Tank Equipment
Filtration: Cichlids produce a lot of waste, more so than the average freshwater tropical fish. So robust filtration is required to ensure good water quality. Tip: 10-15 times the tank volume per hour.
Example: A 55-gallon tank would require a 550gph filter. Canister filtration is a good choice.
Lighting: Fluorescent or LED lighting can be used; however, LED is preferred because it won’t add extra, unwanted heat to the aquarium. And consider more intense lighting to highlight the Cichlid’s intense colors.
Décor: An environment with lots of rocks and a sand substrate closely replicates the natural Cichlid habitat. It also gives them a place to dwell and protect offspring.
Live Plants: Research your species as some Cichlids are aggressive towards plants (Oscars, Dempseys), while others do well in a planted tank (Angels, Discus, Frontosas).
Tank Size: Cichlids grow to a large size, so the bigger the tank the better.
Substrate: The bottom of the environment should be sand. Some Cichlid species will ingest a small amount to aid in digestion, while others use the sand bed to build their nest. Larger Cichlids like Oscars are fine with gravel.