The rocks can even double as a natural means of raising the water pH. You can also find tan, brown, and reddish rocks to add to the aquarium. Colors like grey or white look great against all substrates. Porous rocks, smooth, irregular, everything goes. You can really get creative with all the different sizes, shapes, textures, and colors. You can choose between lots of types of rocks. The same applies to cichlids kept in an aquarium!Īnd luckily, the possibilities are endless. They need rocks for hiding, resting, and protecting their eggs. In their natural habitat, African cichlids prefer sandy areas with plenty of large rocks. I’d say rocks aren’t ideal, but mandatory in a cichlid tank. It makes cleanup easier but isn’t suitable for small cichlid species. Overall, gravel is a satisfactory option, but not as good as sand. Cichlids need to dig nests to protect their eggs. If you keep smaller cichlids, this can constitute a problem for breeding. It’s harder for fish to burrow in such substrate. The main issue with gravel is that the large grain size can prevent some cichlids from digging holes. The large grain size and the space between them contribute to proper aeration. Gravel is unlikely to cause dead zones in the aquarium because it doesn’t get compacted the same way sand does. Gravel substrates are also easier to clean due to the larger particle size. It certainly creates a nice contrast with green plants and other decorations. If you want a darker, more rocky-looking substrate, this is the best option. Gravel is also not perfectly uniform, which creates a rougher but natural-looking texture. This type of substrate has the same practical advantages as aragonite sand.īut unlike sand, gravel substrates come in more colors, from white to very dark brown. That’s how you know it contains the necessary minerals to maintain proper water chemistry. It has to be specifically marketed as an African cichlid substrate. The second option you have is an aragonite gravel substrate. Weighing the pros and the cons, a sandy substrate is the best option for African cichlids. These minerals raise and stabilize the water pH and hardness to a level suitable for cichlids. Aragonite sand contains high concentrations of calcium, carbonate, potassium, and magnesium. On the flip side, sand substrates can add a lot of beneficial minerals to the water. It’s so light that it can easily get sucked up and removed by a substrate vacuum. Sand is also more difficult to clean due to its small grain size. This issue can easily be solved by regularly sifting through the substrate with either your fingers or a small gravel rake.
This can damage plants and water quality. Sand gets compacted easily under a large volume of water. The main disadvantage of sand is that there’s too little space between the grains. It’s perfect if you’re going for a soft, bright, natural look.īeing so small and lightweight, sand makes scavenging and digging very easy for cichlids of all sizes. The great thing about a sand substrate is that it looks very natural and closely resembles the sandy bottom of an ocean.
They’re light and usually come in colors like white, wheat, or light tan. Sand substrates are made up of small, roughly equal-sized grains. – Sand Substrateįirst, you have a sand substrate. Taking these factors into consideration, there are two main substrate choices for a cichlid tank. The substrate should also closely mimic the cichlids’ natural environment.
You need a good substrate to anchor your plants. And trust me, this choice can either make or break the entire look of your tank. The substrate is the first thing you should think about when decorating an aquarium. Let’s get started! Substrate for African Cichlids I’ll give you a list of all the decorations you’ll need for your aquarium. So, if you want to decorate a unique and attractive cichlid tank without skimping on practicality, keep reading. I’ve kept both aesthetics and functionality in mind, and only included the best options for African cichlids. But how do you do it? What should you be looking for? That’s what I’m here to help you with! In this article, I’ll go over everything you need to add to your African cichlid tank. You get to create a cozy little world that not only looks good but also helps your fish feel at home. Decorating a fish tank is one of the most entertaining and relaxing activities when keeping fish.
0 kommentar(er)
