Question 1

What tank did AH Aquatics use for the Malawi cichlid build?

Accepted Answer

I used the Eheim Vivaline LED in the 240L size (about 63 US gallons). It’s 121cm long, 40cm front-to-back, and 50cm tall, in the anthracite finish. I wanted a 4ft footprint to give peacocks and haps proper swim room.

Question 2

Why did you choose the Eheim Vivaline over the Fluval Roma?

Accepted Answer

The big reason is the Vivaline has cutouts on both sides for canister filter pipework, and the slide tops mean no modifications are needed. With the Fluval Roma, you’re more locked into the drilled base setup unless you start modifying the lid. Plus, I trust Eheim as a solid German brand for quality.

Question 3

What filtration did you run on the 240L African cichlid tank?

Accepted Answer

The tank comes with an Eheim Echo Pro 300 (rated 160–300L), and I planned to run that alongside another canister (my Professional 2) for plenty of filtration. Cichlids are messy, so I’d rather be over-filtered than under-filtered. I also liked that Eheim included a lot of media in the box.

Question 4

What substrate did you use for Malawi cichlids and why?

Accepted Answer

I used aragonite sand to help buffer the pH up—mine was sitting around pH 8, aiming toward about 8.2. I had a bit of “Sand Gate” because I didn’t buy enough at first, so I ended up mixing CaribSea aragonite with another similar bag (including Fiji Pink). I don’t usually wash sand; I let the filter take care of the dust.

Question 5

What rocks did you use and how did you scape it for peacocks and haps?

Accepted Answer

I used seiryu stone and kept the rockwork fairly low because peacocks and haps need swim room. I built it in two main sections so the fish have refuge, but I avoided stacking too high to reduce any risk if fish dig around. I still try to make it look good, but with cichlids they’ll move things anyway.

Question 6

How did you cycle the tank and keep fish safe during the cycle?

Accepted Answer

I did a part fish-in cycle at the start, adding beneficial bacteria (NT Labs Satus) daily and testing the water closely. If I saw any ammonia, I’d use a detoxifier like NT Labs Optimus (or Seachem Prime) to bind it while still leaving it available for bacteria. I also planned to boost the bio-filter by adding mature media from another tank once it had properly built up.

Question 7

What fish did you add first before the peacock cichlids?

Accepted Answer

I started with Synodontis catfish—four of them—to get the tank moving along and because I’ve always loved keeping Synodontis. Later on I also added a green phantom pleco mainly to help with algae, and I added wood so it’s got something to chew on. Once the tank was cycled (0 ammonia, 0 nitrite), I went and picked out the peacocks and a few haps.

Question 8

How do you add new cichlids without them getting bullied?

Accepted Answer

I don’t like adding just one cichlid into an established group because they’ll instantly spot the ‘new one’ and pick it off. I add them in groups and I’ll do it around a big water change to disrupt the hierarchy and distract the tank. Keeping them busy with flow and plenty of cover helps as well.

Building a Malawi Cichlid Aquarium (COMPLETE BUILD) START TO FINISH!

🛍️ Products Mentioned (15)

AH AQUATICS MERCH

GOOSENECK LED LIGHT

OASE FILTOSMART 100

OASE FILTOSMART THERMO 100

BUDGET LED LIGHTS

NT LABS ALGAE SPONGE

HOB FILTER

FLUVAL T-SERIES HEATERS

COLOMBO NUTRI BASE

AQUARIUM SAFE SUPER GLUE

FLUVAL SK400 SURFACE SKIMMER

ROOT TABS

API TEST KIT

SEACHEM PRIME

SEACHEM STABILITY

About This Video

Frequently Asked Questions

🎬 More from AH Aquatics