Do cichlids need sand?

[MrMashashin]

Well do they need sand in the tank?

If so would sand box sand work?

 

[JPetrillo]

Im no pro, but since nobody else has replied yet I might as well. My LPS told me to use Aquarium Salt and Cichlid Salt. The Cichlid Salt is supposed to be really good and supposadly comes right out of their natural lakes down south

I would do some research online on those two salts and wait to see what everyone else here tells you, but I doubt sandbox sand would be of any benefit to you, but like I said... Im no pro so who knows!

-Jesse

 

[C.L.O]

Chichlids seem to be happiest with sand as the substrate. They will pick it up in their mouths and sift though it looking for food and move it around the tank. It is very amusing to watch them 'redecorate' their home. When I set up my chichlid tank I used sand box type sand, it works great and was inexpensive. I would recommend rinsing it really well in a big bucket outside. They love lots of hiding places, using silicone (aquarium safe) to secure rocks together works well.
Enjoy!

 

[MrMashashin]

ok thanks i found the cutest little pink fish but i forgot its name!

ill put in sandbox sand right now

 

[MrMashashin]

lol i got a weeee problem. I washed the sand for about 20 min. I put it in the tank as slow as i could so it wouldnt get all thrown into the water. didn't work! Will it all settle in by its self or do i have to get something to settle it?

 

[C.L.O]

That happened with my tank as well, just leave it for a day or two and it will settle nicely. After that when the sand gets moved around it will settle right away. It seems to need a couple days at first just to settle. It is worth the wait though, the chichlids seem to feel very comfortable with it. As my by says "this is not an instant gratification hobby" and I roll my eyes. LOL.

 

[semper fi]

gotta keep an eye on your filter. sand will clog the filter. if you find the output of the filter lessening you will need to rinse it in tank water to keep the mechanisms free moving.

 

[Daveo]

It would have been better if you had just taken out all of the water from the tank so that you could just pour it in( did any of that make sence to you). But the tank will cloud up no matter what you do to prevent the tank to cloud up. I would'nt have the filter going ether. think of it this way, do want to have to pay for a hole new filter( of course the filter does have to clog up before you by a nother one). Some people may say that that would be crazy but maybe you could try leaving it on for an hour and then turning it off so that the sand can settle to the bottom of the tank for about an hour, then hopefully you can still clean the tank and let the sand settle down at the same time. (heck if bettas can live with no filtration then a couple of cichlids can to)
Daveo 8)

 

[MrMashashin]

i have no fish in there right now im holding off till i can see through it lol