| The first consideration before setting up a cichlid | | | | stacking it up. Real plants can also provide good |
| aquarium is finding the right location. Once it is full of | | | | cover but make sure they are hardy or the fish will |
| water it is going to be very difficult to move. In your | | | | destroy them. Plastic plants can be an alternative but |
| chosen location you need to consider whether you | | | | this is down to personal preference. |
| can reach the filter tubes or lighting cables behind it. | | | | Your use of light should also be given careful thought. |
| Do you have an easy route for waste water | | | | Do you need to promote plant growth or is just the |
| disposal? Some fish startle easily so placing the | | | | best display of fish colour important to you. Each |
| aquarium in a busy hallway or where children are | | | | consideration has a different requirement. You will |
| rushing around might not be the best idea. | | | | need either a daylight tube or a white light tube as |
| Before you place anything in your cichlid aquarium | | | | each has different properties. The plus side here is |
| you must know what you want your end result to | | | | that most aquariums come with lighting in place and |
| look like. Have you decided which substrate to place | | | | you will only need to replace the tubes once a year |
| in your cichlid aquarium? Your cichlids may prefer sand | | | | as recommended. In the event that your aquarium |
| for cleaning their gills or would they prefer gravel to | | | | does not come with light fittings as standard I would |
| dig through and move about the tank? Yes, they like | | | | recommend an internal aquarium light fixture, but be |
| to move sand, gravel, plants and anything else that is | | | | sure to get the right size. |
| not nailed down. Gravel is also easier when it comes | | | | Some aquarium owners prefer to simulate moonlight |
| to cleaning and filtration but mating is easier with | | | | during the evening which produces a very soothing |
| sand. Whichever you choose you must wash it | | | | aquatic display. This would require an ultraviolet tube |
| thoroughly until the water runs crystal clear. This will | | | | and probably an extra set of light fittings. In addition |
| cut down on the wear and tear on your filter as the | | | | there are now a wide variety of smaller waterproof |
| small particles of grit floating in the water will have | | | | light fittings with which to create all sort of lighting |
| adverse effect on the filter mechanisms. | | | | effects within the inside of the aquarium. |
| Speaking of filters, your aquarium will need a | | | | The final important step of setting up your cichlid |
| mechanical filter to help remove the floating fish | | | | aquarium is to let it cycle. This allows the friendly |
| waste from the water. My personal preference is for | | | | bacteria to develop that are required to break down |
| an external canister type filter. These generally tend | | | | the fish waste that will prepare the water for its |
| to me more powerful and give a better filtration | | | | new inhabitants. Putting a lot of fish into a newly filled |
| performance as cichlids can be messy fish. After all | | | | aquarium usually proves fatal for some if not all of |
| the effort to set up your cichlid aquarium you do not | | | | your colourful pets. It is advisable to let the aquarium |
| want to be looking at cloudy water. | | | | stand for a couple of weeks before putting fish in |
| While setting up a cichlid aquarium you should | | | | and then only adding one or two every couple of |
| remember that cichlids like to hide and therefore you | | | | days so as the waste load on the biological filter |
| need to provide hidey-holes for them. I always found | | | | system does not suddenly shoot through the roof |
| ocean rock to be good for this but be careful when | | | | and kill off all your fish. |