What to know about setting up african cichlid fish tank?

[yoyogegihehe]

ok so im setting up a new fish tank - 46 gal bow front aquarium and i definitely want some african cichlids what is some info i need to know about the setup and all - gonna use gravel and real rocks i just need to know more and also what other fish can i have with them?? - also the tank im getting used to be saltwater and i know cichlids like salt but how much to i need to clean the tank and can i use the same filter?????????????????? thanks so much!!!

 

[susanm]

Get a new filter. Cichlids need special salt. You need many rocks that make crevices so the fish can hide. African cichlids live in dense populations, but they are highly territorial. Chiclids need places to spawn and to hide. They communicate by changing their color, like showing stripes or the coloring of their belly. The problem with putting other
fish with Cichlids is that the other fish don't read the signals and then they are attacked and killed. Please read about cichlids before you buy any. And read about setting up a tank, to. It is always best to clean the tank very well. Don't use chemical cleaners though. Water and salt work fine if you rinse the salt out like crazy. Cichlids do best when you choose varieties that are from the same lake. Never put
South American Cichlids with Africans. Carnage will result.