New Cichlid Tank

Question
hello,
   I just finished setting up a new 125gal aquarium. I used Cichlid substrate (both gravel and sand). I purchased 120 lbs of shale and sandstone and have created a labyrinth of tunnels and caves for the little guys. So far all I have running is the Marineland 530 cannister filter, I will fire up the heater and air pumps today. I am retired Army, Infantry, and have not kept fish since the 70s. How do I procede to ensure all is well for Cichlid aquisition and a healthy environment for African Cichlids?

Answer
John,

I too am military. I have been in the Marine Corps since 1987. Thank you for your service. The best way to cycle the tank is with no fish. You get everything going including filter and heater. The tank and filter will go through two bacteria blooms. After the tank has been running for a few days, you will see it start to get cloudy. That is fine, the cycle process will be starting. After about a week or so, you will start to "seed" the tank. You will feed it fish food everyday for about a week. This will allow the food to start to rot and leave behind the ammonia needed. After the tank has been running for about 2 weeks sometime longer, the second bacteria bloom will set in. This is the good stuff needed by the fish and filter to stay healthy. At this point, stop feeding the tank. Somewhere around the 3 to 4 week point, start testing the water everyday. Make sure you are using a liquid testing kit not strips. If there is any ammonia and/or nitrites in the water, you will do a 25% water change. If you test for 5 days in a row with no ammonia or nitrites, the tank is cycled and ready for fish. If at anytime during the 5 day testing there IS a reading of ammonia and/or nitrites, do a 25% water change and start the 5 days of testing all over again. This is why cycling can take up to six weeks.

There are different types of African Cichlids and they all like the pH levels to be
Lake Malawi..................7.4 - 8.6

Lake Tanganyika............7.8 - 9.0

Lake Victoria.................7.2 - 8.6  Don't forget the water conditioner to add to all the water going into the tank. They like their temperature to be between 76 and 80 degrees. My Cichlid tank is at a constant 78 degrees and they seem to like it.You will still want to do 25% weekly water changes even though you have a filter. If you want to do it every 2 weeks then double the amount to 50% weekly water changes. Its good to have a lot of rocks in the tank, just remember they weigh a lot so make sure the stand is able to hold the weight. I don't recommend plants because some of the Cichlids love to pull them up. Africans do extremely well if feed Cichlid flake foods, with an occasional treat of live or frozen food. Never feed them more than they can consume in 2 minutes totalled over an entire day, not 5 minutes! Cichlids have sensitive bowels and so food should be selected and fed with care so as to prevent "Bloat." That is basically all the Cichlid needs to thrive in a home aquarium.