Substrate for new Malawi Tank

mystic1

mystic1

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Mar 31, 2007
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I went to my LFS on saturday to pick up a few odds and ends and came home with a new tank. They wanted to change some displays and 2 tanks kept getting in the way. Well I brought home a 52g hex front and hood/light for $75. It is so hard not to go back and get the 55g.
Anyway, I have plenty of time to set this one up so I would like some input on reccomended substrate for a Malawi Tank. Any product that has been used that if you were setting up another tank you would certainly use it again. My LFS is not large but a small local place and they will special order what I am looking for. Thanks for any help.
 
i have the salt and pepper sand. But i have heard some sand from Home depot or lowes is a lot cheaper. Sand is the way to go. My africans love moving it and digging in it!
 
Home Depot sand works. Sandbox sand. I think 50 lbs is $2.50. You have to wash it out really well. It is very cloudy. Looking back I sould have brought the black substrate at the LFS. Home Deposts sand is a huge cost saver. I have it in 2 tanks at the moment
 
I used crushed coral sand. It's nice for me because my tap Ph is 7 and the tank is stable at 7.8 Ph (I wanted it closer to 8), so its buffered it nicely for me, and it looks pretty natural as well.
 
Last edited:
Coler said:
I used crushed coral sand. It's nice for me because my tap Ph is 7 and the tank is stable at 7.8 Ph, so its buffered it nicely for me.
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Same here, with alittle drift wood, PH about 7.5 or so...:) Tap water PH is about 6.9....
 
The crushed coral sand sounds like a good idea for me also, due to ph levels here. I am going to check on that and see what my LFS is able to order for me.
 
Just to render you thoroughly indecisive lol I think that the black substrates with a black background and some rockwork looks fantastic for malawis.

You can always put some coral sand in your filter, as opposed to using it as a substrate, and the right kind of rock will also buffer your Ph as I understand it.

I think the general advice you see on here is not to go messing with your Ph in any other way though.

I just noticed that you got the 52 hex ? What are the dimensions of it and the 55 (if you can revisit that choice, if not sorry for bringing it up :))? The length is probably the most important thing for cichlids, assuming a reasonably sized tank in the first instance.
 
It is 48" x 18 x 12. The same as the 55 I just loose the 1.5g on each front corner.
 
Thank you. I took a look at what you are doing and it looks awesome. I love a natural look.
 
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