African C mix,Caribsea, advice?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
P

Pandamania

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 9, 2011
720
1
0
Planetwithlotsofwater
Bought the African Cichlid Mix by Carib Sea. It says rinse, etc... I will be using this in a tank that's already occupied. End of directrions is to put in packet of bio-magnet clarifier that came with it, WAIT 20 min. BEFORE ADDING fish. Here's my QUESTION : * If I rinse the product, put it in tank, and don't use the enclosed bio packet, will everything be honkee-doree? or does the bio pk. HAVE TO be used? (Can you say NOOB!?.....):D
 
I have black sand also, but I saw this was supposably 'made for cichlids' so I thought I should spend the extra $6. and get it. I haven't opened it yet. Is the regular black sand better for them? The Cichlid sand was to keep the pH at the higher level. Which should I use IYO?
 
All depends id say. I have been using sand for 5 years now..and although it looks nice..its very messy, and i find myself almost every month, going to petsmart, buying a new filter, swapping them out and returning them...as cichlids such as the red zebra, and electric johannis enjoy oh so much, to scoop up a big mouth full of sand, swim over to the filter inlet, and spit it all in there, causing it to grind and slowly stop working.

Gravel works best IMHO but just a little more of a pain in the ass to clean. Plus it gives more cover for the fry
 
My pH is between 7.2 and 7.6, usually more towards the higher. Using the API pH test kit, with the glass tube and cap, and the dropper bottle of test liquid. My tap water is very hard and alkaline. Some times it's so alkaline it's way darker than teh pH chart that came with the test. I've looked for testing kits that go higher, but no luck.
 
Only stores for fish supplies within an hours drive don't carry them. Checked with local ps owner, petco, petsmart, walmart, critter supplies, ... no one carries the higher pH test kits. So now what? My new JD has no substrate, and the other tank with unkown/hybrid cichlid has normal brown/tan mix sand, which I stole from the dragons tank, I washed if off to get rid of any salt residue from brackish tank. Want to make sure water parameters are ok for JD. According to info, JDs don't like the higher pH than about 7.2 at the most. Right now the fish seems very skidish and shy. I've got some wood that leeches tannen that can help lower the pH, but I don't want to mess up everything else in the bio chain. I'm very new to this, REALLY don't want to harm the fish. :nilly: I know I should research first, and 'impulse' buying sucks! ;) But any help would be useful asap, tia.:)
 
You don't need the pack as long as you rinse the heck out of it.. really if your doing 20lbs rinse it for no less than 30min.. I put mine in a 3g bucket and had it sitting under the faucet (tub) and just kept scooping and moving it around.. and dumping.. the water ... go till it's mostly clear.. but it wont get super clear.. .
 
I have the carib african mix and am very happy with it. No matter how much you rinse it will still cloud the tank for a while. Let us know what you decide and take some pics!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom