African Cichlid Substrate Gravel

[jmo1786]

I am planning on starting a 55 gallon mbuna cichlid tank in the near future and wondered whether using this product would help.

Has anyone ever used this product? African Cichlid Substrate Gravel says it will keep your PH higher and help cycle a new tank faster. I would like to get feedback if anyone has ever used or heard of this.

Thanks

Peace Easy

 

[hollyfish2000]

Yes, I've used the gravel (not the sand.) It's mostly a mix of shells and light in color (much different than what you normally see on Web sites). I found it easy to use and if there's no holes in the bags that allow the water to leak out, I do believe the bacteria aided in cycling the tank. I don't know how much of an impact it made on my pH, as I still used commercial buffers. I wasn't entirely wild about how it looked. In my next tank, I plan to go with the sand version (which appears to be mostly black).

 

[RDTigger]

Depends on how low your tap water is...

As a pH buffer you will need a LOT of it...but getting the right level of buffer can be a pain.

I started running a 72g and am using PFS but my tap has been holding steady at 7.5pH since I started keeping fish 6 months ago.. I am still going to add oyster shells, but crushed coral and other calcium leeching natural shells will help.

 

[excuzzzeme]

My water is at 6.4 -6.8 and I have no problems with any of my Africans health. I use regular sand and/or regular gravel. If I had wild/F0 specimens instead of tank bred and tank raised, it would be a different story. I feel there is nothing gained except an empty wallet by buying the so-called "Cichlid" additives. I have never seen a difference in using or not using such products as I have tried them to see if it mattered. If you buy from your LFS likely as not they have reg tap water. Very few actually use a Ph additive.

I am not advocating the use or non-use, just saying what works for me.