Question on PH and decor for an upcoming Malawi peacock tank

[Stab]

In the next month or two I will be setting up my 65G tank as an all-male Malawi peacock biotope. Being that I've never kept rift lake cichlids before, I have a few questions:

My water is 6.5 out of the tap and I plan on using play sand for a substrate. I hope be able to buffer PH by placing bags of crushed coral inside the filters (2 AC 110). I will Also have extensive rockwork in the tank. Is there an easy way to control the exact PH level? I need to get it to 7.5-8 but how will I know if I have enough rock/coral to do so? What if my PH jumps to 9? Is there another way besides trial and error to calculate proper amount of rock needed to buffer specific volume of water?

What about water changes? Will my naturally soft water affect the PH balance in the tank?

Finally, I see that some people use either pieces of coral, Texas holly rock, lace rock,or slate in their Malawi tanks. Are there any advantages or disadvantages to using either? Or is it simply up to individual's esthetics?

 

[mike dunagan]

If you put in rock to buffer it will raise slowly, not quickly.

 

[haywood]

Baking soda.

 

[Regalblue]

Are you buying wild caught fish? If not yr water should be close to the LFS's water. A lil crushed coral & some tex holey rock will probably make them happier. But, I myself dont worry about it too much & have had good results.

 

[Stab]

Thanks to all who replied. So if I buffer my tank to lets say PH of 8, and then do a 50% water change with PH of 6, this will lower PH in te tank to 7 but it will slowly climb again. Will such a suddent change of hardness affect the fish? I don't recall ever hearing of anyone premixing water for their african tanks... And what was that comment about baking soda all about?

 

[spirofucci]

I have heard it said and to some degree I agree that most africans "mbuna" that are not wild caught will live in toilet water. In my way younger days, (30 years ago) I had a 120 gal african tank that I never checked anything, rarely changed the filter and did non frequent water changes with straight chlorinated and cold hose water and my little guys did great. (I don't do that now!)

If you have a choice and can afford Carib Sea african sand or crushed coral and or THR go for it!

Personally, I would't mess with additives that change pH unless you are very confident that you know what you are doing.

I am new to this site, but I think it's the best one out there for africans even though they specialize here in big monsters. I would read every thread you can on the type of fish you want. You can't go wrong!

 

[haywood]

Ok here we go. Even wild caught africans will live a fine life at 6.5 ph so long as the ph stays consistant. If you are taking fish from 8.0ph and putting them in 6.5ph, you must drip acclimate them. The only problem with keeping them in an abnormal ph is they won't display their true characteristics. Their colors may be more washed out, less spawning, less aggression/personality. If you have 8.0ph and do a 50% water change with 6.0 water, your ph will go to 7.0 most likely. Whether or not it will rise will depend on what you have in the tank. If you have buffers such as crushed coral, rocks, media, etc the yes it will climb back up. If you have regular stone substrate and no buffers, then the ph will not climb back up to 8.

The thing with the baking soda is a cheap/safe way to raise ph. Add 1/4 tsp per 20 gallons and wait about 30 minutes and test. If it's not high enough repeat the process.