african cichlid substrate v's standard??

[Undertheradar]

hi First post on mfK, have searched for a previous thread, im sure there is one in 20,000 but cant find it.


starting up a 7ft african cich tank and the choice of expensive specified african cichlid saubstrate or less than half the price standard. Has anyone been using it for a while and had a constant ph? My ph is 7.5/7.6 standard to looking for 8.0. the idea of not having to put more non naturaly occuring chemicals in the tanks to boost sounds appealing. i under stand trace elements are added but this could be achieved with water conditioner i think. some what vague area but looking results or money better spent. cheers

 

[NotoriousSway]

Unless you buying wild caught cichlids and/or you PH was REALLY low I wouldnt bother messing with your water parameters.

If your looking for the best priced substrate go with pool filter sand, my africans love it! You can get it a your local pool supply store for around $10 for 50lbs, just give it a good rinsed to get some of the dust rinsed out.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

Someone told me sand blasting sand has more uniform rounded particles and will be good for cichlids too. I just used crushed coral since it buffers the PH up as well. I agree with NotoriousSway though in that unless you keep wild or sensitive specimens your money would be better spent on cheap pool filter sand or something of that ilk. I've seen no difference in activity and coloration moving fish out of the crushed coral tank and into pea gravel tanks I have. Even play sand seems to go over well enough, but that is really messy and near impossible to clean adequately.

 

[Undertheradar]

Can you get black pool sand? Looking for medium coarse gravel for aesthetics and seems easier to clean than sand specially if you like me start watching the fish and suck it into the bucket.
When people post having new world with African the same replys of the difference in ph's for environment . My oscars are 7.5 but the local shops have oscars with Africans at 7.8 would love to mix it up