calling all cichlid experts...

There is rarely such a thing as too many water changes. If you want to do 3 a week it won't hurt anything.

As far as earlier when you asked about bottom dwellers several species of syno catfish do well in malawi set ups. They don't mind the higher Ph and can handle the aggression. My favorite is the Synodontis Petricola. They are really interesting little catfish that like groups and will come out and swim about. They only grow to about 3.5" - 4". Really cute addition to a mbuna tank :)
 
I have to agree there really is no such thing as "to many" water changes. Water changes are one of the best things you can do for your fish, nothing harmful about fresh, clean water. :) If you think about it in nature the water is constantly moving so the water is "changed" all the time. I do not see how it could be "borderline" harmful?
 
From what I've read, being consistant is more important than frequency. If you have the time to do water changes 3 times a week, more power to you! It won't hurt your fish.

I do twice weekly, sometimes more, on my fry tanks. If I had time I'd do them every day. From the studies I've read, fresh water is more important than tank size in promoting growth.
 
Oh yeah i have to definitely weigh in on this one hehehe..

If i could i would hook up a constant flow of fresh water to continuously pump into my tank so that the tank would receive a constant water change all day long and my fish would have the best health provided, i had a professor do the same thing at my college where he placed a trout into a very small tank and the fish grew out of the tank never once did he get sick or have any stunted growth the constant water changes that took place were extremely beneficial..

Now i am not saying i would stick a fish in a small tank and do all day long water changes but you see my point constant water changes are great and by no means harmful and a great growth / health stimuli..
 
Now as to the peat issue i would take that out and really wouldn't do that with Malawi or Tanganyika cichlids you may regret it later..
 
Ok after all the advice from the folks here I took the peat moss out. Better now than later when the fish are in it. What a horrible experience. I can tell you right now i'm never going to use peat in replacement for the more expensive substrate again. That junk is a mess. Well after 2 hours of sludge I got it cleaned and used a substrate of sand and crushed coral. I repositioned the rocks to make a few more caves and little nooks and crannies.
I just hope I didnt completely kill my cycle. I was just starting to see nitrites...oh well we'll have to see. Rather do it right in the beginning anyways....
Again thanks for all the advice folks! You guys rock.
 
gotta just throw two "more" cents in here - I totally agree there is no such thing as too many water changes... with the EXCEPTION of doing so during the cycling process. It is very easy to make this process longer by not allowing a natural cycle to occur with constant water changes.

I guess Jalo's rule is: No such thing as too many water changes in an ESTABLISHED tank
 
cool deal man i am glad you removed that peat you know you can tell folk a hundred times thats not a good ideal and they go ahead anyways only to learn wow i should have listened hehehe i have been there and done it man..

cool buddy take care and good luck with the cycle..

Yes if i werent so lazy i would do a 50% water change on all my setups daily hehehe but the computer and HD TV keep me away..
 
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