Setup for breeding cichlids

What's the best setup I have tried a few and I am thinking
To change to glass tank only with a large sponge filter.
What's your taught's on the subject

It depends on what type of cichlid you're trying to breed.

Agree with christy. If you could be more specific that would be great.
Sponge filters are great and I wouldn't be without them but after that their requirements are species dependant.

One tank split in two sections with Malawi and the other Victorian

Im only asking lads for my own info, why splig the tank? Are lake victoria and malawi both reef lake fish and have similar water requirments.so why split them.

paulv wrote: Im only asking lads for my own info, why splig the tank? Are lake victoria and malawi both reef lake fish and have similar water requirments.so why split them.

I try keep them in three stages newborn / then up to 1 to 2 inch
Then they go into the main tank if I don't split them the bigger cichlids eat the younger ones

Thanks for explaining james, your putting 3 tanks in 1.

paulv wrote: Thanks for explaining james, your putting 3 tanks in 1.

I can use a breeder net or guppy tank but when you have lot of cichlid fry you need something bigger
its only early days and I need to make a few changes to my setup so any advice is great.

for fry growing go with the split tank and sponge filters with regular water changes and avoid tiny breeding nets which are only suitable for tiny guppy or tetra fry. cichlid fry can be permanently stunted if confined too tightly in the vital early stage of development.
Victorians typically brood for a shorter period (14 days) than malawis or tangs and the fry are much smaller (but hardy) when released but growth rate is very fast.
also watch out for hybridising esp with the vics.

I like to let nature take its way so do u think I should
Keep the holding cichlid in a tank of there own ?
I had a Victorian holding and I seem one or two fry tonight she is back eating like she was in the main tank
Would she have eaten her fry ?

I had one of my mbuna holding a while back. I transferred her into a spare tank and she spat about 12 fry between tanks. I left them overnight and in the morning all the fry were gone, she had eaten them all. It was a bare tank with just a small internal filter. I was later told that she ate the fry because she didnt feel they were safe in the bare tank, nowhere to hide. Kind of ironic, but that's nature. (And for the record, I did check the filter.)

christyg wrote: I had one of my mbuna holding a while back. I transferred her into a spare tank and she spat about 12 fry between tanks. I left them overnight and in the morning all the fry were gone, she had eaten them all. It was a bare tank with just a small internal filter. I was later told that she ate the fry because she didnt feel they were safe in the bare tank, nowhere to hide. Kind of ironic, but that's nature. (And for the record, I did check the filter.)

Sorry I keep having to correct myself I wouldn't have them in a complete bare tank I use Texas hole rock for hiding spaces
I have tryed a few things now with coral sand and under gravel filter but the under-gravelis not working dont ask how they got under the lot but I seen a few swimming under the filter so I now going to change from that setup I am keeping young fry in a guppy tank but I don't like us them incase it effects there growth . I would like to get it right soon I hope to get a few breeding pairs over the next few weeks

I think you're on the right track. The trick, with mbuna anyway, is to remove the female as soon as she releases the fry. My biggest problem is trying to catch her in the main tank. It's near impossible without stripping the whole tank.

I moved about 10 over 1 to 2 inch long into the main tank
And I am selling both fish and another tank tomorrow so I will now have more room to contracted on breeding
Cichlids the last female would spit them out and I just take her out pity it was not as easy now. But hopefully with the right setup I be back in the thick of things again.