Optimal Cichlid Aquarium Setup Essentials

There is not much to the cichlid aquarium setup, even a cichlid beginner can do it on their own.

A new cichlid owner would be well off with a medium-sized aquarium of around 20 gallons. That will give the cichlids plenty of space to swim around and the abundance of space will discourage fighting. An aquarium this size also requires little maintenance, which is great for a beginner.

Make sure your cichlid aquarium setup includes a water pump and a filter (a sponge filter is recommended). Clean, toxin-free water is a must for any aquarium.

Cichlid Aquarium Setup – Decoration

It is a good idea to try to mimic the cichlid’s natural environment as close as possible when decorating your aquarium. You won’t be able to get it exact, but try to get it close. Some items that cichlids seem to enjoy are sand, gravel, flat stones, limestones, caves, overturned flower pots and hardy plants. A combination of those will provide lots of places to hide and even places to lay eggs if your cichlid breeding behavior requires caves. Another item that is more than just decoration is the sand or gravel substrate which will help neutralize pH.

Cichlid Aquarium Setup – Lids

Cichlid fish have been known to jump out of aquariums, so a lid is recommended. They usually begin jumping when they are in an aggressive mood. The lid cannot be solid though, fresh oxygen has to be able to enter and carbon dioxide must be able to exit.

Cichlid Aquarium Setup – Location

Finding the perfect place for an aquarium can be tricky because there are quite a few criteria. First, you will want a spot that is permanent. You do not want to be moving the aquarium is set up because moving it around will require you to take out all the fish and all the water. Second, direct sunlight should not strike your aquarium because that will make it very difficult to regulate the temperature. It should also not be placed near a heat source, but you do need to install a heat source in the aquarium, preferably with a digital temperature regulator so that the temperature will remain constant. Third, your aquarium should be placed in an area of the house that is not very high-traffic. Passers-by stress most fish and if there is a lot of traffic then your fish will be constantly stressed, which is not good for their health. Fourth, make sure that floor under the aquarium is able to support the weight of the aquarium. Every gallon of water weighs 8.35 pounds (3.78 kilograms), so a 20-gallon tank will have around 167 pounds (7.56 kilograms) of water. That does not include the weight of the aquarium itself, nor its contents.

Once your cichlid aquarium is setup, allow it to sit for at least 24 hours so that the chlorine can evaporate and the water can stabilize. Here are some tips to keep your cichlids happy and more-or-less peaceful.

  • Do not overcrowd your aquarium at the beginning. Start with a small group of fish and allow the nitrogen cycle to establish itself before you add more fish.
  • Once a month, clean the sides of your cichlid tank. Do not use soap because it can leave toxic residue and harm your cichlids.
  • Too much food can make your cichlids sick and if there is left-over food it can degrade the water quality in your aquarium. Only feed your cichlids as much as they need.
  • Perform a 25% water change every week and clean the filters at the same time.
  • If you want to include additional fish in your aquarium make sure that they have same water parameter requirements as the cichlids, otherwise they may not survive.

Optimal cichlid aquarium setup goes a long way towards keeping your cichlids healthy and happy. In addition to an aquarium that mimics a cichlids natural environment, a good diet and proper safety apparatus (lids for example) will go a long way to extending the life of your cichlids.