Beginners who start fish often make mistakes. The most common is the neglect of the compatibility of species of decorative inhabitants and various vegetation. Maybe due to ignorance of this large world of ichthyology, or due to inattentive study of the purchased fish in the aquarium. The consequences are often deplorable: the vegetation of the aquatic environment dies, the organic matter does not affect the condition of small residents from the best side, the water becomes cloudy, the interior decor is degrading.
A cichlid is what beginners need. An excellent solution that will create optimal conditions for the fish to exist, as well as beautifully and competently equip the space inside the aquarium.
Before considering information on the design of the cichlid, let's figure out what it is and for which fish it is intended.
Description
It is difficult to answer the question with one phrase, because the term "cichlid" means a whole complex of techniques for keeping cichlids - a large family of beautiful, ornamental fish. These fish are difficult to get along with others, require a special environment. It is necessary to correctly select decorative elements and plants for these restless creatures, as well as carefully arrange their space.
It should be clarified right away that if you are a fan of interesting plants for the aquarium, like to combine colors and contain several bright species of aquatic flora in one zone, then designing a cichlid in the aquarium is not for you.
The term "cichlid" itself comes from the name of a widespread family of fish that live in the river waters of Africa and America. Cichlids, the so-called these fish, have a nasty character, do not get along with neighbors in the reservoir and often even with each other. In a large, spacious aquarium, cichlids are aggressive, sensitive to the environment. Keeping such “grunts” is not so easy. That is why aquarists coined the new term “cichlid” - which means the aquatic environment, where fish, decor and plants are thoughtfully and competently selected. In another way, the aquarium can be called species.
The creation and launch of such a habitat takes into account the habits of future inhabitants. The process is based on the experience of professional aquarists who are aware of the content of these decorative predatory fish.
Jokingly speaking, if there was feng shui in aqua design, then the design of the cichlid is that case.
Decorative fish
Before making a cichlid with our own hands and launching livestock, we consider it our duty to briefly describe this type of future residents. Fishes belong to the order of perciform, to the family of cichlids. This is a very large group of tropical aquatic vertebrates, which includes more than 1800 species.
From the description above, you probably thought: “Why so angry, unfriendly fish?” Or “Why are these cichlids of aquarists so attracted?”. First of all, these fish are very bright, of various colors and with an interesting color. And the second reason is to watch their extravagant behavior is very interesting, this is a whole underwater kingdom, which can be monitored for hours.
The variety of species allows you to get fish of different sizes and different colors.
The cichlids also include scalars, oscars and discus, which have long been loved by the owners of aquariums.
A distinctive feature of a species is a flat, compressed at the sides of the body.
Aquarium for cichlids
The main requirement in the design of the cichlid with their own hands (a photo of the example is presented in the article) is a large volume of the aquarium. Each fish should have its own small corner, in which it will swim. Therefore, the optimal size is 120 liters. Moreover, it is better to give preference to containers of a rectangular shape with a length of not less than 90 cm. Such sizes are suitable for calmer subspecies of African cichlids - yulidochromis, striped parrot, beauty chromis, etc.
Taking on the design of a cichlid for 200 liters is optimal for more aggressive species, for example, cherotilapia, archocetra, discus, scalar, Sedzhik's cichloma. They need much more space, the length of the aquarium can reach 2 meters. Not every apartment can afford to accommodate such a large capacity.
Decor
The following rule, which most aquarists strongly recommend, is free space for cichlids. These fish need a lot of space to move around. Based on this, if you want to plant vegetation, then it should be located in small groups, leaving enough space for swimming. Plants can play the role of zoning the aquarium or be near the back wall.
Decor of the aquatic environment - most often grottoes, driftwood, pipe cuts, bowls. They must be placed no higher than the average level, and it is necessary to set the decorations as far apart as possible, as far as the bottom area of the tank allows.
As for the grotto and caves, as a material for the construction, you can use flat stones, pebbles. The cichlid decoration with stones looks great. Large shells are also great.
Plants for decoration cichlid
There is an opinion that a species aquarium, and in particular a cichlid, is a body of water without any aquatic vegetation, because cichlids eat plants or undermine. This is so, representatives of this species are actively digging the ground.
But for cichlids you can use, for example, floating plants that feel good in an aquarium with aggressive fish. Therefore, a reasonable amount of the same duckweed on the surface of the water will decorate the habitat and enliven the decor.
In addition, some of the plants can be grown in pots in the aquarium. These include plants with hard leaves and dense, strong stems, a strong root system, so that it is difficult for fish to harm aquaflora.
Aquarium Zoning
Under the subtitle about the design of the cichlid, we talked about zoning in the aquarium. What is it for? Everything is simple. The fact is that each type of cichlid should have its own territory - a zone in which they will feel like full owners, look for couples and start offspring.
Do not be scared when you run the fish into the aquarium. One way or another, they will fight among themselves, winning a comfortable piece, but later, when the territory is divided, they will calm down.
There are many different ways to create zones in an aquarium. Small decorations, plants, artificial greenery, stone slides and a grotto are perfect for this. Even wooden driftwood can be a great border for territories. See, for example, the design of a 150 liter cichlid.
Bottom
The soil for the design of a comfortable species aquarium is of no small importance. First of all, it is necessary to take into account the fact that cichlids have a habit of digging bottom soil. This feature behavior should not lead to the degradation and destruction of the decor of the total composition. In addition, the fish can get hurt by digging the ground, therefore, when arranging the aquarium, you cannot pour too large or sharp pebbles into it.
Taking this into account, professional aquarists advise using river sand, grains of which are 2-3 mm in diameter. Make bottom, by pouring it is not less than 5 cm in thickness.
Of course, the condition of the soil will depend on the size of the fish that you place in the aquarium. However, it is believed that all the same convenient and secure substrate - is sand.
Stones
Separately, it is worth mentioning the choice of stones. They should also be smooth, preferably rounded. It is possible to use granite, basalt, sandstone, feldspar, quartz, slate to design a cichlid.
Just look what the photo below beautiful design tsihlidnika sandstone.
The main requirements for stones - first of all, they must be non-toxic, non-radioactive, do not react with water, that is, do not dissolve. The increased hardness and acidity of the water do not like cichlids.
And now about the main thing: about water and lighting.
Water
Briefly about the parameters of water for the content of cichlids:
- slightly alkaline or slightly acidic - 5.8 - 6.8 pH;
- temperature 22-26 ° C;
- hardness 6-10 °.
Water for cichlids can be taken from the tap, but be sure to filter and defend. If you are just starting to get acquainted with cichlids, it is better to acquire less sensitive species. These include: pseudotrophaeus, pelvicachromis, labidochromis yellow, black-banded cichlasoma, cornflower haplochromis, Johani melanochromis.
Most fish of this species are characterized by significant oxygen consumption and nitrogen release, so a 30% weekly replacement of water is necessary.
Do not forget about fluid filtration.
Lighting
Light directly affects the sleep and wakefulness of young residents. For a cichlid, it must be cold and discreet, since the natural habitat of cichlids is river and lake thickets. Point blessing of the aquarium is recommended, for example, you can highlight individual elements of decor, plants.
The main range of colors for the habitat is yellow, blue and green. They positively affect the coloring of residents.
Since the duration of daylight hours is 14 hours, the backlight should provide natural daylight and darkness at night.
Nuances
The peculiarities of cichlid maintenance are mainly related to the problem of breeding offspring, therefore, creating a wonderful aquatic world with your own hands, study in more detail the information about the fish that you acquire, in particular, take into account the period of the animal’s life and the method of laying eggs.
We give an example. Angelfish lay eggs on the leaves of underwater plants, so if you plant a South American cichlid, it will be more appropriate to plant cryptocoryns or echinodorus, which have fairly large and hard leaves.
Of course, the vast majority of African fish spawn in the ground or on flat stones. This means that when designing a cichlid, you need to lay out stone decorations in their habitat zone.
Thus, when designing and equipping a species aquarium, it is necessary to study the characteristics of spawning of all types of living cichlids and provide a comfortable place for breeding.
We are sure that you liked the photos of the designs of cichlids from professional aquarists, which we gave as examples. Of course, you will learn more aspects of the content in the process, but we introduced you to the main thing - the preparation of their future house.
When making out a cichlid and buying fish, it is important to remember that this is a very capricious look, and carefully choose stones, soil, plants.