Solid black background is awesome. I have it on all my tanks

Y’all motivation for how I wanna get my fish room

I agree with everything in this video. That's rare. I cannot stress enough though, a black background elevates a good tank to a perfect tank. I just set up two new (well, one new, one redesigned) tanks and I painted the backgrounds on for the first time. Game changer. I have used the plastic backgrounds and I have never been very successful. They've always peeled or had water spots appear behind them. Painted on though, it's just stunning with the live plants and fishes' colors popping and being even more bold. If you're setting up a tank, go with a black background. You will never, ever regret it.

Great video! Love the tips

I gotta agree with the background 100%. I liked them but never had them on all my tanks till I painted the back of my big tanks when I first got them and it made me paint the backs of all the other tanks in my fish room after haha black background for the win

Even though I don't have my tanks up right now I really enjoyed your video and the tips in it. My generation 1 attempts were on a budget. I think your tanks are more 'gen 2', meaning taking it to the next level. Super nice, it takes a little more cash, but its worth it

Great tips! Thank you very much for the information! In December I am planning to add 4 Oscars to my aquarium

ALWAYS love your videos! I’ve learned so much from y’all on so many subjects; thank you!

Great tips! But I think air bubbles are a personal preference.. Some hobbyists prefer loads of bubbles like me 😂 though I also angle the strong power filter right at the top to create surface waves 🌊 too 😁

This is a great, underrated topic. Algae is the big factor that holds my tanks back sometimes. A pleco usually does the trick haha

Great tips! Have picked up a lot of good info watching you guys and my tanks look a lot better!

Rather than adding wavemakers, I used random flow nozzles on the return lines to get surface tension to break periodically for oxygenation, while also giving your tank more random flow to avoid any dead spots.

The natural look is the way to go. I built a sump so I didn't need anything in the display tank. The only man made components are a small wave maker in each back corner. Another lighting tip is to raise your lights above your tank if possible to get that water shimmer effect.

Enjoy your videos always informative Thanks for the info 👍👍

Beyond helpful, thank you!

EXElENT👍👍👍

Thanks troy for the useful info

Depth can go a long way in this hobby, it's one of the cheapest and easiest ways to make the tank look more natural... So spread your rocks and driftwood around, stagger them, some in the back, middle and don't forget the front... In the hobby we like to pile our decor in the middle and back of the aquarium but forget about the front, don't be afraid to pile some rocks or drift wood in the front corners of the aquarium to help add depth.

Can you replace the wavemaker with a surface skimmer to reach the same goal?

Good points and tips, Fired Up!!! I’m keeping my bubbles, lol. Have an air wand behind my 3-D background to help circulate the water, plus one of my man made rock structures has bubbles.

I like the black background as well as it brings out the colours of the fish. I however, found a cheaper option. Instead if buying a black background from an aquarium shop, I used black sugar paper which you can get from any stationery shop for less than a dollar. It works perfectly and if it gets old or spoilt, you simply replace it.

I loved your video. I have bubbles and a wavemaker. I only turn on the wavemaker when im home. I like the tip of hiding the heater and intake behind plants. Im going to do that.

Brilliant 👏

Hey Cichlid Bro's. Really dig your videos. I used to be into Cichlids quite some time ago. But live happened and got out of it. I recently decided to get a tank going again. This time it is so nice to be able to check out KZfaq for info on what to do and not to do. That wasn't the case back in the day. As for tank decor. I really like the natural look. But I like to do a sort of urban natural look. I use rocks and plants but I also add blocks or bricks, and different size plastic pipe. It can be cheap. It looks cool. And it's neat to see what the fish do with it. For instance, I had convicts and they claimed the holes in the bricks and defeated it fiercely. I just always tried to make it look like a river running thru a city. Just for something a bit different than just a natural look. Anyway, think I am going to do a 75 gallon and a few Firemouths and convicts. Always liked watch them guys feud over their little spot in the tank. They both have neat little attitudes. Keep up the cool videos. Thanks again

Another banger!

All really good advice but I enjoy the bubbles 😁

Great tips and your aquariums look great, quick question, what do you recommend cleaning the glass with. Thanks look forward to your next video.

I'll always have bubbles as it's so nice being able to move a sponge filter into a quarantine tank if needed.

Wow beautiful

Красивый аквариум угловой в позади вас, вид огонь🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🐠🐠🐠🐠👍👍👍

I have frosted film as a background. Backlight it with a blue light. Creates an infinity affect that I find appealing.

I usually agree with you guys but I love bubbles. I have sponge and other bubblers in all my tanks.

Pls Suggest me which sand color is good for black background is it white or black sand for cichlids

Is it ok to add driftwood to African cichlids tank? Doesn’t it change the ph?

I have this blue/white light in my 10gal and it produces very bright light which kinda irritates me every time I'll look at my tank, so what should i do to lower the brightness down?

Love the video. I just have 1 question. What do you use to clean algae in your acrylic aquarium?

🔥🔥🔥🔥👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼❤❤❤ thanks cichlids bro's real kool

now you can add a custom corner bow front tank to put right inbetween the two tanks.

We’re could I purchase big driftwood ?

Like black background. Going to buy one today

What are the lights in the American cichlid tank? The clip on hang over the top ones?

I have a few questions if I may, would you use real or artificial plants and would you use a HOB or external filter for a 70 gallon tank with some blood parrot cichlids and a few catfish?

How is the acrylic holding up does it scratch super easy for you? I’m asking because I want a big tank and I’m considering acrylic

Thanks for the info and video! Would you have a tank recommendation video? Looking to get a fish tank myself.. roughly 28 gallons. Thinking of Innovation Marine, Cube for Life, or Waterbox. Also in that same vein would an external hanging filter or All In One be best? Gonna check more of your videos out!

hey, you might not see this, but what if my tank is being able to be seen from all sides ( front, back, and sides, ) what should i do as a background?

Hey- I have a question I added the black to see how it looks and it seems to show off more particles in the water . I just used black poster board from the dollar store. Does it need to be shiny black to look good ? I just did a big water change a few days ago. Do I need a second filter maybe ? Ugh such a battle to keep water clear 😅

Sponge filters besides the bubbles capture a lot of pollutants right? When it’s time to clean them they’re pretty dirty from collecting all of that stuff. I have an fx6 and an aqua clear 110. So I probably really don’t need sponge filters but they do still collect a lot. Also have wave makers. Ultimately I’m asking should I get rid of the sponge filters?

Where do I get a canobie like that? Not the glass top but the other one that looks like wood

Is your 180gal aquarium 6ft long? Just wondering how the fluval light would look on mine. That one is the 48”-60” light in the description right?

I'm looking to put a 40 gallon breeder tank in my mancave an I want the one male EBA to be the center piece of the tank. I also want to put one fire mouth cichlid w/ him. I am not a breeder nor do do I want any females to spawn just all males in my tank. Also a couple of corydoras and a pleco. In your opinion is this doable? If not what would you put w/ your center piece ( one male EBA ) in the 40 gallon breeder? I'm still researching.

I spray black plasti-dip on the back of the tank. That way it peels right off if you need to.

in all 17 of my tanks i run wave makers in about 13 of them the rest are very small over planted nano shrimp breeding tanks i just use a sponge but they are hidden also dont leave youre lights on for over 8 hours a day

do you guys have any mbuna cichlids? And also is there any way I could contact you other than through KZfaq?

Good video, no jibba jabba, just good info.

Honestly in my opinion natural setup looking fish tank is the only way to go 😅 I've got 4 tanks ( cichlid tank, community tank, Betta tank and axolotl ) all are natural looking setups, my axolotl has nothing in it. My community tank the only man made thing it has is a pvc pipe for my synodontis as I can't find a perfect piece of driftwood

What is your take on using gravel is it a 👍🏿 or 👎🏿???

How about a spray bar?

Matter black or.glossy black any opinions help!?

After losing a fight with BBA I used this as an excuse to get rid of all my plants, get myself a couple of severums and get a couple of tubs of chemi-pure blue. I'm still getting lots of debris floating about. I don't have a wave maker but I have 2 outlets from an fx4 and two from an fx6 aimed up at surface. I'd appreciate any thoughts on what I can try next? I'm really wanting my tanks looking as good as yours 😀

I just wish I could afford the larger tanks to keep those LARGER fish 😢much less the custom backgrounds yikes. Those are expensive. Nice setups tho 👍

Honestly, the very best thing anyone can do for their tank is to have a biofiltration at least 4X the bioload of the tank.

All my fishes have ick :(

Guys, why didn't you introduce a Jaguar cichlid in your South American tank?

Don’t buy the background paint the background you’ll thank me later

Bubbles are not unnatural.. They are in surf and in waterfalls, as well as in any zone of turbulence such as rapids or small obstruction dams. Granted much of these bubbles are large or are micro bubbles. Siill bubbles are completely natural in the wild and in aquariums.