55 gal African Cichlid Aquarium

[wedgles999]

few ????

1. How do u keep this thing so clean.

2. I got one cichlid in 55 galon tank..... she ate all my other cichlids.... which fish I can use to keep her company without being eaten....

[1989calvindo]

where can i find these holey rocks at?

[DgosFinnest]

Nice aquarium you got there buddy.

[jkennedy1007]

I agree sand is easy to clean with vac if you stay on top of it once a month

nice tank bud=)

[slebel123]

what substrate is this? I was thinkingof going with black florite? what did i use? Is it much harder to keep looking clean since dirt with stay on top??

[tomanyfish]

This is Black Tahitian moon sand. about 1 1/2 bags.. NO it is not harder to keep clean. easier as the waste/other does not get into it, but stay on top.. Flourite (i looked it up!)  is more for planted tanks. so U get a nice color, redish/black/browns and plants too if that is what U want to use. Africans and some american cichids EAT plants make sure they are not herbivors or u just waste your money..

[slebel123]

I am starting a chiclid tank...maybeI will go with the sand you suggest. I am not putting plants in. Can it be used with an underneath filter?

[tomanyfish]

NO a UGF is not good to use with cichlids or sand. The sand wil clog the grate even with out cichlids digging to uncover it..

the whole purpose of a UGF is to do a live bio bed under the gravel. With sand, it just won't work..

[tomanyfish]

That is not coral but texas holey rock.

I dont' see it looking like coral. This is a freshwater tank, not saltwater. So U are right, it does not look like coral due to it is rock.

[tomanyfish]

This tank now looks like the video response.. As they grew more, they need more rock. Thanks for the comments!!

[tomanyfish]

@snakebite1859

I like the sand better. I hve 12 tanks and the sand does not hold the waste or the food as I use sinking now. they eat it all and it does not get hiden in the substrate now. U just have to know how to clean it using a VAC.. much easier to keep cleaner..

[zaripjan]

i use to have a african cichlid tank but when i started getting a oscar half of my africans died ):

[tomanyfish]

@zaripjan

U can not place in a Oscar with slinder cichlids, Oscars wil eat all it can get into his mouth, even at 4". YOUR bad their..

Oscars are neat but U need compressed cichlids for tank makes, Severums, silver dollars ect.. good luck with your tank.

[tomanyfish]

I am going to update this video in a few days. most are gone now to cichlids4ever came and took some of them.. the kenyi are all gone too..

(helps pay for rock/food!) more rocks have been added in as they are bigger and need more places..

[tomanyfish]

I rerocked it and it looks nice. See it in MY VIDEOS 55gal hybrid tank Aug.. Thanks for the comments on this tank..

[lukeheald]

Thanks for the quick reply, I left my comment so brief because I wasn't expecting a reply. Basically I've been obsessing about wanting to buy a fish tank/aquarium for a while now, I'm looking to buy something that looks very much like yours.

I'm looking to buy something that requires the least amount of work to maintain as i'm a complete novice and can barely look after sea monkeys. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[tomanyfish]

this is a 55gal and U can do fine with this size. U can get them around 200.00 w/stand new. U do need to purchase the filters/heater/other.. Sand is the preferred for me. w/ 12 tanks I like the sand best.. Play sand is fine but it is a lt brown color, U only need 2" not more as it compacts down.. under 10.00 for 40#.. not bad if U like the color..

[tomanyfish]

Look in your local newpaper for great deals on used tanks w/everything U need for a great price.. I did this on many of my tanks.. BIGGER is better so go to 55gal and up.. dont' waste your time with anything smaller..

[lukeheald]

how much does a set up like this cost?

[tomanyfish]

depends on what U want in it.. The sand Black Tahitian moon sand, is 25 bucks per bag of 20#. their are 2 in this tank.. also the middle rock cost 30.. The others I already had but would run 15 to 20 each at 3.99 per lb.. IF U want the texas holey rock that is. MORE holes more money!!

the stand is home made and is a double stand for 2 -55gal tanks.. Cost? about 400+, plus labor..

[PSNjizzcake]

Stumbled across this video again haha.... Can I ask why your cichlids aren't chasing each other everywhere? Im having a problem with just 2. Is it the tank size?

[tomanyfish]

Sorry I just saw this.. they are watching me instead of chasing each other. I have added in more rock now and they are doing better but still chasing each other. To many males to the females of their speices. YES tank size matters greatly. Mbuna are very territorial.. MORE rock helps but that means less water in the tank..

[tomanyfish]

This is my favorite tank.. I like this color combo too!! I hve a smaller tang tank with the same.. U just need to keep the rocks white and that can be a challenge.. I have other to change them out with to clean these.. Thanks for the stars!!

[kisssmyis]

nice tank ! :) 5 stars. lovin the white on black theme. makes the cichlids colors stand out incredibly

[PSNjizzcake]

great setup!

Where did you get that dark background?

I have a 10 gallon tank setup with black Tahitian moon sand but i still need a dark background.

[tomanyfish]

That is not a black background. it just looks like it due to the lighting. It is that petrified wood scenery one.. U can see it in some of the closer shots.. U can get the black background at most LFS. I need some for different tanks.