125 Gallon African Cichlid Tank | Replacing Aquarium Substrate
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- čas přidán 14. 07. 2024
- Today's video is an update on the 125 gallon hap tank. In this video, I'm giving a general update on the tank, discussing a few new fish I've added recently, and replacing the aquarium substrate from sand to aragonite.
The new aragonite sand should make my fish pop more in the tank, along with the added benefits of raising my PH, which is perfect for African cichlids. Let me know what you think of the change down in the comments below!
If you're interested in any of the products we use in our aquarium setups, feel free to check out the affiliate links below.
Sand
Carib Sea Aragonite Sand - amzn.to/3HhDP0P
Food
- Xtreme Krill Flakes - geni.us/iTAWsN
- Xtreme Big Fella Pellets - geni.us/9Cra
- Xtreme Nice Pellets - geni.us/6ADcc
Equipment
- Aquarium Co-Op LED Light: geni.us/D896w
- Sicce Syncra SDC 6.0 - amzn.to/35yJ0MD
- Sicce XStream SDC - amzn.to/3fRZWk1
- Seachem Tidal 110: amzn.to/3yRUHdq
- Sicce Ultra Zero Pump: amzn.to/3PO5ko4
- Python Water Changer: amzn.to/3a17dbb
Plants
- Anubias Barteri - geni.us/CxmAnz
- Java Fern - geni.us/SyEYJBS
- Windelov Java Fern - geni.us/rkYNsBM
- Plant Weights - geni.us/4iWZZZ
Chemicals
- Easy Green Fertilizer - geni.us/NAl6lK
- Fritz Glass/Acrylic Cleaner: geni.us/uvmwK8
- Marine Pure Bio Balls: amzn.to/3csSudK
- Chemi-Pure Blue: amzn.to/3bgsVMd
Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next week!
I switched almost all of my tanks to black substrates. I really thought I was going to like the natural look more but since switching to black my tanks are really popping. With the lighting in the fish room it is another level.
Wow what a difference! Fish instantly look more colorful. Amazing what a little sand will do. Love your tank
I use a 2.5 inch ID siphon to suck out sand and gravel into a 30 gallon trash can. I use a portable sump pump in the trash can to remove the water until all the substrate is removed. Takes little time, gets rid of all detritis and the fish experience minimal disturbance.
I've been wanting to change my black sand to a lighter color for a while now and have been dreading it. You made it look so easy lol.
Definitely made a big difference in how the color pop with the lighter color sand. I use African cichlid sand in my pea and my recently setup mbuna tank with black painted back I really liKe this look.
Cichlids look amazing great job!!
Thanks!
@@CichlidBros I want to know if japan, taiwan and South Korea will one day also have their own native fish species to breed with an African jewel vmcichlid cause that's what I want to do.
🇲🇼🔥 best freshwater fish 🦈
Thanks! Took some inspiration from your tank actually. Loved the light sand 🤙🏼
Do a video update in the future on whether you see any difference in the fish after the substrate change. Differences based on behavior/temperment, flashing, coloring up/down.
Awesome video
love the sand...my new tank should be coming soon...i plan to mix black grey sand with crushed coral....
Maybe it's the fish 🐟🐠 but this tank always look great no matter what look you go with🐐‼️
Looks good bro when i set up my 125 i used that caribsea white aragonite too. You'll be glad you switched it because keeping you're ph in the eights really is important to African chiclids i believe it's a absolute must. Well take care bro.
WOW, the fish colors look amazing with that new sand, good job👍🐟
Thank you!
I feel like the fish’s colors look brighter because the white sand reflects light back up and illuminates the underside of the fish, eliminating shadows. Looks like I’ll be using white aragonite in my mbuna tank I’m setting up in the next two weeks.
I love the look of Aragonite with Africans, I tried Black sand a few times and Just didn’t like it at all…if you get bored you can always add a little black sand to the Aragonite and create that salt and pepper look. When I had my Peacock and Haps tank I would add pieces of Holy rock to each corner and it helped with any stressed out fish having a place to chill👌🏼
One of the few rare occasions when the aquarium lights are turned off at the start of video😉...awesome new set up bro...looking forward to see your shrimp tanks in future 🙂👍
Love the new look!
Thank you!
wow the white sand make it so much better looking👍👍👍👍
I get why you had black sand dude, but come on..... that light sand is always the way - the contrast with the black background is the best. Looks way better man!!
Great job!! Looks much better.
Thank you!
Thank God I found this video! I've been going in circles figuring out if I can use the arag-alive Fiji pink for my 75G that i will be adding peacocks to. My local fish store told me that it can only be used for salt water fish but I see that you used it and you clearly know what you are doing!
The tank looks a whole lot better and so do the fish 👍👍
Thank you! Glad I made the change 👍🏻
I’m so over black sand. I switched it all out for white sand and couldn’t be happier. I think your fish look better with it as well. The black makes the tank too dark in my opinion. Also, get a marine light it’s amazing for fish like this.
Where did you get your black background? Does it adhere to the back of the take. Looks great with the white sand now
yeah you made that change it do make u fish pop more It do question what your opinion mix tank
I wanna do mbuna / peacocks an Habs but just 5 mbuna an the rest peacocks Habs I do have mbuna about 12 but I was just keep 5 like I said the rest I'll peacocks an Habs 75gal cichlids tank what's ur option about that set up
Hello Alec, I want to ask you if you had to rinse off the Arag Alive sand before added it. I'm about to setup a 65 gallon acrylic tank and add Mbunas. I wanted to use the Sunset Gold because I loved the way it looked when your brother setup his tank and used it. But I decided to use a substrate with aragonite in it for the high PH the Mbunas need. I was just wondering what did you do to make it clear up so fast.
Hello, excellent video, how many African cichlids (peacock) could you keep in a 150 gallon fish tank? God bless you
Have you ever made your own lid? I have a 125 with 3 sections and am having a hard time finding the right glass lid. Pretty much using your take set up for my new take I bought and I’m gonna do possibly peacocks free swimmers tank like yours
What do you enjoy more black background with tan sand or black background with black sand have a 75 and 125 empty waiting till fish get bigger idk if I want to switch to black on black thoughts ? Thanks
That’s sweet! I’m curious I’m new and I have 125g. Just upgraded to canister filter fx4 and added sponge filter. Do you think that’s enough filtration to get good amount of AC in there? I have mostly peacocks and I know this may not be best but Albino Oscar and a long FIn tiger Oscar. Both about 10”
So far no violence. Peacocks etc.. are smaller tho. 5” or so
Hello did you remove the water from the bag or rinse the sand as this has salt water in it, I have just purchased the same sand for a cichlid tank and would like some advice. Many thanks
I have crushed coral in my Hap tank I'm looking to remove half of it and mixing it with sand
Love the white sand. I did the same to my tank….
Except I rinsed mine for 2 days. Did you use a pre-rinsed substrate?
Thanks! And yep
Did you super glue the rocks?
Hey Alec. Setting up a 125 gallon African cichlids peacock tank. What wave maker do you use
Currently the Sicce XStream 6500!
Would be easier to use a python to suck out the sand straight into a bucket, the only problem with this way is u gotta run the hose outside for the water runoff.
The black sand ain’t bad at all…but the gold rocks?
Where did you purchase all your haps
Variety of online shops. Cunningham cichlids, imperial tropicals, beantown aquatics, Ron’s cichlids, etc
Will 125g suffice for most haps or would u suggest a 150/180/210?
It will usually be big enough, but if you can go bigger I’d recommend it. Especially if you have a decent sized group
Does this not send your tank back into a cycle from losing all that bacteria?
The two big canisters should keep it cycled without a problem. Will also add stability for the first week
@@CichlidBros Awesome! When it comes to Stability and StressZyme do you feel they work the same? I have heard Zyme has more strains of beneficial bacteria.
@@JPoppVlogs I’ve found both to work great! I usually go with Seachem products myself
Do you use a glass lid on top of your 125
Yes
I see that it is Arag-Alive. Did you have to rinse it before using it?
Nope, just tried not to splash the sand to much and the water stays clear
@CichlidBros thank you! I'm just getting back into the hobby after many years away from it. you guys are my " go to" for everything! Thanks for doing all the work, and putting in the time it takes getting the videos out!!
What substrate did you use
Carib Sea Aragonite Sand - amzn.to/3HhDP0P
Failed to mention how changing the substrate made your beard fall off. Is this something to worry about?
Subtitle indonesia please
Have you ever had a problem with sand messing up your filter impeller? I have heard this can happen