Kingdom For A Jewel

[ltb11uk]

So I've cleared out my old tank ready to be re-used again!
This time for two jewel cichlids, here's what I have to work with;

I want to make the best tank possible for a par of jewel's hopefully male and female.. hopefully. I have no experience with these cichlids, so I am looking for advice on how I can make a good tank for them! Also what backgrounds and substrates should I use to really bring out their rich red colour?

Many thanks!

 

[minnnt]

I would always go with a dark substrate and subdued lighting for fish with a similar colouration. Shows off their 'jewels' very well indeed. If you run two lights also, make sure you include a blue one so it really makes their spangles pop of their body.

Just so you know, these are african cichlids mate rather than american. They are also some of the most aggressive little #19###s available. They breed like wild fire and have hundreds of fry. They're also hard to shift on due to them having a bad reputation for aggression and prolific breeding. If you have someone to take them from you then all is good... But 200 at a time? lol.

Why not keep us updated with a journal from start to finish? I love seeing homes develop from a bare tank.