african great lakes biotope for cichlids: a comprehensive guide

[eleNt]

The African bigtide lakes, in the East African Rift, are really interesting. These lakes include the Rift Valley Lakes - Tanganyika, Victoria and Malawi. There are about 1500 African cichlid species across these lakes, with Malawi having roughly 700 species, Tanganyika with 250 and Victoria with 500. Other notable bigtide lakes are Edward, Albert, Kivu and Turkana. The lakes are known for their deep-water rocky outcrops and lack of live plants, with alkaline waters.

Lake Tanganyika is the second oldest freshwater lake in the world and the second deepest after Lake Baikal in Russia. It's also the longest freshwater lake globally. Tanganyika is home to 250 African cichlid species, nearly all of which are endemic to the lake. Most of these cichlids live along the shoreline at depths of around 100 metres. Many are popular aquarium fish due to their colours and behaviours. The lake's waters are medium-hard and the pH is 8.2-9.4. The GH is around 7-11. The convict julie is native to this lake.

Lake Victoria is the largest tropical lake and Africa's largest lake by area. It's the world's second largest freshwater lake by surface area. However, it's not as popular among aquarium enthusiasts as other Rift Valley Lakes. Victoria has around 500 species of African cichlids, nearly all of which are endemic to the lake. The pH of the lake is 7.2 to 8.6 and the GH is around 2-8. Haplochromis phytophagus is a colourful cichlid found only in Lake Victoria.

Lake Malawi is the most popular Rift Valley Lake among aquarium enthusiasts. It's the second deepest lake in Africa. There are 700 species of African cichlids that are endemic or native to the lake, most of which are captured for the aquarium trade. The lake's water is alkaline, with a GH of around 7 and a pH of 7.7 to 8.6. The critically endangered Pseudotropheus saulosi is found only in the Taiwan Reef area of the lake. Unfortunately, some of these cichlids are critically endangered due to over-capture for the aquarium trade.

To create a Rift Valley Lake biotope, you'll need a lot of lava and river rocks, as well as a sandy substrate for nest building, gill cleansing and grazing. A tank of at least 60 gallons is required. Start by adding a good amount of cichlid sand to the tank. Flatten the sand to the desired depth. Use bigger rocks for the background and smaller rocks for the foreground. For a shell dwelling cichlid aquarium, include lots of shells for shelter and foraging. Consider adding a wave maker to create a more natural environment. Watch underwater videos of these lakes for reference. These fish are really fun to keep in a biotope aquarium dedicated to them.

[willie32]

Nice write-up, but I have a few issues. Firstly, I think the water hardness for each lake is way off - they're all in the 15-20 range, with Tanganyika being the hardest.

Also, grouping the fish into just three categories for each lake is a bit too broad. I mean, saying 'cichlids' is like saying 'fish' - it's a huge group. Take Malawi, for example, you've got Mbuna rock dwellers, open water peacocks, predatory Haplochromis, huge nest builders like Lethrinops, and schooling cichlids like Acei. This is just a tiny selection, but it shows how diverse the behaviour can be in the lake.

And on tank size, 60 gallons is a good starting point for most Malawi cichlids, but some Mbuna like Saulosi can do okay in 40 gallons. However, with Tanganyikans, many species can thrive in smaller tanks - there are loads of smaller cichlids in that lake, like shell dwellers, which can do really well in 10-20 gallon aquariums.

[eleNt]

Nice write-up, but I have a few issues. Firstly, I think the water hardness for each lake is way off - they're all in the 15-20 range, with Tanganyika being the hardest.

Also, grouping the fish into just three categories for each lake is a bit too broad. I mean, saying 'cichlids' is like saying 'fish' - it's a huge group. Take Malawi, for example, you've got Mbuna rock dwellers, open water peacocks, predatory Haplochromis, huge nest builders like Lethrinops, and schooling cichlids like Acei. This is just a tiny selection, but it shows how diverse the behaviour can be in the lake.

And on tank size, 60 gallons is a good starting point for most Malawi cichlids, but some Mbuna like Saulosi can do okay in 40 gallons. However, with Tanganyikans, many species can thrive in smaller tanks - there are loads of smaller cichlids in that lake, like shell dwellers, which can do really well in 10-20 gallon aquariums.

I was actually referring to the GH of the water.

[willie32]

The African bigtide lakes, in the East African Rift, are really interesting. These lakes include the Rift Valley Lakes - Tanganyika, Victoria and Malawi. There are about 1500 African cichlid species across these lakes, with Malawi having roughly 700 species, Tanganyika with 250 and Victoria with 500. Other notable bigtide lakes are Edward, Albert, Kivu and Turkana. The lakes are known for their deep-water rocky outcrops and lack of live plants, with alkaline waters.

Lake Tanganyika is the second oldest freshwater lake in the world and the second deepest after Lake Baikal in Russia. It's also the longest freshwater lake globally. Tanganyika is home to 250 African cichlid species, nearly all of which are endemic to the lake. Most of these cichlids live along the shoreline at depths of around 100 metres. Many are popular aquarium fish due to their colours and behaviours. The lake's waters are medium-hard and the pH is 8.2-9.4. The GH is around 7-11. The convict julie is native to this lake.

Lake Victoria is the largest tropical lake and Africa's largest lake by area. It's the world's second largest freshwater lake by surface area. However, it's not as popular among aquarium enthusiasts as other Rift Valley Lakes. Victoria has around 500 species of African cichlids, nearly all of which are endemic to the lake. The pH of the lake is 7.2 to 8.6 and the GH is around 2-8. Haplochromis phytophagus is a colourful cichlid found only in Lake Victoria.

Lake Malawi is the most popular Rift Valley Lake among aquarium enthusiasts. It's the second deepest lake in Africa. There are 700 species of African cichlids that are endemic or native to the lake, most of which are captured for the aquarium trade. The lake's water is alkaline, with a GH of around 7 and a pH of 7.7 to 8.6. The critically endangered Pseudotropheus saulosi is found only in the Taiwan Reef area of the lake. Unfortunately, some of these cichlids are critically endangered due to over-capture for the aquarium trade.

To create a Rift Valley Lake biotope, you'll need a lot of lava and river rocks, as well as a sandy substrate for nest building, gill cleansing and grazing. A tank of at least 60 gallons is required. Start by adding a good amount of cichlid sand to the tank. Flatten the sand to the desired depth. Use bigger rocks for the background and smaller rocks for the foreground. For a shell dwelling cichlid aquarium, include lots of shells for shelter and foraging. Consider adding a wave maker to create a more natural environment. Watch underwater videos of these lakes for reference. These fish are really fun to keep in a biotope aquarium dedicated to them.

Apologies for the typo, I meant to say 15-20 GH, the lakes indeed have very hard water, not the lower GH values I initially mentioned.

[eleNt]

Nice write-up, but I have a few issues. Firstly, I think the water hardness for each lake is way off - they're all in the 15-20 range, with Tanganyika being the hardest.

Also, grouping the fish into just three categories for each lake is a bit too broad. I mean, saying 'cichlids' is like saying 'fish' - it's a huge group. Take Malawi, for example, you've got Mbuna rock dwellers, open water peacocks, predatory Haplochromis, huge nest builders like Lethrinops, and schooling cichlids like Acei. This is just a tiny selection, but it shows how diverse the behaviour can be in the lake.

And on tank size, 60 gallons is a good starting point for most Malawi cichlids, but some Mbuna like Saulosi can do okay in 40 gallons. However, with Tanganyikans, many species can thrive in smaller tanks - there are loads of smaller cichlids in that lake, like shell dwellers, which can do really well in 10-20 gallon aquariums.

The video you sent over is quite informative, I must say.