Tank Requirement

Temperature

Cichlids are very hardy fish but all fish do not do well if there are great fluctuations in temperature. Lake Malawi has water temperatures that vary from 70 to 80 degrees so a heater is probably a good idea. Smaller tanks can go with a single heater, whereas larger tanks should use two. Metal heaters are recommended for the larger cichlids but since I am only discussing the small cichlids you can get away with using a glass heater. Follow the rule of 3 watts per gallon and don't forget to get an accurate thermometer.

Filtration

As was mentioned before, you will want to pack your tank with cichlids. And because of this you will need to have excellent filtration. In fact, I can't stress this enough. A canister filter is highly recommended but you need to make sure that you do not neglect regular maintenance on it. Canister filters can be messy and sometimes difficult to clean and sad to say some people because of this will put off cleaning it. You must clean it on a regular basis! Poor filtration will kill your fish! If you are going with a smaller tank, some have had success with a biological wheel filter. This type of filter provides great biological, chemical, and mechanical filtration and it can quickly and easily be cleaned.

Lighting

If you want to be able to see your fish clearly then you will want to have proper lighting. However, too much lighting can cause the beautiful colors of cichlids to wash out. When this happens they don't look so good. Most Malawian cichlids live deep in the lake so a lot of light doesn't penetrate down to them. So don't over do it with lights. In fact, one fluorescent bulb is recommended. If you want to really make the blue color in these fish 'pop' try using a blue actinic bulb. To keep a balanced tank when it comes to sleep turn on the lights during the daytime and off at night.

Substrate

Mbuna cichlids mostly live in rocky habitats so having a thin base of rocks or pebbles would work great. You can also use sand, but just remember these little critters like to dig and they will dig up the sand and make unsightly heaps. So use only a small thin layer of sand if you choose it but also mix it with some small shells, stones, or pebbles. Sand and gravel mixed is also a typical selection as it simulates the natural lake bottom. The least complicated selection is larger pebbles. Having a little bit larger substrate will make it easier to clean your tank as well. The choice is up to you.

Water Chemistry

The pH in Lake Malawi ranges from 7.8 to 8.5 which is moderately high. But this really isn't a concern since most species of cichlids are bred in captivity and they are used to lower pH levels. Most municipal water comes out of the tap at a range of 7.2 to 7.6 and this should be fine for them. Invest in a pH test kit just to make sure though. If you purchase wild caught cichlids you may need to adjust your pH level to more closely match what the cichlids are used to. And there are many products on the market to help you lower or raise the pH level of the water in your tank.

Water hardness is important to consider as well. The kH of Lake Malawi is between 12 and 13. You may need to measure the hardness of your water to see how closely you come to matching Lake Malawi. If your kH is lower you will need to raise the hardness. A thin layer of crushed coral sand is a great way to keep the water on the alkaline side. It will continually leach out minerals into the water.