How to set up an African Cichlid Tank - Setting up your tank - Part 2

[jewelcichlids4life]

your cobue afra is a bute

[bolly12345]

@aRandomFish1 Hi there, I don't recommend keeping Dwarf Mbuna but you'll be fine withy the likes of Tangyanikan Shell dwellers

[bolly12345]

@aRamdondFish1 Hi There, I don't recommend keeping Dwarf Mbuna but you'll be fine with the likes of Tangyanikan Shell Dwellers.

[aRandomFish1]

hi there, what specific recipe do you suggest for a 25g tank? i know its too small, but the economy these days, yeah, but im sure there must be some dwarfs? if there is, what combination, there is no helpful info on the web...

[astas25]

@aRandomFish1 i have a 20 because that is the biggest that will fit in the space in my room, anyways i have three cichlids and a pictus cat, and its just fine, but you should probably ask somebody who know a lot about cichlids

[TheRALPHIE0211]

What size tank is that in gallons.... srry i don't get the metric sytem

[bolly12345]

@TheRALPHIE0211 Hi, it's 63US gallons

[MrToony1]

Thanks for the info man. Gonna be filling the tank tomorrow and making sure all the plumbing doesn't leak. Check out my vids when you get a chance. Keep the reef vids coming too.

[bolly12345]

@1ChuckUFarley If your not worried about them not breeding just let the females spit their fry in the tank.

[rexlinkfish]

im also wondering about filters for my tank

[rexlinkfish]

hey could you check out my vids i am wondering if the setup i have is good for like electric yellow labs.

[MrToony1]

Great video man. Thank you. quick question, Im looking to move my cichlids into a 75 gallon. I was going to make it a reef tank, but i want to use it for my cichlids. It has an internal overflow and a sump. Would a sump be a good filter system for them if i put some bioballs in it? And what would be the best way to move them? Keep the vids coming man. Great work.

[bolly12345]

@MrToony1 A sump is a great way to filtrate an African Cichlid as more filtration is a must. Make sure the 75 id cycled before adding them. When adding them add a few at a time making sure you don't mess with the params of the water. So add 4-5 1 day then monitor the water for a days then repeat.

Regarding the sump media, there's a product called filter matrix - Highly recommend it. Bio balls and small sponges will be ok also

[Horses4everxoxo]

Hi, i have a beta and i was wondering what is a cichlid???

[rexlinkfish]

@Horses4everxoxo i can sort of answer you question a cichlid is just normally close to the same shape as most other cichlids there are some differences but thats the main thing and most cichlids actually protect their young unlike most other tropical fish you can look on google or other videos on cichlids one of my personal favorite looking cichlids are called electric yellow labs go ahead and type that in google or youtube african cichlids come from lakes like malawi

[rexlinkfish]

@rexlinkfish other cichlids like central or south american normally have more baby's than the africans but tend to breed too much and can have up to close to 500 eggs im a beginner to these things but i have done quite a bit of research.

[279howard]

Do you recommend power heads in a 55gal mbuna tank? The tank holds demasoni and electric yellows. thanks

[bolly12345]

@279howard I would add 1 x 2000lph powerhead, you might not need to add 1 if your tanks flow is ok from the filters output

[pigeon4277]

so u do not recommend me buying them?

[pigeon4277]

hi i have a 10g tank and i just started it and i want to put cichleds in it and i was woundering how many should i put in there? thank u!

[bolly12345]

@pigeon4277 Hi 10 Gallons is way to small for african Cichlids, you need 55g upwards

[111olbap]

@bolly12345 Called shell dwellers

[JUNAID187]

Sent this video to a few friends who want to setup an African cichlid tank :)

[279howard]

how many demasoni and yellows could you keep in a 200l tank?

[PANICitsJAZMINE]

i want to know if it is okay to keep a tiger oscar with the mbuna cichlids. with they fight or be alot of fin nipping?

[bolly12345]

@dannysoogens What's the matter Danny? What's negative?

[dannysoogens]

@bolly12345 I'll just remove that comment I think, I had many a youtube tab open and commented on the wrong page, doh!

[dedo271]

How many tank do you have ? :O

[bombser1]

Fish for sale are mbuna, but all diffrent looking. For example he has acei white tail male and female, cinotilapia male and female and fuelleborni male and female all in one tank and selling according to the female holhing.

So can these three cross breed and what is the chnce I get what I paid for?

Cichlid seller has been in buisness for a while.

Any help would be great.

I love your African cuchlid tank

[bombser1]

Thanks for responding and guess I used wrong term :) cross breed...

I see alot of " cihlid sellers" have lots of mbuna fish together, does this mean that I might not be getting what is advertised?

I'm new at this but would preffer to start right.

Thanks

[bombser1]

Hi if I have several females to each male mbuna can they still inbreed or will they pair up with the female that is for that male?

Thanks and keep up the great job!!

[bombser1]

Hi if I have three types of mbuna in tank, but have several females for each male is there still a way of inbreeding or do they pair up with the female that goes to that particular male?

Thanks and keep up the great job!!

[bolly12345]

@bombser1 Hi, the only true way to stop (cross breeding) when it comes to keeping to several species to only keep 1 kind but to also prevent cross breeding is to mke sure the females of each species look totally different to one and other. If giving the chance African Cichlids will cross breed their randy buggers

[dannysoogens]

@bolly12345 If push comes to shove you could preserve your "mutts" and make a fermented fish paste, ideal for an apocalyptic world. 

[mouseboy1000]

Hey I'm just starting my first cichlid tank. I have kept several tanks before but this is my first decent sized tank ( 5 ft long ) Little unsure about filtration for the size. how would you check if a filter can support the size of the tank?

[bolly12345]

@mouseboy1000 Hi, what you need to do is work out your tanks water capacity then choosing your filter will be easier.

For example an African Cichlid tank water capacity needs to be turned over at least 5 times per hour --- so if a tank holds 250ltrs the filter/filters must be able to do at least 2250lph. It's a must to over filtrate an AC tank as they AC's do better in large numbers so you over filtrate to be able to handle the biological load. Hope that explanation helped.

[mouseboy1000]

@bolly12345 Thank you for the advice *subscribed* your video's have helped me set up nicely just going to get a decent filter now :) cichlids next week!

[bolly12345]

@mouseboy1000 If you run in to any problems give me a shout.

[chowwowable]

@bolly12345 How many cichlids that get about 6" for a 65 gallon tank or 246 liters.

[stonemonkeyz80]

What do you recommend is the best way to clean the rocks in my tank?? After a couple of years of having cichlids I lost all of mine a few months back and want to start from scratch again.

[bolly12345]

@stonemonkeyz80 Hi, I've always used a scrubbing brush with hot water and good old fashion elbow grease. Jet washing is any option.

[solid78121]

do you know anything about south american cichlids last week i brought a cichlid i was told it was an blue acara cichlid and when i got it home i took out all ornaments and he was still getting bullied i have in my tank red devil cichlid oscar fish suckermouth catfish upside down catfish and my red devil keeps chasing my blue acara around how can i stop this? please help me i dont want the fish to get stressed out good videos mate

[bolly12345]

@solid78121 Not my strong point but it might be down to adding just one fish to established tank with dominant fish, the other fish feel like their territory is under threat. Even if you add compatible fish this can still happen regarding aggression. It might be a case of returning the Acara if it's getting really stressed as it might die. You could try adding rocks etc to create hiding places.

[unitedben14]

cheers man im really thinking about setting one up i have a 190l cornner tank could you give me some tips such as what sand and what chemicals to have to start one up i have an cf1000 external filter is that enough ?? thanks

[bolly12345]

@unitedben14 I would use Kiln dry sand or sand from your local pet store. You can use Tetra safe start to start the process of bacterial growth

[smittoni89]

hey, great tank setup, what was the name of the site you got the 3d background from ? i need something like what u have to match my red/black sand setup lol

[bolly12345]

@smittoni89 aqua-maniac . com mate

[HDMann292]

great video!! i have a 72gal bowfront im setting up for cichlids.I want the most colorfull cichlids I can get.and breed some of them to sell at local pet store to help offset the cost of tank maintenance.thanx .

[conoshreptiles10]

ur tank is really nice !!

[ewilddog]

is it true that if u over crowd the african cichlid tank then it can solve the aggretion issue?thanks

[bolly12345]

@ewilddog You're better using a power head or a wave maker

[bolly12345]

@ewilddog That's true but you must over filtrate

[NasserHamedi]

Right corner! THERE IS THE BOSS! He is beautiful!

[HIVTRIM22]

SHOW YOUR TATTOO :D

[braxtn67]

hey bolly,im brax ,from bklyn......im baffle at sexing the lake malawi cichlids......i was told only the male has dots on anal fin ,,is this correct?and how do i start breeding them? thanks n advance......i follow ur tank set advice ,,,,,,,

[bolly12345]

@braxtn67 Hi Brax, check out my playlist How to guides I've mad a video on how to Sex / Vent African cichlids.

I'll be makeing a video on how to breed them shortly.

[chowwowable]

@bolly12345 for water movement can i use a airstone

[MrMusickey]

hello im just about to set up my first cichlid tank and I just want your advice on about how many medium sized fish I could keep in a 55 gallon tank? Also do they tend to jump out of the water because the tank doesn't have a hood ?

[JamieT96]

I was thinking about adding 30 mbuna's to my Vision 450. Should I add more?

Stocking the tank should start next week and go right into october.

[bolly12345]

@JamieT96 Hi Jamie, the 450 can hold around 50 adult Mbuna depending on your filtration.

What filters you running?

[JamieT96]

@bolly12345 I'm running the 1500GPH filter that come with the tank and a Fluval FX5 will be added. Once that has went through it's cycle the Juwel filter will be taken out and I might add a U4 as well but the FX5 is defenite. You have excellent videos by the way.

[bolly12345]

@JamieT96 Hiya, you'll have no problems with 50 adults with the Fx5. Great filters (best out their IMO)

I'm really glad you've been liking the videos buddy. Any how to guide recommendation? Just let me know.

[raiden1019]

nicee

[bolly12345]

@raiden1019 Hi Raiden, how are you?

[raiden1019]

@bolly12345 great bolly thanks for asking I love watching your tank very relaxing thumbs up great work mate

[bolly12345]

Honours for this video (3)

#88 - Top Rated (This Week) - Pets & Animals

#158 - Most Viewed (Today) - Pets & Animals

#166 - Most Viewed (Today) - Pets & Animals - South Korea

[bolly12345]

Honours for this video (1)

#12 - Top Rated (Today) - Pets & Animals

[bolly12345]

Honours for this video (1)

#11 - Top Rated (Today) - Pets & Animals



[bolly12345]

Honours for this video (1)

#96 - Most Viewed (Today) - Pets & Animals - Australia

[bolly12345]

Honours for this video (2)

#100 - Most Discussed (This Week) - Pets & Animals

#59 - Top Rated (This Week) - Pets & Animals

[SkullSayWhat11]

Would Venustus go in a tank your size and co-operate with other Mbuma?

Soz

[bolly12345]

@SkullSayWhat11 Hi buddy, a 4ft tank is too small for Venustus I'm afraid 5ft upwards. Remember it's all about the tanks foot print. They will get on with Mbuna.

[SkullSayWhat11]

Would Venustus go in a tank your and co-operate with other Mbuma?

[uarujoey]

Good Job Marc!

[bolly12345]

@uarujoey Thanks Joey

[AlexSlams]

That's limestone is that Marc, pretty sure!

[bolly12345]

@AlexSlams I was thinking that mate but it's has loads of Granite deposits

[SkullSayWhat11]

Great Vid keep making them

[bolly12345]

@SkullSayWhat11 Thank you. I appreciate it.

[bolly12345]

Honours for this video (2)

#55 - Top Favourited (Today) - Pets & Animals

#42 - Top Rated (Today) - Pets & Animals

[JUNAID187]

very informative video mate !

[bolly12345]

@JUNAID187 Thank you buddy

[opdizzle559]

so i cant have gravel for my tank??

[bolly12345]

@opdizzle559 You can put what ever substrate you want in, but I wad just advising that gravel is not the best choice as they like to sift and dig.

[opdizzle559]

@bolly12345 o ok thanks 

[bolly12345]

@opdizzle559 You're welcome :)