African Cichlids: 3 (COMMON) Ideas that Can KILL Your Fish! [I Learned them the Hard Way!]
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- Here are 3 far too common ideas that can kill our fish. I see them asked and even passed along as advice on RUclips and at Facebook groups. This common misinformation if not caught and corrected can result in fish distress and sometimes even death!
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good refresher for more experienced keepers and essential information for new keepers!
Thanks Corey. I'm starting to understand and I'm dragging everyone along with me in my learning curve.
Thanks for watching. Your support is appreciated.
Good stuff Ben.
I love having extra sponge filters running, so when I need a seeded sponge for anything, its ready to go.
I also like to have powerheads pointing to the top of the tank to break up the surface.
Plants are looking great.
Sponges and surface break-up are both great points.
Thanks IK!
Yeah, sponges give the best of power worlds as long as a good pump goes along with it. Beneficial Bacteria and the also break the surface with the air flow.
Btw your otter point is on point.
Great pointers Ben! Boys are looking real good👍
Thank you Diver joe!
What I exactly do to cycle a new tank for Lake Tanganyika cichlids : I fill a 50 liter barrel with well water, in witch I add 1 coffee spoon of sodium bicarbonate, 1 coffee spoon of calcium dichloride and a table spoon of Himalayan salt. Salt is added only once, new water on water changes has to have no additional salt, salt does not evaporate. Mix the water good, and wait for a week. And after I arrange the scape of the tank and add the water from the barrel start filtration and everything, I take some rocks and a dirty filter from an already perfectly established African cichlid aquarium, and squeeze a bit dirt, just to have the same micro flora and fauna. Wait for a few more days and clean the filter. Always works for me, never failed me once. I also put some flakes to feed the bacteria, all this before I buy and add new fish. And always buy fish from a breeder or fish store that you know is not adding chemicals to there tanks for cleanness or higher PH. That's why I use sodium bicarbonate to make my well water normal PH from 7.8-9 to 8.1-2 and stabilize it with calcium dichloride witch after a week make the water rich with calcium, and mineralize it with the Himalayan salt. No additional chemicals. Not this process kills most of the bacteria from the well beneficial or not, dirty filters from other tank are a great replacement. And if someone is wondering I wait 20 to 30 minutes after I add sodium bicarbonate and then add calcium dichloride. And how much you need to use depends on how much water you want to treat and it's normal HP. If the HP is low you need to add bigger amount of sodium bicarbonate and slightly more calcium dichloride. A little bit of basic chemistry, nothing scary.
That title cracked me up 3 ideas that will kill your fish hahaha I had someone ask me if fish drown once and I was like really hahaha great video Ben60 😂😂😂
Yes, sometimes we get asked a question and we want to scream, "NOOOOOO!!!!" but we take a breath and remember how naive I was early on.
Thanks for stopping by PB, always appreciated!
your plants are doing well !! I learned the hard way long time ago great info sir !
the air stone moves water at top of tank that makes oxygen right ?
hello ben you have got some lovely fish and I have done my water change and yoused your idear with the wast water I love your tips on these lovely fish
Thank you Paul, I appreciate the kind words of encouragement.
Just bought a new tank for the baby cichlids I had in a smaller tank. Used the new filter and the old filter that was in the smaller established tank. Used some of the same substrate etc. Put in a little fish food. Added 2 fish after 2 days. Tank cycled in 6 days.
You did it right Catfish!
You have a great video Ben, just as always and educating the new guys in this hobby.
Thank you Andy. We're always learning, right?!
Thanks for stopping by. Much appreciated.
Hey Ben, it's Dennis. I truly enjoyed your video. You know, many years ago, back when I started out in the early 80s, it was believed that the old water, actually helped establish a new tank or when moving residences, you had to bring at least 50% of the water with you in Hefty garbage bags. But we know better nowadays. On another note, you know we don't disagree much about anything, but I do have to in regards to your second point. From my own personal experience and opinion, moving all the old bio media from a smaller tank to a larger tank will make the bigger aquarium ready to go as long as you are not increasing your bio load and the temperature is stabilized. I have personally done it twice with great success. I do agree that getting as many dirty sponges as possible is very helpful. Finally, you have proven that it is possible to have live plants with Africans; however, with my many years experience with big South/Central Americans, I'm a little skeptical it would work out. Anyways, as usual, thanks for sharing
Hello Dennis. Not sure about SAs and plants. Just like with Mbuna's, I can't say from first hand experience that they would be compatible.
Regarding the media, that was my original plan, to run a filter on the 60, get it going with BB and then bring it over to the 135. It would have been a great way to jump start the tank. My logistics didn't work out and I have to go with the Seachem Stability and old media tricks. So, see, we still agree on everything ;)
Lovely setup love the back wall. I've subscribed :)
Cesca's Reef Thank you! That background is from Universal Rocks in Texas.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
Very beneficial information Ben, great video!
Thank you MA. I appreciate you stopping by!
We agree, the Anubias is are plants that do well in an African Cichlid Aquarium, in fact Mr L Cirignaco at the Bothwell Bridge Hotel in Glasgow Scotland has put Anubias in the Aquarium they have in their Restaurant, it is Mainly a Mbuna and Haplochromis in that aquarium.
All the best.
Yes, I just heard from another viewer that anubias are okay with Mbuna. I hadn't tried with Mbuna but apparently it's okay. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Hey Ben!!!
I am so new I smell like baby powder!!! My Water is liquid cement and I am just about ready to throw in the towel....... not... lol!
Nice video! What kind of 3-D background do you have and where did you get it from? How do you deal with water getting behind the 3-D background? Also, what other type of live plants work well with peacocks and haps?
The background of your tank is it a real rock or just a wallpaper? Nice tank by the way
Hello Niel. It's a Universal Rocks "Rocky Thin" model (inserted and about a 1/2 inch thick).
Thanks for stopping by Niel.
Some people at my lfs believed putting the old water in the new tank worked, I had to correct them.. lol great information Ben!
Thanks KG. Sometimes the source seems reliable, but...
KG cichlids
Water doesn’t but old filter and substrate does. It’ll cut down cycle time in a third
I believe that even experienced people it's always good to share experience, thx for the video, Ben. Hope you can peek my aqua one day
We're always, really never stop, learning.
I'll go take a look 😀
@@BenOchart Awesome ^^
Awesome tank!! I noticed that both you and Half man/Half Cichlid have plecos and clown loaches in with your AC's - I thought the former were soft water/low PH fish - but they appear to be doing great - any advice on integrating them with Mbunas?
I wonder if the bio wheels on a Marineland HOB help aerate the water? It seems like they would, as water is actually going through the air as it spins.
And the water breaking the surface as it returns to the tank will add oxygen and allow CO2 to escape
Hey Ben did they ever end up eating the plants? I’m doing the same thing and want to know if I should leave them in or take them out
Great video Ben tank looks well
Beautiful pool and classroom.
Hi Ben.. great points. Your plants are looking really healthy. Just my two sense.. haps and peacocks won't bother with the plants because they don't have them in their natural habitat.. also being Carnivorous they aren't interested.. but yes most Mbuna will eat and if not eat they will distroy plants by digging and ripping.. lol gotta love Cichlids.. Love the 135 Ben.. really stunning!
Thank you DebTim. I'm having a lot of fun with that 135. Just put an LED on it and it looks much better, fully lit, end to end with a more natural look.
You're right. If I had Mbuna those plants would be floating around in little pieces.
I can see you are having fun with that 135. It's an amazing size and you've really done a magnificent job with it. I love the real plants and think you might just start something there. What about your 60? Any plans for that?
Do you have driftwood in the tank for the bushy nosed pleco? They need to chew, if he/she had some drift/bog wood, he/she might leave the plants alone?? Just a thought, Love your videos and information, you have helped me immensely with my cichlid tank. So much so, that I'm just starting to set up a 125 in the lounge room and hubby has even agreed to move the piano (he is the musical one, lol) He will be happily entertaining the cichlids AND an axolotl tank (What a room huh!?)
Sounds like a good spouse! My wife agreed to put the 135 in the bed room without much of a fight. We are both blessed 😀
I don't use driftwood because it lowers pH. The bushy seems to be doing well.
Thanks for watching and I'm glad that my videos have helped.
Interesting info about O2. I have a 150 gallon freshwater. Stock consists of Uaru, severums, Geophagus, silver dollars, Peppered Corydoras, and some Killifish. I have been thinking about adding a wave maker to the tank. After hearing what you said about the surface water break up makes me think maybe I should do it. I’m worried about the water flow and stressing out the fish. Would you recommend this? Other than air stones in there anything else you would recommend. I have a canister (FX4).
My Dragon Blood breeder Male LOVES to destroy the Anubius. He almost forgets how bad it tastes, but every couple days he takes a huge chunk out of one of the plants, then spits it out. In my 75g Mixed African tank, the MBUNA eat everything green. I am replacing plants monthly. My best luck has been with Pothos for Nitrate Removal. Not very much luck with Live Plants for deco except in my Fry tanks. I have Java Moss, Fern and Anubius and the fry thrive in those tanks. They don't mess with the plants at all. If anyone has suggestions on their success with Plants and adult Cichlids, I'd love to hear it! Pothos are the super easy and Nitrate destroyers! Nice Video Sir, take care.
TheFakeDadeMurphy I've got my fingers crossed that these fish continue to mostly ignore the plants.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
Gorgeous fish
That's a beautiful tank!
awesome tank....is that a firemouth at 7:50?? subbed!!
That's my Intermedius (Otopharnyx tetrastigma)
Thanks for the kind words and for watching and commenting.
Thank you for the sub!
No, that an intermedius (otopharynx tetratstigma)
Thanks for watching.
How do you guys get or make that rock back ground I’m always intrigue, but have no idea if it’s made for tanks or you guys created it?
Plants are looking great!
Thank you!
AySjelow was saying da same. if I put plants in my aquarium live or plastic will be destroy
I wasn't around in my home.. I came back and see my lichis are dead and everybodys feeding on them.. There are 2 peacocks 2 dolphins and 2 similar cichlids on whom I have doubts.. Do you think it's them??
Oh Ben I'm late. Sorry. But,dude, Ben with the 135' sure does a great job
Thanks Deon. You're appreciated, even if a little late ;)
Do you add anything in your water for the plants? Flourish excel? I heard it’s bad for fish is it true
Nice channel! Subbed!
Thank you!
Teacher Ben,
can please go live one these days and sure know you be getting a lot of questions. have took all ur advice and have not lost a single Fish
My favorite kind of comment POW 1, thank you!
Nice video. Do you add any plant fertilizer to the water for anubias plants to grow. Just on a side note are Labidochromis caeruleus ( Electric yellow cichlids) temperamental compared to peacocks and Mbuna cichlids. I got a single one as a baby fish from my local pet stores. Initially I kept it with Pearl gourami and clown loaches. As it started to grow it started to dominate and I had to move him to a different tank. Now he lives all by himself. I have some sand substrate and recently added a plastic stingray toy. All day long all he does is chases that plastic toy and holds him firmly against the glass. I know these Cichlids do well in groups. But space is premium for me. I am also not interested in breeding these fish. So I may stick with one. But this fish means business
Labs are the milder of Mbuna but they too can get very mean. You may want to keep him alone unless you get a much bigger tank with lots of rock work (hiding spots).
The air stones do break the surface tension, right?
Yes and they help push water with less oxygen, at the bottom of the tank, to the top where it can become oxygen rich water.
I'm not against air stones, they work fine. Just not a look that I enjoy. But some people love that look.
Where do you get that type of substrate, I love it !!?
Pp r lhl4llltllb,g,3,g..4.4.t
pt2q www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/acurel-f-clarifier stevepolandcichlids.com/video/how-i-maintain-my-fishroom-2017-update/ www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/acurel-f-clarifier www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/acurel-f-clarifier stevepolandcichlids.com/video/how-i-maintain-my-fishroom-2017-update/ www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/acurel-f-clarifier stevepolandcichlids.com/video/how-i-maintain-my-fishroom-2017-update/eelr,gmgl
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great video...cheers
dario gheller Thank you Dario
Mate i have had tropical fish befor and im really wanting to get some ciclids. Im no expert, are they easy enuff to keep and maintain for a beginner????
Micky, do what I did, watch a bunch of videos and get as much info as you can. Once you get it down it's pretty simple.
Just to clarify with mbuna, I've got anubia barteri and they're not interested in them either
whered you get the background in this tank? never seen one quite like it
Jessie S I purchased it from Universal Rocks in Texas. I used the "Jay Wilson" code and got a nice discount. Mine is the Rocky thin design.
Will snails result if I add Anubias to my aquarium ?
Try some bolbitus plant great fast growing plant for a chiclid tank to export nitrates
I will look into it, thank you!
I think it only makes sense to me that if oxygen is absorbed at the surface why wouldn't it be absorbed while it was going through the water. How did you come to this conclusion? Some of your other readers also questioned this.
Yes, agreed, but my point is gas exchange, the releasing of CO2 and the introduction of O2 will occur at the surface, not inside the water column since there's no place for the CO2 to escape to, right? Thus I prefer surface tension break-up as a way of adding O2 AND releasing CO2, but the truth is that bubbles will also give you surface tension break-up and that's where I think the greatest benefit of bubbles occur. But, all that being said, I'm not a fan of how bubbles look in a tank, so, at least for now, I'll stick with surface tension agitation as a way of adding O2.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
will the cloudy eye clear up... have an angel get that....i think it clears with time .... but really anxious...fish is eating and healthy otherwise. ..guarding fry too
Yup. Sounds like my scene. You can see the Tangerine Tiger in the video. He's a beast. Very healthy except for that one eye. He might have scraped on something back in the 60 gal.
mind you it takes quite a bit of establish media to plant a new aquarium I planted my 75 with my 36 in about a week here's a question for you ben I add salt to my tank and my salt reader is instant ocean hydrometer and my tap water test what the salt level should be in my African Aquarium o.2 to 0.4 I'm a Believer in adding salt, I always do less then what the box recommends though I have a 75 and I salt up to 50 gallons minus sand and decour I am at about 60gallons give or take a few
Jake, I'm sorry but I'm not an expert on using salt. I do add Malawi Lake Salts by Seachem for the trace minerals but I haven't used Epsom or Kosher or any of those kinds of salts in my tanks. So I'm not the best guy to ask, sorry.
I got red rocks for Christmas and I'm wondering if they are toxic to your fish I think it is pink rocks
I'm sorry but rocks are not my specialty. Usually if scrubbed down with warm water they are okay but their are some that might release things in the water that you don't want. You might want to post photos of the rocks at some fish forums or facebook groups (like "Ben O'Cichlid" or "The Aquatic Lounge") and see what feedback you get.
Ben I heard you say that one of your fish has cloudy eye my peacock had the same thing last week I am using melafix and it's for fin- tail rot and cloudy eye ,pop eye body slime and mouth fungus,open body wounds and it is working good the eye all cleared up I thought this might help you
Chad Hardesty I was hoping it would clear up on its own with clean water but it's taking a bit. Not getting worse, but not clearing up as fast as I would like to see. I have some Melafix. We'll see.
I'm sorry when you transfer old water to a new tank yes it does give you some good bacteria in there and stuff
Nice anubias.
Do you know of a reputable fiish retailer who will ship fish? I am in the SouthEastern part of the Country and I truly need some trust to put the poor fish thru that.
u right, Ben with the 135 👌👍😀😀😀😀😀
Cory McElroy did a test with a dissolved oxygen meter, and an air stone does add oxygen to water, big reason why joey has that huge air stone for his arowana. Just my two cents 👊
The only way I can imagine that happens is with 1) bubbles help move low O2 water from the bottom of the tank to the surface for oxygen while moving high O2 water from the surface to the bottom (this could be also achieved with a couple good powerheads) and 2) accelerated surface tension breakup with a nice strong pump (Joey's is run by a converted military surplus diesel engine, ;)
Ben Ochart that's makes perfect sense Ben, but I do think there are different variables we aren't seeing, I need to see if Cory will do a more in depth video of the dissolved oxygen meter.
KG cichlids That would be cool. I'd love to see how the big airstone vs two powerheads stirring up the surface and moving a lot of water around, see how those two compare in dissolved oxygen levels.
Ben Ochart I can see how power head can release the gases but it's not exactly putting oxygen back in the water. I like using both, but again we don't know until it's been tested on what is ultimately better.
the bubbles going through the water have oxygen in them just like the water above the tank. kinda screws with one of your points
Ben how is your nitrate levels after the plants in the tank,?thanks
Tank is still getting established but it's 20 - 30 ppm but will no doubt go down even further after a few WCs.
Thats nice ,I can't get those Numbers , even after 3 days after w/c maybe too much fish in my 125.
Could be. You can decrease the bio-load (fish) or increase the percentage of water replaced in water changes and also be sure you don't have any pockets of detritus / waste under decor. It's amazing what I vacuum up from under rocks. I don't even know how it could get under there.
nice video ben. I agree on people thinking transferring water cycles a tank, and to be honest i think a lot of experienced keepers mistakenly think that's the case as well. fish look great, if u have 2 nototaenia the big one will chase the smaller one no matter if it's male or female in my experience. males chase males to establish who is boss, males chase females to mate. intermedius is on fire! have a nice weekend ben
Thanks Adam. I was concluding that the larger nototaenia is a female, but the smaller obvious male chases constantly. There are long pauses, but he then picks it up again.
Yes, that Intermedius has become the star of the tank.
I appreciate the input.
I have a lot of foamy bubbles that accumulates at the top of my tanks. I don't know why or jow to remedy that or what causes that. I have 3 tanks and it is in all of them. Help, Please. Fish are fine but it seems they should be more active...
There's something getting into your water. Are you using a water softener system on the main water supply or have wood ornaments that could be releasing something into the water?
I did this without research, none of my fish died. and tank cycled within a month. that is transferring water into new tank. all it did was bring ick from my cousins aquarium to mine
The ick break-out might have been related to the stress of the move. Always remember that the beneficial bacteria is not in the water but instead on the surface of things like substrate, decor and, of course, the filter media.
I USE CREEK WATER>ADD SOME WHEN IT EVAPORATES AND NO NEED FOR WATER CHANGES.
You should still do changes as nitrate built up
I have the EXACT same 3D background as you on my 125
I'm liking my a lot and looking forward to some algae growing on it to make it look even more real.
do you use salt with the cichlids?
I use Seachem Malawi Lake Cichlid Salts. It's very different than using something like Epsom salt. It's more just trace minerals that I like to add since they are usually not in the tap water.
I'm having trouble getting to your facebook page. it always tells me it is not available
??? Sorry.
can i keep dollars with chichlids in a 1.5 feet aquarium,also i have 4 sevarams
I wouldn't. Much too small for any of those fish really. 1.5 feet ... I would go with a planted set-up and a few neons.
ok.thanks for your advise dear..
do you have any haplochromis milmo?
If you watch my most recent videos you'll see three of them (Placidochromis milomo. Super VC 10's) in my 135 gal.
can i add bamboo plants?
I've seen it done and it seems okay. Should help reduce nitrates if you just have the roots in the tank or in a HOB filter. Not sure if fish will try to eat it, so you might need to put some plastic mesh around the roots.
Indeed. I actually put them in the holes in my UGF. Roots secured. Thanks.
Do they need alot of hiding spots ? Mine seems to always be hiding ...
Also.. whats your opinion on the salt ?
Are you referring to African Cichlids in general? Usually the Haps and Peacocks are in the open water, but some like to to hang out by a rock or under a plant. Regarding salt, I use Malawi Lake salt to add some trace minerals to the water that might not be coming out of my tap. I don't use epson or aquarium salts.
If you go with Mbuna you will need to have a lot of rockwork and caves.
They are all haps & peacocks .. some like to hide more than others .... when using tap water do you add a tap water conditioner to the water before adding fresh tap water ?
If using buckets, condition the bucket water before adding. If using a hose from tap to tank, I condition the tank per the instructions. With Seachem Prime or Safe, you treat for the full volume of the tank. I do this while the water is being added to the tank.
I've noticed that you don't have much rock in your tank, I was under the impression that Africans needed plenty of rock
Hello Jeff, Mbuna certainly need a lot of nooks, caves and hiding spots. I think the word "Mbuna" means rock or rocks. However, the Peacocks and Haps, with some exceptions tend to prefer some open water. That being said, some like the polystigma, venustus and livingstonii (Nimbochromis family) like having some rocks around to hang out in and play dead in, so they can ambush and eat Mbuna fry.
Ben Ochart thank you, I just asked the same thing on Facebook, maybe I'll do some arrangements
Ben Ochart please look at my video of my tank that I posted and tagged you in please
Hi. Just wanna say from my experience air bubbles do put oxygen in water. oxygen is in the bubbles an when they pop in the water they disperse oxygen that was in the bubble.
Im sorry but if you believe that it does not then take out all bubbles from yr tank for a week and then tell me what happens to your fish.
Its all gas exchange and bubbles might become micro bubbles but they will rise to the surface, being much lighter than water, and break up surface tension and that is where maximum O2 is added to the water. Bubblers, if you like the look of them, are great for surface tension break up and the creation of water movement, from O2 rich top of the water column to the O2 depleted bottom of the column. So, we actually agree.
the answer is no and your fish are going to die......a little harsh Ben LOL
LOL. You're right. Cold scared straight tough love sort of stuff, LOL, thanks for watching!
Hey can you help
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Ben Ochart can you check my tank out on my channel please . I just noticed that I have mostly mbuna cichlids which I thought all African cichlids can swim together someone just recently told me that peacocks or African cichlids but more peaceful so mixed Witt mbunas wouldn’t be a good idea?
1 - you do not have an instantly cycled tank when you transfer water from an established tank to a new tank (bacteria is in the media/substrate not the water)
2 - bubbles traveling thru the water do not add oxygen to the water, they circulate the water & break surface tension, not add oxygen
3 - ??? who knows - guy talks way too slow
Watch the entire video. Beneficial bacteria is nearly non existent in the water column. It’s filter media, substrate and decor that will transfer enough BB to give you an instantly cycled tank. I’ve done it that way several times with perfect outcomes.
Bubbles traveling through the water DO add oxygen. How? By breaking up surface tension and allowing gas exchange. Again, watch the entire video.
Thanks.
@@BenOchart That is literally less than 3 minutes of the lengthy video. Saving people the time because it's very long and slow.
you talk very slowly