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Cichlids are a family of fish that contain some of the most beautiful but belligerent fish freshwater fish keepers can encounter. A great rainbow of these colourful fish comes from a lake in Africa, called Lake Malawi. Making a home for them isn’t always easy, but it is quite rewarding.

First, the aquarium itself needs to be able to hold at least 40 gallons of water. And like most fish, Malawi cichlids are unconcerned with the tank’s actual volume, what is more important is the area of the floor and surface of the tank. The area of the floor is important because this is where fish define territories, and the surface area is important because this is where the water exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide.

A good filter is essential, and something that can support mild overcrowding is needed. A heater which can keep the tank at a comfortable 75-78 degrees F will mimic the water temperature of their native habitat. And because Lake Malawi is very alkaline, either the water will need to be treated, or crushed coral can be used as the substrate, which will naturally increase the pH levels making the fish feel at home. You will find that using crushed coral is much easier.

Cichlids are accustomed to digging and in turn any plants that are not sturdily anchored will usually find themselves to be dug up and floating around the tank. They may also be eaten, if you introduce the Mbuna fish which is otherwise known as a rock fish. Rocks are the natural habitats of these fish, so providing them with plenty of rocks and rock substitute’s makes the tank an ideal home for the fish. Ideally, the more hiding places, nooks, crannies, tunnels and caves, the better these fish like it. Pieces of plastic piping, broken or whole clean, unused garden pots, and other items can be used if you want to get creative. Many effective cichlid tanks appear to be half-full of rocks.

Even within cichlids from just Lake Malawi, there are two (major) distinctive groups. The first are Mbuna, which are named for their habit of living in and amongst the rocks. They are largely vegetarian, although some species eat more animal protein than others. The second are the Haplochromines, or ‘haps’, which are open water, carnivorous fish. They can, but shouldn’t be mixed in the same tank as they may attack and eat your other fish.

Telling the haps from the Mbuna fish is fairly easy once you’ve seen a few pictures, but telling apart species within each group is extremely difficult. To compound this issue, many of the species easily interbreed in captivity, making it even more difficult to tell them apart. If you are unsure of the fish you currently have within your tank and want to know the species of your fishes, a high-end pet store or an aquarium club is possibly the best way of finding out these details. But pretty if unidentified fish are often available at large chain pet stores.

Modest overcrowding is the key to making Mbuna tanks work. Haps are somewhat less aggressive, and generally do well with fewer fish. Because almost all species are polygynous, there should always be more females than males, or the females will be constantly harassed. It can be hard to tell which is which when the fish are young, but as they get older, you can remove the biggest, brightest, most aggressive fish and be fairly sure you got a male.

Cichlids aren’t easy fish for beginners, but they aren’t impossible, either. Many people find them less frustrating if they have a bit of experience with some of the easier aquarium fish before trying them, but beginners who do their research can be successful, too. But these are definitely not just fish that you can throw in the tank and feed daily, so they are much more suited to people who love learning about their aquatic pets.

For those that enjoy spending time in the garden, the investment of garden furniture is the ideal way to enhance the tranquillity. However, it is very easy to spend a great amount of time and expense purchasing and placing the furniture – imagine the dismay and disappointment you would feel if your garden furniture was stolen.

It may seem a silly idea that your garden furniture will be stolen; however it is a real problem. There are a number of things that you can to do to try and prevent the theft of your furniture.

Firstly, an perhaps most obvious, try to place your furniture out of sight – if you can see into your garden from a roadside then place your furniture near a hedge on bush to conceal it from view by passersby.

Another option is to attach your furniture to the floor; this can be done by using bolts. This may seem extreme, but if you have spent a lot of money on your furniture it’s worthwhile.

Finally, you can remove your furniture when not in use – if you have a garage or a shed, place your furniture in their when it’s not in use – although this is not ideal you can be sure that your furniture is safe and sound.

A new and increasingly popular concept when it comes to garden improvement is lighting but for those thinking about it, the ease of installation is often a question that is encountered. It is of course entirely dependent on what sort of lighting you choose to have in your garden. There are many different types, some that are easier than others.

One of the easiest ways to add lighting to your garden is solar lighting. You can now purchase sets of solar panel lights for the garden. All you have to do is simply place them in the ground at your chosen location. They are ‘planted’ in the soil or some have legs that they can stand up on should you wish to place them on concrete. During the hours of darkness they will emit a tranquil glow on your garden – they are also available in a number of colours.

An increasingly popular choice for outdoor lighting in gardens is fairy lights; they are outdoor lights that can be placed in trees and bushes, although some prefer to keep this sort of lighting for the festive season, they still look beautiful all year round.

Another option is to install a proper lighting system, this is the most expensive and time consuming of the options. It can often entail placing power cables underground or out of sight round the edges of the garden. This type of lighting will illuminate you whole garden giving you a lovely ambience and beautiful night time views of your garden.

After winter many people feel that their gardens are looking a bit forlorn and wish to do something to give it a revamp and get it looking lovely for the BBQ’s they will hopefully be holding over the summer. The garden is a place where you can let your imagination run wild – you can have a collage of colours, that elsewhere would look overpowering but in the garden look scenic and beautiful.

First and possibly the easiest thing to do is to get some new plants in your garden; add plants that will add the most vibrant of colours to your garden for maximum impact. Even if you have a small garden, adding plants can add a great deal to the exterior of your home. The variety that’s available is huge; by taking a visit to your local garden centre you will be able to find a number of plants that are perfect for you. It’s always best in the UK to choose plants that are able to survive in the colder weather.

You can also add some furniture to your garden; this is most suitable for larger gardens. By adding some decking along with table and chairs you will be able to not only make you garden comfortable and functional for days in the sun but also enhance the tranquil feeling from your garden.