Cichlid Salt

[Lepperfish]

Just wondering if you guys are using cichlid salt. and if theres specific types for malawi and tangikyans cichlids.. cheers..

[teejaybee]

Greetings,

I had been using "Riftlake" brand salt to keep the pH up (mixed cichlid tanks and tanganyikans). Some salts (MgSO4 I think) can interrupt/harm the biological activity in your tank/filters, so I decided to change to a substrate that would harden the water for me. I chose "calcium carbonate", which is pretty much crushed up shells/coral/etc. You can get this in 30kg bags IIRC from Age of Aquariums. My 4x2x2 sits on 8.6 without variation. I add one teaspoon of riftlake salt to the entire water change, instead of 3 in each 25litre container, just to add minerals and stuff found in that particular salt. The substrate is an excellent buffer - using any salts you'll find that you can bump the pH to high 8's, and within a few days it will be below 8. With this substrate it stays solid, which, in my opinion, does wonders for your fish especially if you are breeding.

Malawi cichlids don't need as high of a pH (high 7's / low 8's generally) as tanganyikans (high 8's generally - 8.4 to 8.9).

Using salt may work fine in your situation regardless of the above, but may have negligable benefit if you aren't doing frequent water changes.

[Lepperfish]

So if the water is high PH the hardness KH of the water will he high also?

I have buffered the water will shell grit and when I tested the Ph it was up above 7.5, BTW my tank is malawi cichlids..

So why Is my friend persisting I need " cichlid salt " ..

Cheers..

[r.d.m]

i use aquasonic rift valley salt ph stays at 8.4

[Lepperfish]

so do i mix the salt with some tank water seperate then add it to the tank, or just dissolve the salt straight into the tank ?

[teejaybee]

Take out a third or whatever you usually take out, then as you are mixing up your replacement water (I use 25L containers), add it to them along with your chlorine removal. I usually put the salt in before I fill the container so it dissolves easier, and add the chlorine removal stuff later. Wait a few minutes, then add it to tank.

Open the valve on your drum and let it drain in. I like to let mine drain in via the valve and don't pump it in at any speed, as fish usually don't like sudden temp/pH changes.

When I put tanks onto the riftlake salt when I do use it, I like to bring it up to strength in thirds, not giving them full strength dose to start with. So, basically gradually bring them onto the salt over 3 scheduled water changes.

A good electric pH pen is a must also... I like to monitor it before the water change, after the water change, and in the period up to the next water change. You'll get an idea of how quickly the pH will drop. It might stay at a constant pH depending on the product you use, how much waste your fish generate, etc.

The tank I quoted as losing pH before the next water change using Riftlake salt has a few large fronties and a few smaller ones, and fronties and all bigger fish do biiiig poos, therefore affecting pH more (poo's generally make the water acidy, which you can see by the water yellowing closer to scheduled water change time if your fish excrete alot, thus the need for decent pH buffering in these situations with harder filter media or substrate).

As an interesting side test of sorts, after you've been using the salt for a while, on your water change, after you've taken it out, leave the tank sit for a while before adding your fresh water. After you've added your fresh water, can you see a noticable "salt line" on the glass that had no water on it after you'd taken water out?

This is only from my own experience and from talking to friends who are into the same hobby. It may have only worked in our situation, so, whatever works for you

[Jim]

Cichlid salts - raise GH

Buffers - raise KH and keep PH stable

[Tam]

u can use baking soda available at any supermarkets for unda a dolla

holla!

Tam

[Stuart74]

Just make sure its Bi-carb soda (NaHCO3) NOT Baking powder

Stuart

[r.d.m]

i personnally wouldnt use baking powder the reason being that the riftlake salt has got a lot more in it and its just as cheap , i use it at full strength(1tsp - 10ltrs) but as teejabee said bring the strength up gradually , iadded it with weekly water changes which is covenient at 1tsp per bucket, thre are lots of ways to raise the ph and this ive found is easy for me and good for the fish(zebs&venustas breeding),also coral sand shell grit etc will not raise the ph it will only buffer it,that is start to dissolve if the ph drops. finally dont be tempted unless youre very skilful and/or expierienced to try and replicate tanganyka conditions ie a ph above 9.0 as ammonia is always fatal at these levels,as for interuptng biological activity, the bacteria we use are the same species found in the filters of marine aquaria. good luck

[Lepperfish]

Ok thanks for the comments guys, I got some rift lake salt from LFS, bout $10 for 1kg.. Will add it slowly through water changes, that is just common sense really.. Another note, Do many people use digital ph pens?

Never heard of them before till I saw them on age of aquariums web site..

Cheers..