Need advice on cichlids setup

[Tanker]

Hi, read about the digging habits of cichlids and the advice of bros here to put styrofoam under the rocks and sand. Is putting the styrofoam in safe for the fish? Does it disintegrate over time? Will the cichlids bite the styrofoam and eat them? Thanks.

[joyshorty]

Hi bro tanker

Not necessarily you need to put styrofoam in. Its individual preference.

Importantly i think your choice of fauna you planning to have.

[Tanker]

Hi Joyshorty, thanks for the advice. Got advised to use egg crate instead. Not planning to do planter. Doing rocks and sand instead. Just managed to set up my tank yesterday.

[Tanker]

Need some advice from cichlids owners. As advised, I set up the tank with rocks to make caves. One of the fish claimed the big rock work as his and chased away the other fish. Now the other fish are swimming above the rock. Any advice?
image.jpg

[johannes]

That's the norm in keeping cichlids.
Once you place a rock and a cichlid may claim it as its territory.
As long as it doesn't really attack the rest badly, I guess it's ok.

[roxnork]

Styrofoam is quite safe for the fishes and will not disintegrate. I've had mine in a cichlid tank for more than 3 years already

[roxnork]

Need some advice from cichlids owners. As advised, I set up the tank with rocks to make caves. One of the fish claimed the big rock work as his and chased away the other fish. Now the other fish are swimming above the rock. Any advice?
image.jpg

You may need to build your stones upwards so that there are more cavities and spaced further apart, and perhaps less inhabitants. But otherwise nice tank you have there!