Can you Aquascape with cichlids?

How to aquascape your aquarium for cichlids?

When aquascaping your aquarium there are three main ingredients that provide an environment cichlids approve of as well as providing great curb appeal for the viewer. Substrate is the layer of gravel or another material which acts as the “earth” in your aquarium.

How to aquascape an African cichlid aquarium?

There are a number of options that you can purchase from your local fish store or big-box pet store, like PetSmart but when aquascaping an African Cichlid Aquarium you want to keep several things in mind. Hardscape is the hard elements of your aquarium. Generally these are the rocks or other solid decorations that you aquascape your aquarium with.

How do I choose the right aquascaping?

Aquascaping tip: The simplest way to get this right, or at least being on the right path, is to choose two plants with different qualities, and simple substrates and hardscapes. This way of keeping the variation down will allow the specialised items you have chosen to shine. A busy aquarium is a confusing aquarium.

Do cichlids get along with other fish in a tank?

With the proper tank setup, a school of cichlids will be attractive and interesting aquatic pets. A larger aquarium that is 30 gallons (120 l) or larger is a good choice for a cichlid tank. African cichlids are aggressive fish, and though they get along with other cichlids, small spaces can encourage their fighting nature.

What size aquarium do African cichlids need?

A larger aquarium that is 30 gallons (120 l) or larger is a good choice for a cichlid tank. African cichlids are aggressive fish, and though they get along with other cichlids, small spaces can encourage their fighting nature. A spacious tank will provide room for your finned friends to get along nicely together.

How to choose the right type of fish for your aquarium?

Most people already have in mind what fish they want to put in their aquariums. When it comes to aquascaping, getting the right type of fish is a delicate choice, because there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration. There is no specific rule, but you have think of their behavior, their breeding cycles, swimming habits and so on.

What is aquascaping in aquarium design?

Aquascaping is a niche in the aquarium world that is essentially underwater landscaping. Using live plants, mosses, wood, and other natural products, aquascape tank designs can be wondrous submerged creations. Fish or shrimp may be incorporated, but the main draw is the landscape of the tank.

How can I Make my aquascape look good?

Your aquascape will get there too. Using few plant species – don’t fall into the trap of using just one or two species of plants. Aquascaping is about exploring with the diversity of flora and hardscape to produce a beautiful aquarium – mix it up and experiment with a range of species.

Do cichlids need hard water?

In nature, all fish have adapted to the chemistry of their home waters. Sometimes, a fish hobbyist’s tap water doesn’t match these conditions, and the fish suffer. Many fish, including livebearers and Rift Valley cichlids, need hard alkaline water. You can raise aquarium water hardness a few different ways.

How to choose the right fish for your aquascape?

When it comes to aquascaping, getting the right type of fish is a delicate choice, because there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration. There is no specific rule, but you have think of their behavior, their breeding cycles, swimming habits and so on. You should avoid big fish that would disturb your aquascape.

What is an aquascaping focal point?

In many aquascaping styles, focal points are naturally created by following the style’s guidelines. The Iwagumi style, for example, uses multiples of stones placed in a certain pattern, with a central stone being placed on one of the third-lines of the tank. This (by design) creates a focal point according to the Rule of Thirds.

What is the best style of aquascaping?

Iwagumi – A Japanese-inspired Aquascaping style 3. The Dutch Aquarium The Nature Aquarium is most definitely the style dominating the world of aquascaping these days.

How do you make an aquascaping tank look big?

“When aquascaping we want to make the tank look as big as possible and this is achieved by using scale to our advantage. When selecting ornaments like rocks or driftwood you need to be aware that placing a large piece of wood or rock in a small tank will emphasise the lack of space.

How to make a fish tank look more natural?

But adding a smaller piece with more interesting features like twisting branches or more detail can give the tank a more natural look increasing its presence in the tank and thus adding to its sense of scale.

How do you landscape around a fish tank?

Plant the taller plants at the backside and the smaller plants at the front side of the aquarium. Try to add plants around the hardscape to soften the edges, resulting in a very natural-looking aquascape. When you add smaller plants add some water with them. This will stop them withering whilst you work on the rest of the tank.

What are the best aquascapes for a large aquarium?

A few plants along the back and several to each side balance the aquascape perfectly. One option for a large tank is to go with a wide variety of easy-to-grow plants like Anacharis, Hornwort, and Java Moss. You can add more challenging plants to areas of your tank that get the most light or keep them towards the top of your tank.

How to design a 5-gallon aquascape?

Natural Design for a 5-Gallon Aquascape You don’t have to fill a tank with hardscaping and plants to aquascape! For a small or nano tank you can choose a few simple plants and a moss ball or two. By varying your substrate you can create streams or rivers in the bottom of your tank, or plant a few sticks and cover them with Java Moss to mimic trees!

How do you use an aquascape?

Fill up the tank. Pour the water in gently until the tank is mostly filled. After filling up the tank, remove the plastic sheets (if you used them), turn on the light, CO2 (if using) and filter. Your aquascape will start circulating.

What to look for in an aquascape?

The sandy bottom is prominent in the front of the tank but the hardscaping hides the pockets of plant substrate in the back corners. Tall plants cover the back of the tank and frame the picture while your eye is drawn to the center of the wood pile in the tank. 10. Natural Island Aquascape

Are African cichlids good house cleaners?

As the house cleaners of the freshwater aquatic world, they reduce algae build-up and consume extra food that falls to the bottom of the tank. Although the African Cichlid is noted for its aggression, the larger catfish species are compatible tank mates and generally do a great job of helping maintain water quality.

What are the different types of aquascaping plants?

Other plants commonly used for Dutch style aquascaping aquariums are: Hygrofilia Corymbosa, Limnophila Aquatica, Java Moss, Tiger Lotus, Cryptocoryne, Ammania, Alternanthera Reineckii, and Rotala. Natural style is also known as Japanese style and aims to mimic a natural landscape using plants and stones.

What makes an aquascape appealing?

A specific mark that anchors the viewer’s gaze first, and then from which the viewer’s eye can glide towards other points of interest, is necessary to create an aquascape that is appealing to the viewer.

What is an aquascaping tip?

Aquascaping tip: When a plant or other focal point is placed right in the middle or two identical plants at the edges of the aquarium, the end result is a symmetrical and aesthetically unbalanced aquascape. Progress of the famous Tree scape created by Filipe Oliveira.

What is a focal point in a fish tank?

A focal point is an invisible visual mark which anchors the viewer’s gaze first and from which the viewer’s eye can glide towards other points of interest, making the viewer’s experience more interesting, captivating, relaxing and pleasing. Placing the focal point in the middle of your tank would take away from what is happening around.

How many focal points should you have in your aquascape?

Every aquascape should have a focal point. In the case of smaller tanks, there should be only one focal point and several secondary points of interest. When it comes to larger aquariums, it is necessary that you create more than one focal point, with one being the main point of focus.

What are the rules of aquascaping?

Other top level fresh water aquarum species: One of the main rules in aquascaping is the rule of thirds and the middle level is, usually, the focal point of the aquarium. This is the area that attracts the attention and should be most carefully planned as it should be populated with the right fish species as well as plants.