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my malawi cichlid tank
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2025 3:12 pm
by TimberOak
I'm planning to pick up some Malawi cichlids for my tank this weekend and I'm looking for some advice on these fish. What I'd love to know is what they can be kept with and what kind of environment they thrive in. I've been doing some research online, but it seems like every article I find has conflicting info - one page says one thing, then another page says the opposite. That's why I figured I'd ask here and see if anyone with experience can give me some guidance.
Re: my malawi cichlid tank
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2025 11:12 am
by mizonix
You're gonna need some pretty specific conditions for these guys. First off, the water's gotta be very hard and alkaline, pH 8 or higher. A 55-gallon tank is the minimum, and it's gotta be fully cycled with a mature filter. I'd recommend using sand as the substrate, something like coflake sand can help buffer the pH.
For decorations, you'll want lots of rockwork with caves and hiding places. Slate, limestone, or granite work well for this. Make sure your filtration is decent, you're looking at about 8-10 times the tank volume turned over per hour. This is because you'll need to overstock the tank to prevent dominant fish from picking on the weaker ones.
As for food, spirulina-based foods are the way to go. Malawi cichlids are mostly veggie-eaters, and they can be prone to bloat and intestinal issues if they're not fed the right stuff. As for tankmates, you can keep them with African synodontis catfish, but that's about it. They've got specialized water requirements, and they're pretty aggressive, so you don't want to keep them with anything that's gonna get picked on.
One thing to keep in mind is that Malawi cichlids can be tough to stock due to their aggression levels. You'll want to avoid keeping fish with similar colors, or you might end up with some problems. There are plenty of books out there on the subject, so it's worth doing some reading before you bring these guys home.
Re: my malawi cichlid tank
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2025 11:32 am
by TimberOak
mizonix wrote: ↑Sat Sep 27, 2025 11:12 am
You're gonna need some pretty specific conditions for these guys. First off, the water's gotta be very hard and alkaline, pH 8 or higher. A 55-gallon tank is the minimum, and it's gotta be fully cycled with a mature filter. I'd recommend using sand as the substrate, something like coflake sand can help buffer the pH.
For decorations, you'll want lots of rockwork with caves and hiding places. Slate, limestone, or granite work well for this. Make sure your filtration is decent, you're looking at about 8-10 times the tank volume turned over per hour. This is because you'll need to overstock the tank to prevent dominant fish from picking on the weaker ones.
As for food, spirulina-based foods are the way to go. Malawi cichlids are mostly veggie-eaters, and they can be prone to bloat and intestinal issues if they're not fed the right stuff. As for tankmates, you can keep them with African synodontis catfish, but that's about it. They've got specialized water requirements, and they're pretty aggressive, so you don't want to keep them with anything that's gonna get picked on.
One thing to keep in mind is that Malawi cichlids can be tough to stock due to their aggression levels. You'll want to avoid keeping fish with similar colors, or you might end up with some problems. There are plenty of books out there on the subject, so it's worth doing some reading before you bring these guys home.
Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it, however these malawi cichlids seem more suited to experienced aquarists, I'm looking for something a bit more beginner-friendly. I'm after something around the same size or a little smaller, I want to avoid anything too tiny like the neptunes. I've got live plants in my tank so I'm looking for something that'll complement them. I've thought about gouramis, would they be a good choice to mix with other species? Are there any specific types that are more colourful and peaceful? I want my tank to really stand out when people look at it.
Re: my malawi cichlid tank
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2025 4:17 pm
by mizonix
Malawis aren't exactly plant-friendly, they'll make short work of most plants in your tank.
If your tap water is soft with a low pH, you might want to consider a South American setup with Amazonian plants and tree roots. Angelfish, Apistogramma dwarf cichlids, and bigger tetras like lemon or silver tetras would be a great addition to this type of tank. They're pretty stunning and can add that wow factor you're looking for.
On the other hand, if your water is a bit harder, you could look into Central American cichlids like Convict or Jack Dempsey. They're pretty cool and can be kept with some smaller species of tetras or plecos.
If you want to try something a bit different, you could also consider Rainbowfish. They're an interesting group and can add some variety to your tank, especially if you're looking for something other than the usual Neons or Guppies.
Re: my malawi cichlid tank
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2025 5:03 pm
by TimberOak
Thanks, I've got a few more questions, mizonix. How do I check if my water is hard or soft, is it something I can do at home or do I need to get it tested? I really like the idea of rainbow fish, they sound great. I've got 5 congo tetra and 5 red eye tetra at the moment, I was thinking of giving them back to my LFS but if I'm not getting the malawis, I might just keep them.
I'm wondering, can I mix all these different fish you've mentioned together - angels, south american cichlids, apistogramma dwarf cichlids, rainbows, and assorted gouramis? Would they all get along okay? I'm really taken with the idea of an amazon biotope type setup, it sounds like it could be exactly the look I'm going for in my aquarium.
Re: my malawi cichlid tank
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 12:52 pm
by TimberOak
I'm also wondering, what fish would you guys recommend to keep with assorted Gouramis, I want a really colourful tank, is there any other species that would complement them well, and add to the wow factor.
Re: my malawi cichlid tank
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 12:54 pm
by kalevi
What's your tank size and do you have a test kit to check your water parameters?
Re: my malawi cichlid tank
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 12:58 pm
by TimberOak
I've got a 180 ltr tank, and to be honest I don't have a test kit, I've been meaning to get one but never got round to it. How much do these usually cost, and what kinda readings should I be looking for?