Substrate for Cichlids??

[Marx]

what type of substrate do you use for cichlids..

African cichlids are ph 8.0 (malawi)
South American Cichlids are 6.7-7.4

what would you use?

i wanted realistic looking stuff instead of using crushed coral..to buffer ph.. for malawi tank.. any ideas? i hate adding chemicals..

[artw]

Gravel, natural looking (River rock etc) grain size 1/4" = 3/16"
Fry tanks/growout - Nothing.
south americans - larger gravel.
Dont use anything that will mess with your pH
its easier not to even bother messing with it.

[Marx]

but i want africans lol.. but my ph might be to low at 7.4-7.6 out of tap..

[pegasus]

Early on, I bred african cichlids in just tap water. They did OK!  Now that I'm using well water...... I  can't stop them.

[artw]

7.6 is perfectly fine for africans.  Lake Malawi is around 7.6-7.8 in places.
(reference Ad Konings 3rd edition cichlid book)