Buffering the tank

[tim_s]

Hi Cichlid People,

Ok! ~ when I tested my water it was sitting at a happy PH of 7.5. I use to be obsessive enough to pre-condition my water by filling up a container and running air through it and making adjustments. have always been told it is more valuable to the fish to have a stable PH over an exact PH.

Opinions?

I was looking at crushed coral at Big Al's. If 1 bag for a 30 gallon costs $40.00 I will need to get a minimum of 3 - will I see a drastic improvement. ?

[brotherluv]

I agree stable is better!  Since most lines of cichlids available to us aren't wild caught an exact Ph isn't necessary IMO...most cichlids are able to tolerate a pretty wide range so find  what that range is for the ones you are planning to keep.  I find the crushed coral has worked very well for me so far and I've consistently kept my Ph at 7.9-8.1 depending what time of day I test...also I'm guessing 2 bags would be sufficient as I certainly don't have 120lbs in my 125g tank and it's been stable for months!  I'd add some annubias nanas plants if I were you, if you haven't already  

[tim_s]

Thank you - recommendations is always welcomed

[tim_s]

How many people have an African cichlid tank in Ottawa without buffering or coral?

[tim_s]

What happened to all the activity in OVAS? People moving onto different fish outside of Africans?

[tim_s]

Do you buffer your tank Elk?

[Baigle]

I keep an 84 gallon cichlid tank with no coral in it.

I only have the black sand from big al's.
I use tap water and find my fish to be very happy.

  As someone posted earlier as long as your ph is stable your fish should be fine.  Awhile ago there was also an article talking about how Ottawa's water had a naturaly higher ph those other cities.

[limmer]

I never check my ph unless I am having trouble.
My tanks vary.  I have one with crushed coral, most with dolmite gravel and some bare tanks.
They all seem to do well.
I do put pickling salt and epson salt in the water.

[ajm1961]

As far as substrate goes, I personally wouldn't do crushed coral - especially with haps. Most of mine love the sift through the substrate and I've heard coral may irritate their gills. I use CaribSea's African Cichlid Sahara Sand with much success. To buffer the tank I use epsom salt, marine salt, and bicarbonate soda (baking soda).

Here is a link to CaribSea - I bought mine from BAs, but I'm not sure they still carry the line:

http://www.caribsea.com/pages/buy_it/cichlid/buy_sahara.html