I just wanted to know if african cichlids are brackish water fish or do they just need a high ph? 
african cichlids
- Thread starter sezaro21
- Start date
The african cichlids most commonly seen are Rift Lake cichlids, and they aren't brackish water fish. They do like high pH water that is very, very hard. (You can buy 'cichlid salts' that will harden and buffer the water; those 'salts' contain very little sodium chloride.)
HTH,
Jim
HTH,
Jim
Salts come in many forms. Rift Lake sp. don't want high regular salt like you you shake on your french fries, but want metal salts like chromium, magnesium, calcium, etc. After a good buffer recipe, Kent AF Trace liquid would be all you need for even sensitive species.
With sodium bicarb recipe, an 8.3pH is gunshot stabile, and dKH adjustable to your tap. 15-20 dKH after water change is safe for 7-10 days without a calcium substrate like aroganite or crushed coral (Aro and cc are the same thing but CC is more course.)
Make sure your tank is cycled and you're feeding appropriate diet. Can't go wrong with a good spirulina flake, no matter what species you are keeping. Move on from there. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/buffer_recipe.php
The Kent AF Trace is only needed for hard species, like sifters and tricotti.
If you have alkaline Rift Lake species like Tanganyikans and Malawi's, epsom and calcium carbonate, clean water and good food is all they need. pH higher than 7.4 and you should be fine.
HTH
With sodium bicarb recipe, an 8.3pH is gunshot stabile, and dKH adjustable to your tap. 15-20 dKH after water change is safe for 7-10 days without a calcium substrate like aroganite or crushed coral (Aro and cc are the same thing but CC is more course.)
Make sure your tank is cycled and you're feeding appropriate diet. Can't go wrong with a good spirulina flake, no matter what species you are keeping. Move on from there. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/buffer_recipe.php
The Kent AF Trace is only needed for hard species, like sifters and tricotti.
If you have alkaline Rift Lake species like Tanganyikans and Malawi's, epsom and calcium carbonate, clean water and good food is all they need. pH higher than 7.4 and you should be fine.
HTH
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