Basically, my question is the subject of this post. Is it bad to mix these? I used the cichlid mix as my substrate hoping to get a stable, alkaline pH. Only problem is, this stuff is off the hook! My pH was over 8 today when I tested it (It was maxed on the strip, which I think equates to a pH of 8.4). I wanted to try to keep it between 7.4-7.8, and I need something to slow it down. I was thinking of adding some driftwood. but would they just duke it out and totally dissolve one another, or could it reach some sort of quasi-equilibrium at a lower pH? If not, how do I get my substrate to chill out at a lower pH?