AFRICAN CICHLID TANK: How to start one up easily with these TIPS
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
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so far this is my favorite Cichlid video
I’ve watched many videos about cichlid care and setting up a proper tank. This was the best one I’ve seen. Thank you for your tips, for being down to earth, relatable, genuine, and caring.
I’ve had an aquarium for years, I’ve raised 20 Mickey Mouse platys from fry who all grew into beautiful adults I cared for over 3 years. I’ve been through a snail infestation 🐌 and have made my share of aquarium mistakes.
When my last platys passed several months ago, I was in the process of moving out of my parents’, so I didn’t jump into new fish/environment. But I still had my tank - a pleco and some anubias plants.
Now I’m settled in my new apartment, and have a tank with 4 brand new juvenile cichlids. I’ve done a lot of research and am determined to give them the best life and care I can.
To you, thank you for keeping it down to earth, and inspiring cichlid beginners to believe we have what it takes to care for these fish without expert experience.
I’ve found other videos to have *unintentional* intimidation - portraying the aggression and advance level of care for this species. The passion and intention for the fish is understood and respected. Though viewing a video such as this one is a breath of fresh air.
Thank you for inspiring fish lovers to continue learning and ultimately continue on their journey in this hobby.
Thanks for watching and for those kind words. Good luck in your adventure and keep up the good work
"TANK, FOUND IT AT A PETCO, PUT IT IN MY BAGPACK "FREE"
SETTING UP A TANK CAN BE FREE GUYS" LOL
😂
Not if you steal it
yooo actually, my neighbors recently put their tank outside and it was dirty. I thought hey they might not want it, so I took it and now it's in front of my house so if they walk past by they will know I took it lol. I got a free 55 gallon tank, I'm excited to put these cichlids in them!
+Stanley Tucker lol FREE
so true, people make fish keeping sound so complicated
👍🏻
Tell me about it, I just spent 850 to start up a 48x18x18, fml
Beautiful tank. Just started my mbuna tank about a month ago in a 55 gallon. Fixing to move them over to a 75 gallon. Great tips!
Awesome. Thanks for watching
Oh wow thanks for the info, someone who actually give care tip. I've watch five other videos 2 just changing water and no info and others just care for one type of cichlid. Thanks for actually giving a nice guide to cichlid care.
You’re welcome
Your tanks are always gorgeously clean! Good Job!
Thanks
The rocks look like they are glowing. Phenomenal tank.
+mariemandalay thank you
Finally somebody who spoke out and good job on the video keep it up
Thanks
Nice video buddy. I'm retired and have had salt and Africans for years. Salt is almost a daily ritual compared to Africans. For beginners I wish you would have gone over testing the water once in awhile. They are pretty bullet proof. As you stated some fish require more attention and Petco etc doesn't have much in many neighborhoods. Easing the fish in correctly helps as well. Nice tank Bro. Go SF Giants!
Thanks bro. Appreciate it. My AC tank is long gone now. This is now a reef tank which I love
Amazing ac tank! Big punch in a pretty small package. Btw, amazon has prefilter sponge three packs for less than $4 with free shipping. I have them in all my sanded tanks and they work great!
Thanks bro. Yeah no more room for a huge tank. I think it came out pretty good. Nice I will keep that in mind. Prefilter a are great
They are very handy! Do you know what type of rocks you have? I really like them! The sat+ really makes them look cool!
It's granite. We have. A lot of granite in MASS. you may be able to get some if you prowl around the woods like I do. Me and my kids spend a lot of time fishing and just walking around on the woods.
...Lake Petco...lmao
Great video, makes me want to start an african cichlid tank now.
Thanks bro. Do it. It's very easy and the fish are beautiful and fun to watch. Nice personalities in the African Cichlids
@@MASSAquariums i keep watching my African cichlids for hours lol .. they are colorfully beautiful
Good vid. Definitely can help folks who are afraid to take the African plunge.
Thanks Nick
Simple amazing tank. Cichlids are beautiful in the tank alone.
+John Nodoe thank you
MASS Aquariums do you think and electric blue jack dempsey will out grow a 30 gallon ?
Hay guys i I set up my first African cichlid tank and I'm very happy with it so far two of them bread only 6 months ago got them from my local lfs
Awesome
Thanks
Nice tank, I'm aspiring to something close to this. I have the cobalt, red z and yellow lab. New to the hobby and those fish caught my eye
+Jacob Streiff awesome. You can do it
Planning on setting up a 29 or 40 gal rectangular tank. I've only ever kept community fish with artificial plants and decor. Recently torn down my 29 gallon which housed gold fish. I plan to setup a tank for smaller species, basically cichlids such as dwarfs. So far I've researched Bolivian rams, Dwarf Gourami, Apistogramma cichlid-cockatoo- double reds, African butterfly cichlid. I'm really new to this and just want to get off to a good start. I've never tried a planted tank, seems like a lot of work but from my research it looks like it's beneficial to have some plants. Any general suggestions for a beginner. I'm leaning towards a low tech setup as I don't want to get overwhelmed with my first cichlid tank. I believe I have a aqueon quiet flow 50 rated for 45 gal. for filtration at the moment. Are these fish compatible, easy to care for? Should I stock them in any specific order? How many of each is good to keep aggression to a minimum? Thanks in advance for any input your willing to offer.
what about lake pet supply plus. should I be worried?
Never heard of that place
Wow, that is one good looking tank.
+Dumb Dead1 thank tou
Thanks for the great info! Nice tank. Appreciate your information.
Thanks for watching.
That tank is very clean. What do you do for controlling algae? Mine builds up in two weeks after cleaning.
The cichlids will eat it but mostly just water changes and replace the chemipure and sponges often
Those Rocks r the bomb bro!!
Thanks and thanks for watching
I also have Golf Course bunker sand in my tank, I pre washed the sand in bucket multiple times & it never really got to clear. Every time I move any rocks or vacuum sand is always cloudy. It does eventually gets to clear. Maybe I'll try pool filtration sand next time.
👍
Heya! Nice video. Started out with freshwater myself then jumped into saltwater. Been doing it about 3 years and I'm burnt out on it for now. Lol. Taking a bit of a break and just going back to freshwater. Good info in this video. Gonna check out your others when I get some time.
Thanks. I love my reefs. Have 2
Lake petco!!!! funny man!
Good call on water parameters its true only a small portion will be wild caught. That is true for my store at least.
We'll see how that aggression goes as they get older but I was noticing how little chasing is going on right now. Enjoy it while it lasts.
good one Mike.
Thanks and thanks for watching. I'm sure it will get worse as they get older
I have different type of tropical fish before. They are are
Gone .
I just got 15 African small 1/2 inches .. they are
Color full beautiful .. im very happy
Nice
I wish I had friends who are into fish aquariums like I am lol
Get them into it bro
What kind of rocks are these? They're beautiful!
Granite
New subscriber here from the UK
love your videos! just set up a 40g cichlid tank and i have 10 mbuna currently with 2 large holy fake rocks in it. I was gonna ask about how many you had in this tank, but ive been reading lol so i have a new question.. how tf do you stay sane answering the same questions over and over every day?!!! lmao keep up the good work badass tanks
+Marla Rosas haha. Well I e always said don't make a UA-cam video if you don't plan on answering the comments. And you need to be a little nutty. 😜
How many would you recommend stocking a 40 breeder with?. I want to do a similar set up. I have a 40B as well.
10-12 is good to start but they will get huge and fight for space.
Thanks man
Saltwater and reef aquariums are not as hard as it seems to care for. Like anything in life you need to learn how to do it and watching a few videos and reading some info you can pick up the skill fairly easily.
True that
Hi there I want a tank 40 gallon breeder I have one but I see u have yours on Styrofoam so I need to put Styrofoam on the tank
It will self level the aquarium
Great video, but I'm the owner of the golf course and I want my sand back- PLEASE
Lol. Sorry. I'll rush it over when the snow melts
Did you find my ProV1 in that sand?
Found mine
Hey Mike, thanks for the tips bro, found some great rocks, but as for the sand, well I’m banned from Glen Abbey Golf Club, but that’s ok, their back 9 sucks anyways! Just an FYI, Pool Filter Sand is way cheap and you don’t get chased! GO SEAHAWKS!
Lol. Too funny. Yeah pool filter sand is a great option. Unfortunately I think my PATS 20 year run is ovah. 😢
@@MASSAquariums DW brother, we all been there, Been a Seahawks fan all my life, even have chartered seats since the 90’s, our time finally came, but you know how it goes,. Dig your videos, keep doing your thing. Btw, while running with the sand buckets, I yelled, “I’m OUUUT!”! (Amount other things, haha). Classic!
Too bad I lost most of the sand though, haha. I was running like Beast Mode, getting chased by the guy driving the cart!
Hahahahahaha
So I have a 29 gallon glass community tank, want to get a African cichlids tank with acrylic glass, probably also 29 gallons. Is the cycling the same process?
Yep
Haha I love the way your white cichlid style of hiding after being chased.
Thanks for watching
Where are you located, I ask because you made mention of That Fish Place That Pet Place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania?
Massachusetts
what kind of fish you have in your tank?
fellow masshole, and I just recently got into aquariums after setting one up for a Betta, the very next wk bought another (bigger) tank to start regulating for more fish. I want cichlids but am so hesitant! !
You can do it
Awesome video. How do u know what type rocks can go in the tank from outside
Drop some vinegar on them. If they fizz no good
Good info thanks How did you prepare the rocks to go in your tank please I love the look
Thanks. Just washed them with water really good
Great tank bro , do u have to have sand ? I have gravel in mine (no fish yet ) just wanded to know if i need to change it befor i get my african cichlids from ...... Lake Pets Mark , Lol....... Thanks
Thanks. Appreciate it. Nope you can have sand or gravel. They like to dig. Gravel actually works great because when they move it around it doesn't get in your filter. You can also used crushed coral
Let's go Cichlids and Pats!!
GO PATS
Beautiful fish and love your vids.
+Seascorp Scorpio thank you
Curious as to why you use salt? I started a 55 gallon tank with a few cichlid peacocks so far, dealing with some issues with high ammonia and cloudy water
Buffers the ph
Thanks. I'll look into it
👍
Looking great Mike!! Very nice!!
Thanks john. Appreciate it and thanks for watching
Literally just started my cichlid tank, had 2 kissing guoramis but they both expired. Now all i have are my pleco and two yoyo loaches. Going to introduce the cichlids soon,picked them up for 2 bucks a piece!
👍
Yes, I also like the blue one :)
- Chuan
🐟👊🏼
The tank has turned out will, great job mass, Keep up the great wrk=]
Thanks J. Appreciate it
I always read about cichlids needing a ton of places to hide. You have a great tank set up! Do they do okay with the lack of hiding spots?
When this tank was set up they had plenty off caves to hide in and dig holes.
I'm currently Cycling my 95 gallon tank to prepare for new fish. How many can I have in this tank? And I heard you have to add most of them at the same time to avoid them fighting, won't this cause an ammonia spike? Please advise!
+Tan Yi Xuan you can add about 40 fish in there with proper filtration. Add 5-10 at a time a couple weeks out
Dude thanks for the tips!!! Helped me out alot!
🐟👊🏼
I'm starting my 40 AC tank this weekend. what wattage is your tank heater? you mentioned a pre filter... what is that the sponge? does that come with the filter you have for this tank?
+Allen Terrell 200 watts sponge pre filter keeps sand out of the impeller.
Is your background painted black or did you buy a tank wallpaper? I’ve been struggling with getting my cichlids tank lighting to look similar to your style (I’ve seen this with a lot of other tanks, too). The dark background with the bright sand.. I have a similar LED light as you but for some reason my entire tank lights up, even with the black wallpaper in the back. I’m afraid the lighting issue is the reason my cichlids are more stressed. Please let me know!
I used black poster board
Have a Question I heard coral is needed for African chilids! Is the sand just as good for the PH?
Crushed coral will raise the ph which is good for African Cicy
@@MASSAquariums so I guess I'll use that instead of sand then! Setting up my tank soon
Great looking tank mike!
Thanks Mike
I know this is an old video but which species of Mbuna did you have in this tank? I think I see yellow labs and red zebras. What else?
Blue demonsoni and one other kind I forget
@@MASSAquariums is it the yellow tail pseudotropheus acei?
LOL on the "free" sand. One thing I would have been concerned about is all the herbicides and pesticides used on golf courses (I live on one) but I guess they are ok so...
Haha. It was from a pile at the club house
Whats up Mike?! I'm about to set up my first cichlid tank. I would really like to add some shell dwellers. Do you think it would be a bad idea to mix with other semi aggressive cichlids if they like the same water perimeters? I have read mixed things about peacocks and a few others living well with them, but have also read apposing opinions. Love your stuff man!! Keep it up!!
You can get away with mixing peacocks and haps but I would keep shell dwellers in a species only tank
I just set up my 36 bow front with a penguin 350. The question I have is what filter media should I use. I have 3 tiger barbs and 2 jack Dempsey. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I like Seachem and biohome
MASS Aquariums thanks
Good stuff bro. Nice setup.
Thanks. Appreciate it. It's gone now. Haha. About to be another reef tank
Nice video. Very helpful. Are you in MA? Just got a 75 gallon tank and want to go cichilid. I didn't know PetCo and PetSmart carried cicchilid.
Yes in MA. They do carry some fairly common ones
awesome video I started an mbuna tank so I do not need a test kit right? my tank is cycled and I just use regular ph balance
+Pyro Guy you should always rest your water. That being said I never test my water
Ok sweet, thank you
How many of each kind of fish did u start out with?
4 each
Beautiful
Thank you
@@MASSAquariums what u used to washed the rocks before put it inside the tank?
Just warm water and a potato scrubber(brush)
Can we add German blue and gold ram with black skirt tetra
In a tropical tank yes you can but not with African Cichlids
do use a canister filter or "on the back" filter?
Either one. This has an HOB
Great tank. I'm not sure about the bloodworms though. My fish love krill.
+Rich fishkeeper1972 thanks. They love em
I keep 6 months successfully in summer when winter begin my 5 african chiclid die why?I think I keep low temperatures.i set only in 24° Celsius.what temperature should I keep in winter.here temperature down to 10° in summer we reach 35°
78-82 F
Great video man - tank looks great!
GO SOX
Go sox
my cichlids love to chase any of other cichlids when crossing to their territory ...chasing till its dead XD haha
Hello i have a question?If u can please help.I'm new to raising african cichlids.I went to pet co,and was told i could mix all cichlids.I have a 60 gallon and was told to only buy three first so i bought a electric yellow,and orange cichlid and a convict.Well this morning the convict kept going after my electric yellow until he died..i also notice the orange one as a bit mark on his side.Should i not mix them.The convict just took over my tank
+T Dixon yes. You can have an all convict tank or all Mbuna tank. Or you can mix peacocks and haps. Africans are very territorial. It's best to add a whole bunch all at once as juveniles
Ok I appreciate your response thank you very much
Thank u so much i bought a two chics but they died in the morning thanks your vid helped me so much and now i am not sad😊
🐟🐟👍🏻
what would be the minimum tank size for very small cichlids? and what species do you recommend?
40. Mbundu
hi! thank you for all your videos... I'm learning a lot from them. I am starting my own cichlid tank, I have a 5 gallon tank and I want to know how many cichlid can i put in it? I have a couple of iceblue, a couple of demasoni, 1 auratus, 1 yellow prince and 1 blue ahli. I am looking forward for your answer... thank you!
I hope you meant 50 gallons. 5 gallons is way to small for anything except a beta. You need to upgrade you tank before you buy those fish
+MASS Aquariums Thank you very much...
what temperature do you keep your tank at? and do you skip a day in feeding them?
78-82. I fed these guys every day except Sunday
Great looking tank and fish. What are the solid blue fish? I wish my local Petsmart or Petco sold those. Are the Cobalt or Socolifi? Thanks!
Yellow tail acia
Thanks. And thanks for watching
I like that lake petco, Malawi PetSmart. Lol. He keep it real love your videos keep it up.
Thanks Alan
How many gallons is your tank? I have a 20 gallon with 4 juveniles, I was thinking of getting a 40 gallon with 4-6 small to medium sized. Is that to small because every video I see says you need a minimum of 55gallon
40 gallons
Hi mate what filtration you using ?
Hang on back. Link in the description
Hello, I like your set up looks very clean and sleek, where could i get fish tank safe sand from prefarably coloured white/black ?
Thanks. I got this sand at a golf course but you can buy pool filter sand or sans at any out door store or pet store. Just wash it real good in a bucket and your good to go
Ahh thanks man !
I have an 180 litre tank, gravel in currently 14 malawis one catfish and a plec.
I want a natural look as mine looks over the top.
I'm thinking white sand black rocks / black sand white rocks ?
Have never really seen black sand white rocks. That might be cool
guy...loved your video.
Thank you. Appreciate it
Nice video Mike. I was wondering is a 4' x 18"x 2' ok for full grown Cichlids. I really want to goto a 5 ft but it's just a little too big for my living room.
+Jeremy Gill yeah you can get away with that for sure
MASS Aquariums Thanks mate, good to know
Hey! this tank setup is awesome. however i moved into my own home and am starting a new 75g cichlid tank and was wondering about mixing genders? to avoid major aggression would it be better to ask the store owner to pick out all males? or does a equal amount of males and females work.
You would want more females so the males don’t fight over them
All males? That would be gay
I have a 75G freshwater with Aquaclear 110 filter..Will the pre-filter sponge inhibit the intake flow?
+stateniland not as long as you rinse it out when you do your water change. Granite
One of my favorite aquarium..:)
+Seascorp Scorpio thanks
looking good man
Thanks bro, appreciate it
hey bro the declorinator you add to the water before you add the water in the tank right?
Nope. As my water is pouring in I add my dechlorinator
+MASS Aquariums thanks i appreciate the tip... just bought a 40 gallon tank I'm going to start setting it up ill post a video when is up and running let me know what you think
Also if I have a 29 gallon similar to yours will they breed on their own?
My water out the tap has a pH of 8.5 - 9 and a hardness of 8-9 dKH (bore water). Is that good for Cichlids? Wanting to start a new tank. Thanks
That might be a tad high but it should work
Is a once a week water change really necessary? I am thinking about setting up a tank and that seems like a lot of work. Would once a month be ok?
+Ypmt you can do whatever works for you. WC's in this tank are quick and easy and African Cichlids shit a ton so I like to suck it all up once a week.
Love them rocks
Thanks
want to start a cichlid 75 gallon tank . Do you think a fluval 406 canister with a fluval u4 is good?
Sounds perfect
Will any of the cichlids take care of their babies and i will have more and more? I was wanting to get a 125gl and do one just go to meijer and buy all the cichlids they have in the one tank and drop them in
They normally do
Wuz up Mass ? I have a 90 gal tank , how many african cichlids should i put in there to keep the aggregation down ?
Dang 90 gallons. I would put a shitload in there and they will sort themselves out. Are you doing Mbuna or Haps and Peacocks. You could probably start with 25 and see how it goes. Overstocking will be better for aggression anyway. As long as you have a lot of filtration to keep up with waste. The sky's the limit. Turn your tank over 5 or 6 times an hour.
What lighting is on the tank?
Current LED