Rock Stability
Place heavy rocks directly on the tank glass, NOT on substrate. Bury rocks at the base or use egg crate foundation.
Cichlids dig aggressively — stacked rocks without foundation fall and break tanks. Cement with aquarium-safe silicone for tall structures.
Plant Choices
Anubias and Java fern attached to driftwood or rocks survive cichlid abuse. Sword plants with strong root systems work for New World cichlids.
Avoid stem plants — they'll be uprooted within days. Floating plants (duckweed, water lettuce) are safe.
Substrate Depth
2-3cm substrate is ideal. Deeper = more digging damage. Sand is easier on barbels and fry than gravel.
Tanganyikan cichlids prefer fine aragonite sand to buffer pH. Malawi cichlids do well on coral sand or natural river sand.
Background and Perspective
3D rock backgrounds (resin or foam) add depth without risk of toppling. They also provide territory lines reducing aggression.
Dark backgrounds make colors pop. Light blue works for Malawi biotope.