When you don’t follow the results of the test, that’s when most issues starts occurring with your cichlids. The fish turn dull and quit feeding and you’re hoping things will get better. But it’s normaly not some catastrophic failure of the water. Instead, it’s a gradual lowering of water quality that slowly wears down their immune system. Then they can’t fend off the little stuff.
The above infographic displays the ideal values of each parameter for all major groups of cichlids. That way you won’t have to guess which set of chemistry work for your tank. Knowing the parameters allows you to maintain healthy, active, colorful fish. They are not merely “alive” fish.
How to Keep Cichlids Healthy and Happy
Geography is the largest divide in the hobby. Species from Africa (e.g., Rift lakes) evolved in hard alkaline mineral rich pools whereas Amazon species (e.g., South American cichlids) evolved in soft acidic tannin-stained rivers. The biological adaptation to these diverse conditions over millions of years means you can’t treat a Frontosa the same than you would an Oscar. For example, the chart illustrates how species of Malawi Mbuna found in Africa requires high carbonate hardness for stable pH. In contrast, discus require ultra-soft water that is almost pure. Chronic stress resulting from forcing a species to accept one set of parameters will not be alleviated with premium food.
Achieving exactly the right number isn’t as important as maintaining stable pH. Your fish will be much better off with a consistent pH around 7.0 than with a pH that fluctuates from 6.5 one minute to 8.0 the next. Newbies think that exact number is the goal, but they don’t recognize that rapid fluctuations also create osmotic shock because their body can’t adjust its own salt content quick enough. KH buffers those pH swings so acid doesn’t reach a level where it will drop and take the pH down to much. If your KH is insufficient, your water chemistry go haywire and has the potential to crash at any time, killing fish and beneficial bacteria.
Metabolism is also sensitive to temperature. The warmer it is the quicker the metabolism operate. That’s good in terms of growth, but bad since faster metabolism produces more waste and requires more oxygen. To mimic breeding conditions, discus keepers typically set up their tanks around eighty-eight degrees Fahrenheit. Green Terrars prefer a cooler current in range of seventy degrees. Because of cichlids’ intolerance to rapid changes in water temperatures (which compromises the immune system), you must rely on your heater. Adding a second independent probe with a controller provide protection from accidental overheating if the heater malfunctions.
Keep in mind that these fish create a lot of waste. Because cichlids are very active swimmers and messy eaters, they produces more waste than other smaller community fish. To effectively process your ammonia, you need enough surface area (filter media). A canister filter rated at double the size of your tank will give you plenty of surface area for biological filtration, which is realy where all the work occurs. Beneficial bacteria converts highly toxic waste into less toxic waste. If you don’t have this bacteria colony, changing your water as frequently as possible wouldn’t of done anything to improve your water quality.
Consistent but not heroic maintenance are essential. Weekly water changes of twenty-five percent dilute accumulated nitrates and replace depleted minerals without shocking the system. Regular gravel vacuuming will remove waste trapped in the substrate that would otherwise rot on the bottom and cause ammonia spikes. Testing weekly allows you to stay ahead of issues instead of just seeing their visible symptoms on your fish. A little time spent now saves you from expensive medical bills later.
Your water chemistry will be supported by the proper substrate. If you’re setting up an African tank, crushed coral increase pH. If you have an Amazonian tank, driftwood decreases pH. Either way, they’ll help keep things in line and do so 24/7/365. This helps support the conditions that your fish is used to experiencing in nature. Using the improper decor can work against you as you try to steady your parameters.
When you match the environment of the tank with the requirements of the particular species you choose, keeping cichlids is no longer a chore but instead it is a fun hobby.
