I'm thinking of using my new 108 gallon as an African cichlid tank,,,,,,I know these fish like a high ph around the 8 mark,,,,,,how much crushed corel and how often would i need to change or add more??,,,,,,,,,any other ideas or suggestions are welcome for this will be my first cichlid tank !!
New cichlid tank
- Thread starter ramman
- Start date
Crushed coral is easier cuz you don't have to keep adding stuff like you do wit a buffer though. Also depends on where you live...here in the country i have naturally hard high pHed water....so yeah.
All different opinions here; I say go with marine sand which will buffer the pH and Africans absolutely love it!
Crushed coral would be the easiest, but for looks mix it in a 1 to 4 ratio with a dark similar sized gravel. It will keep the pH up but by mixing it with a darker gravel the fish wouldn't wash the color out as much from what I've experienced.
I bought some bags of gravel that were formulated for African cichlids. I think it was just called African Cichlid Substrate. It was brown and sandy and not very expensive...less than the colored gravel.
My PH for my Frontosa tank is like 6.5 and it doesn't seem to mind it. SO....though it may not be ideal...it works. I think you just have to watch for flucuation (sp?).
STNDFSH
My PH for my Frontosa tank is like 6.5 and it doesn't seem to mind it. SO....though it may not be ideal...it works. I think you just have to watch for flucuation (sp?).
STNDFSH
Change in pH is the problem. I used a tanganyikan buffer from seachem on my Frontosa tank and they wouldn't eat and they were not active. I stopped using it an did a 50% water change and now they are fine. That is just my personal experience. I wouldn't worry about the pH if you have consistent water quality in a reasonable pH range.