First thing before purchasing a tank you have to know what species of
fish you are going to keep. Certain fish need taller tanks, or wider tanks, or
longer tanks. There are a lot of tanks to choose from so take the time to think
it through.
Larger fish are going to
need larger tanks and more aggressive species are going to need more territory.
There are many different forms of tanks Glass, Acrylic, Plywood if you are handy!
Glass is the most common but it is very heavy. Acrylic is also pretty popular and
much lighter but extra care will be necessary as far as cleaning goes.
CABINET: You're going to need to put your new aquarium somewhere! There are pre made wood stands, with or without doors, or shelves. There are many different metal stands readily available also. No matter what you choose, the tank needs to be on a level sturdy, flat, surface. (Don't skimp on this step).While you're looking for the right stand you can also look into canopies and glass tops. You can also build your own custom stand and or canopy which a lot of times is much cheaper.
HEATER: Depending on your climate you're probably going to need a heater! Cichlids like a warmer water than most US native fish. Heaters usually run from a few bucks up to 60-75 dollars. Just remember Cichlids are a little aggressive at times and can reap havoc on a cheap heater! I recommend a good submersible heater such as an Aqueon or Stealth. Even if you live in a warm climate it is a good idea to use a heater mainly for a consistent temp year round. IMO heaters are a necessary component in any warm water setup.
THERMOMETER: A good floating, or nice digital, or a stick on strip is a must so you can make sure your temps are right. How much you want to spend depends on the fish you keep. Thermometers also aid in helping you insure your heater is working correctly.
SUBSTRATE: African Cichlids usually like pH between 6.5 and 9.0 in general depending on the species and like medium hard slightly alkaline water. They also, in general like a sediment rich soil, so because of this I recommend a mixture of 60-70 percent gravel to 30-40 percent sand mixture. This will aid in the bacteria you will need in your tank. Eco complete is a great substrate and keeps the water buffered to ideal levels. Crushed coral is also used in a lot of African Cichlid setups. Choosing substrate is a matter of personal preference so have fun with it.
DECORATIONS: Most Africans Cichlids, but not all need a lot of hiding places. To achieve this research your fish and see what they have in there natural habitat. Usually root structurs, driftwood, rocks, caves, slate, tubes, or ornaments will work and give them plenty of hiding spots and cover. The right decorations could actually, I believe improve your fishes overall health.
BACTERIA: Yes bacteria, you will need it, you can cycle your tank by adding a few hardy fish and leave it run for a few weeks. You can also over feed your tank with these fish in it (not to the point of cloudiness).You can also purchase chemicals with de chlor in it, pH balancers, and the whole chemical line they have out now. I recommend the few fish over feed method and patience, and a good water test kit. Another way to cycle is a fishless cycle where you put straight ammonia in the tank, either way works the same. The test kit is a must so you can monitor levels.
MEDS AND SALT: There are a ton of medications and different types of salt out there. I find it best to keep a name brand Parasite and Fungus med on hand It is also not a bad idea to keep some salt on hand. Having some meds on hand is helpful in case ou have an outbreak.
LIGHTS: Lights become a factor if you want to do a planted tank. Lighting has a Kelvin rating with a large range of spectrum. Flower growth needs minimum of 5100k for adequate growth 10,000 for optimal growth. Lights can come in many different materials, wattages, color temps, radiant temps, and hps, Mh,cfl, pin and stick type and the list goes on. Think out your African tank first and the lights will come to you in the end. (Don't skimp for optimal lights add health and beauty to your Africans. There are a lot of African Cichlids that are plant eaters, this should come into consideration when choosing lighting or plants.
FILTRATION AND MEDIA: Africans are fairly healthy strong fish and can handle a lot of different water conditions! With that said, there is a wide variety of filters on the market today. HOB, or hang on back filters are of the most popular. These filters come in a wide range of varieties. Biological, mechanical, chemical, and canister filters are a few more. Any of these newer filters will do fine if accompanied by weekly water changes. There is sponge and trickle filters also which encourage the growth and safe keeping of your bacteria. Don't take this step lightly at all, spend a few extra bucks in the beginning for a good filter and you will be happier in the long run!!!!!!
Just my thoughts on the African Cichlid tank! Detroitfish