pink cichlids

Question
HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO CLEAN OUT MY 20 GALLON TANK? I HAVE 9 PINK CICHLIDS IN THERE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT MESSING UP THEIR NICHE THEY MAKE IN THE GRAVEL WHILE CLEANING. ONE MORE THING, I HAVE A PIECE OF ROCK I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN THE TANK. HOW DO I CLEAN IT TO MAKE SURE THERE ISN'T ANYTHING ON IT THAT CAN HARM THE FISH? SOMEONE TOLD ME TO BOIL IT. WOULD THAT HELP?

Answer
Hi Linda,
 Cleaning the tank will mess things up but you will be amazed how quickly they get it back to the way they want it.  When you clean a tank, you do NOT take everything out.  You should use a gravel siphon to clean the gravel and you should remove about 25% of the water.  Ideally you would do this once a week.   

 If the rock came from a pet store, then I would just give it a good soak in a clean bucket (not one that has ever had any soap in it) for a day or so, then put it in the tank.  I do not recommend taking rocks from outside and putting them in your tank, unless you know exactly what kind of rock it is.  For example, local rocks might contain sulphur which is deadly to fish.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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