350 Gallon Cichlid Tank Just Keeps Getting Better...

[@thefrugalaquarist3068]

The intro is fantastic! I love how you describe the social dynamics going on in the tank, I don't think I've seen any other youtuber get into the minds of the fish like you do. It's clear that you spend a lot of time observing your fish. They are all gorgeous and the lips are adorable.

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you! Thats the fun part about new world cichlids, their complex social lives

[@keeganmory9097]

I wish every channel was like yours and made it about the fish, it’s care and behaviour and not promoting products and just showing snippets of the actual fish…. Good job 👍🏻

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@Niccnacc15]

That has to be one of the prettiest Pearsei I've seen. And it's gotten HUGE! I can only imagine what it looks like today.

[@phillymanpete]

That tank is pure fire! Great assortment of cichlids and they look very very happy together.

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks!

[@MakoyUnggoy]

My brother in laws black belt cichlid weighed in at 2.2kg when it eventually died, yours is a beauty as well, I love it!

[@clarencewright9841]

I have a community tank with a Angel fish and a convict and they became friends and protect each other, every fish have personality, can you imagine the personality of the fish in the rivers and ocean that we eat, it make you want to stop eating fish, and I love fish, both to eat and to keep as pet, CRAZY, that's why some people become vegetarians

[@dwsdarius]

It really is amazing, fish are just as smart as dogs or cats

[@botesyotes]

That starry night cichlid is a beauty.

[@dwsdarius]

She is, I may have to put her in my african cichlid tank though, my CA's are getting to big for her

[@bjg6775]

That's a beautiful tank. Great fish

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you

[@clarencewright9841]

Beautiful and very clean water, the fish look happy and having fun, well fed I am sure

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@paulgoodrum2062]

Another great video. I have all bare bottom aquariums and they have never been cleaner & easier to clean

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, yes I likely stick to bare bottom

[@pierresmith2975]

Very few people I follow on KZbin you are one of the best take your time hopefully you can start posting videos often 💯💪🏾

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@ryanryans3438]

Like the introduction. I could just watch your fish interact for 5-10min each month. Like to hear the current success & problems with the tank set ups. IMO I like substrate simply for my Geophagus & loaches. I never vacuum out my substrate also tho. The Geos keep it all overturned & clean. With just cichlids & Plecos a bare-bottom tank is an easy way to go tho. Just on a side note personally I’ve had extremely good results with the Pond Guru’s Ultimate Biohome media in my sump. My 240gal Vieja grow-out tank has a 125gal sump which I only use 1/3 of for filtration. But after 6 months the Ultimate Biohome has produced some amazing results. I only change the water once every 1-2 months. I have 5#s of media & a well stocked tank. I only got 5#s of media originally to test whether the product actually works as advertised but after 6mos it’s amazing. Bought 20 more #s for all my big tanks. Slow moving water in a sump is the key. Anyways thx for the 350 tank update. Your fish look amazing. I’m surprised u didn’t get a Vieja Zonatus or Coatzacoalcos.

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, water changes 1-2 months, wow! I need to look into that biohome, currently I have biocubes that I bought on amazon but they are definitely not built like that biohome. I wanted zonatus for more blues in that tank but I couldn't find any adults and juvies would take years to growout

[@TheLegendOfPsychopath]

It's already been 5 years since you built that 350. Wow i still remember that day ahhh good times!

[@dwsdarius]

The 350 I bought, 2 years ago I built my 880g...time flies!

[@juurviljasupp]

Holy Moley! This is the best aquarium I've ever seen - exactly what I one day want. Amazing job!

[@dwsdarius]

Thank upi!

[@wildfish8600]

Gravel for sure, they like to dig and its a duty as a fishkeeper to give them as much as possile what they also would have in nature. No rough gravel please, use sand, and not the sharp one. Enjoy your fishkeeping. Greetings

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@dpchmdnn]

Anyone who believes american cichlids tanks can't be as colorful as african cichlids must watch your videos.

[@clarencewright9841]

Convict cichlids are my favorite in a tank, very exciting fish to watch very active in the tank always foraging for food, it been said that baby convict were fed as feeder fish and some survived to adulthood, because they are so brave and intelligent, it knows when to hide and when to come out

[@dwsdarius]

Thats true, I have an adult female that survived the "feeder life", very smart fish

[@sharoncorbin6996]

Absolutely beautiful

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@onlyfinsau]

Gorgeous tanks and fishes! The bifasciatus are my favorites.

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you, I can't wait until mine start spawning

[@Zachary360Games]

Your pearsei is my favorite of all your fish! Such a pretty giant!

[@dwsdarius]

She has the perfect attitude too

[@deedeewass3047]

Absolutely beautiful 😍

[@JarheadSixRides]

Looks great man!

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks!

[@lots33ml]

First you're tank and selection of central Americans awesome just beautiful. I've been keeping fish for over 40 plus years but I've never kept those type fish. I really enjoy them but as you've done i wouldn't put them in a tank smaller than what you have and unfortunately as I've right now i don't have a 300 or larger. Maybe in the future. My history has been with aficans and salt but I'm exclusively african chiclids. But I'm really tempted to check out central Americans they really are extremely beautiful. As far as substrate or not i like substrate but i do understand you're comment for the health of the fish it's true you're right on strangely i kinda like you're half and half look it's like a slice of nature you plucked out if you get my meaning. Well anyways great information and fantastic tank well done! Take care.

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you! African cichlids got the ball rolling for me, I currently have a 125g mbuna tank. I think the fish actually like the half and half substrate as well, when they want to dig they go left, but most like flat surfaces so they stay to the right

[@bryanmarizan6474]

Beautiful aquarium

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@HerbertHolland-m3y]

I would love to have Argentina redhead area or any of the a half family

[@Alex-uu1le]

What about a eruopean aquarium? U could do a nano with sticklebacks and minnows, or a monster river tank with roach and perch and pike

[@dwsdarius]

I think the US and Europe have similar native fish, so a nice perch tank would represent us both

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

laws don't usually allow cold water fish from separate continents to be imported. hence why those in the Uk are unable to buy sunfish

[@ultimatefishkeeping]

Hi Darius. How are you Sir? Long time not see. I do not really come on KZbin anymore. Always working Severn Day's upon Seven Day's. How is the new job going for you? The Fish look Awesome. Your video has been given the 105th Thumbs up. 👍 Thankyou very much for sharing. Have a great Week. Take care Sir. 👍🙂❤️

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you, I doing well. I'm actually getting ready to graduate from the fire academy to become a firefighter so its great!

[@ultimatefishkeeping]

@@dwsdarius My pleasure Sir. Waow, that is amazing. I hope that goes well for you. All the best Bro. 👍 🙂❤️

[@dwsdarius]

@@ultimatefishkeeping Thank you!

[@ultimatefishkeeping]

@@dwsdarius You are welcome Sir. 👍🙂❤️

[@willb6426]

Got a question bro I got a mint condition 90gallon stand everything for free holds water etc but when they moved it with gravel there is a hairline crack In bottom corner black plastic put water In quarter there's no leaks just crack small but is that something to worry about or can you fix it was thinking to plastic weld a zip tie In there what would you do thanks bro appreciate your tanks looking amazing 👏

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, a crack on the brace can be dangerous, it can lead to a random leak. If it really is hairline thin, then perhaps welding it may work

[@willb6426]

Thanks yeah it's just on black border I did take a Sauder gun an went over melting zip tie an filled it in but have had it half filled for couple weeks now there's no leaks at all thanks brother 🙏

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

love your content darius

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@j_toledo419]

I have never been able to do bare bottom but my reason maybe different than some lol, I love aquariums and fish so much and I always try and match natural environment the best I can but also it gets pretty boring for fish and I think they move it around and sift thru it as sort of something to do at times. 👍

[@dwsdarius]

Yes I was the same way but for me the ease of cleaning plus the rising cost of gravel is keeping me on the bare side!

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

a west african aquarium with bichirs, an african arowana and an odoe pike would be pretty cool

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

synodontis too

[@dwsdarius]

I have to say that's the first time I heard that suggestion, it would be pretty cool

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

makes me want to do a central american tank on a smaller scale with firemouths, ellioti, convicts etc

[@dwsdarius]

That would be cool, most of those Thorichthys are well behaved

[@CarlosAlvarez-fv3di]

Great video thank you. Question I was wondering if I can put cichlids and driftwood any problems that you run across ? I love your set up.🎉

[@TetrisKing]

What happen to the Bala Sharks?

[@dwsdarius]

Asian tank, I'll get a video soon

[@twasbrillig33]

lol anyone going over there "will get the drama" HAHAHA!

[@bernandoturner4840]

Clear Bottom.. to keep The Waste out…. lot’s of waste here… All in All’ very Beautiful Fish.. Very Well Maintained.. clear or Sand” you know what your doing..👻✌🏾

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you! I likely keep it bare

[@DjPosey3]

Something happened they broke up 😆😅🤣.. nice tanks bro

[@MichielScheffer-dq2ij]

How do you avoid that herbivors eating protein rich food you put in for the other fish?

[@dwsdarius]

They always end up eating the protein foods, I just try to offer leafy greens throughout the day so they are not as hungry as the other fish and eat less

[@tamlefishing]

Look great!

[@bayou504ctcL9]

If u have a male Argentea cichlid in aquarium I'm puttin my money on him lol, What kind of bristle nose place is dat u have ? 👍👍👍👍👍 on video

[@dwsdarius]

I have a female and they push here around a lot! I have an albino bristle nose pleco in there

[@dannyaquatics]

Where do you down load your back ground music from.

[@j_toledo419]

Do you have plans of an even bigger tank in the future?

[@dwsdarius]

I have a video coming soon

[@anggr4549]

Where did the big red devil go that you used to have?

[@dwsdarius]

I rehomed him about a year ago

[@schizophrenia3836]

what are the species of the fishes in this tank? It would be quite satisfying in terms of the purpose of the video if you would inform us about it.

[@insidethecichlidden7122]

Where did you get your bifasiatum? They're beautiful

[@ronniearneil3924]

hi dws darius any chiclids that i can put with my oscars they were never with any other chiclids?

[@wabalaka1565]

They don't need to have tank mate. Is you Oscar chill? Because it's hard to introduce new fish if you fish is already big and never have tank mate.

[@ronniearneil3924]

@@wabalaka1565 20cm and are chill but i dont know how it would go

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

@@ronniearneil3924 what size tank are they in

[@ronniearneil3924]

@@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030 4ft by 50cmwide by 60cm deep

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

@@ronniearneil3924 and how many oscars do you have. if you have a pair then most cichlids barring convicts, firemouths and jewels would probably be targeted so things like striped raphael catfish and synodontis would be a decent choice instead

[@nonconformist4887]

I always wanted to ask u. Do u ever get fry from your vieja they are beautiful.

[@andyjackson682]

Actually I really like the way it looks now with a mostly bare bottom with some gravel. IMHO I wouldn’t change it.

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, yes I'll likely keep it this way considering this keeps the tank the cleanest

[@legionaquatics]

I really like this tank, it’s probably my favourite of yours. I want to do a tank like this some day, I really like the vieja cichlids and thought they weren’t that aggressive? Also how do you spell the name of your largest cichlid in the tank?

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, vieja start off mildly aggressive as juvies but once they hit 5+ inches they are on the same level as red devils. The big girl is a Pearsei cichlid

[@tkaiser2086]

Awesome fish!!! What do you feed?

[@rachellaxton710]

Hi! I have a mixed cichlid tank and it's a 75 gallon, how many should I stock it with? I have 2 yellow labs, an electric blue hap, a golden mbuna, a blue mbuna, and a firemouth so far

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

not sure what a blue mbuna and a golden mbuna is and what their behavior is but yellow labs, electric blues and firemouths are relatively chill for their kind. 5 yellow labs, 5 acei and 5 rusty cichlids might be ok with your bunch

[@braidensaville9862]

You need a veija regani in there bro, they're good blue Take out four of the bifasciatus, take out the jagdovii. Keep the festae and female dovii, granted they behave. Add a Blue texas and veija regani and a couple others. Just my opinion Mad tank bro

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, yes I imagine as the bifasciatus mature it'll be best to just leave a pair in the tank. I was looking at regani or zonatus but Im looking for adults, I can't wait 3 years for a juvie to grow up

[@asantemayo1007]

I’m a fan of sand so I’ll always say add some lol

[@brucewashington5564]

Nice

[@飛雲-o7g]

🥰😍😘🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟

[@amx1820]

Bare bottom is much easier to maintain. If I were you I would leave the substrate as it is now

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, yes I likely leave it as is

[@aquarialife8418]

😉😉😉😉👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@zafishguy5166]

In terms of your barebottom look, usually adding slate stops them from digging as deep if you have enough gravel. They usually want a flat surface to breed. I know smaller cichlids will stop digging once they hit slate.

[@Korbert]

You miss north american, european, australian fish so you have about half of the continens

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

a papua new guinea biotope with peacock gudgeons and pseudomugil would be pretty cool