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Popular questions
How do I know my tank is cycled?
When it converts about 2 ppm of ammonia to 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite within 24 hours, and you see nitrate. Then do a big water change and start stocking. Read the guide
Do bottled bacteria really work?
Many keepers find quality bottled nitrifying bacteria shorten the cycle. Keep testing to confirm rather than trusting the label alone. Read the guide
How big of a tank does an oscar need?
A 75 gallon tank is a practical minimum for one adult oscar. A pair or an oscar with tank mates needs 125 gallons or more. Read the guide
How big do oscars get?
Most aquarium oscars reach about 10 to 12 inches, and some get larger. Read the guide
Can different cichlids live together?
Yes, if they come from the same region, need the same water, and are similar in size and temperament. Avoid look alike species. Read the guide
How do I stop cichlids from fighting?
Add more rock work, rearrange territories, correct male to female ratios, and remove a fish that keeps bullying. Read the guide
How many mbuna can I keep in a 55 gallon tank?
Many keepers keep a group of smaller, calmer mbuna in a 55 with one male to three or four females per species. Larger and more aggressive species need bigger tanks. Read the guide
Can I keep just one cichlid?
Yes. Many big cichlids like oscars or flowerhorns are often kept alone or with a few dither fish. Read the guide
How often should I feed my cichlids?
Most adult cichlids do best with one or two small feedings a day, eaten within about a minute. Juveniles can have two or three smaller feedings. Read the guide
What is Malawi bloat?
A serious digestive illness seen mostly in mbuna, often linked to high protein diets, stress and poor water quality. Signs include a swollen belly, hiding and stringy white feces. Prevention is a vegetable based diet and clean water. Read the guide
How much water should I change in a cichlid tank?
Most cichlid keepers change 25 to 50 percent weekly. Heavily stocked mbuna and oscar tanks often need the higher end. Read the guide
Should I clean my gravel every week?
Vacuum the open areas weekly. You do not need to dig under every rock each time. Read the guide
How do I know my cichlids are about to spawn?
Signs include a pair staying together, cleaning a flat rock or digging pits, darker or brighter breeding colors, and a small tube (the breeding tube) appearing under the belly. Read the guide
Why do my cichlids eat their eggs?
Young or stressed pairs often eat the first few batches. It usually improves with practice, a calmer tank and good water quality. Read the guide
What rock is safe for cichlid tanks?
Common choices include holey limestone, lace rock and slate. Limestone raises pH, which suits African cichlids but not soft water fish. Read the guide
Can I have plants with cichlids?
Yes. Anubias and java fern tied to rock or wood are the most reliable. Many South American dwarfs live happily in fully planted tanks. Read the guide
How big do fire eels get?
Fire eels commonly reach about 20 to 30 inches in aquariums and can grow larger with age. Read the guide
What size tank does a fire eel need?
Plan for 125 gallons or more for an adult fire eel, with a long footprint, soft sand and a tight fitting lid. Read the guide
Which pleco stays small?
Bristlenose plecos usually stay around 4 to 5 inches, and clown plecos stay even smaller. Common plecos can pass a foot long. Read the guide
Do plecos only eat algae?
No. Most plecos need algae wafers and vegetables, and some species need meaty foods. Algae alone will starve them. Read the guide
Do bichirs breathe air?
Yes. Bichirs have paired lungs and regularly gulp air at the surface, so they need access to it. Read the guide
How big do Senegal bichirs get?
Most reach about 12 inches in aquariums. Read the guide
Are there true freshwater puffer fish?
Yes. Pea puffers, Fahaka puffers and Mbu puffers live in fresh water. Green spotted and figure 8 puffers need brackish water as adults. Read the guide
What do pea puffers eat?
Small live or frozen foods such as snails, bloodworms and brine shrimp. Most will not eat flakes. Read the guide