Cichlid Aquariums -- A few hints to starting up

As for feeding, DO NOT OVERFEED. Cichlids will eat almost continuously if you keep feeding them. You don't want to do this. You should feed them either once or twice a day, and only a moderate amount. This is to preserve the water quality. Cichlids have a fast digestive tract, and overfeeding will quickly lead to large amounts of ammonia and nitrite in the water which can kill the fish. Water changes should be done religiously every other week. About 20 per cent of the water should be removed using a gravel vacuum. This will remove a lot of the fish waste, and any additional debris that can ruin the water quality. Commonly, cichlids like to have rocks and plants to hide in, so you will most likely have these in your aquarium. It is important to use the gravel vacuum under these since they are very effective at trapping waste.

The bottom line is that cichlids are quite hardy, but they also require that you keep close attention to the water quality in the aquarium. It is also a good idea to include a little bit of slime coat into the water every once in a while to help keep the protective coating of the fish in good condition. This can be found at almost every aquarium store. Cichlids are unique in that they grow rather quickly. It is really nice to be able to see your fish grow, but remember that the larger they are, the more frequently you must clean the water.

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