We have lost our minds!

Yeah, Most aquarium sand and gravels are inert, won't affect pH, but African Cichlid substrates intentionally increase the pH. Just look for things that say they "Will not buffer" on the bag. Is yours one of these: http://www.caribsea.com/pages/products/cichlid.html ? If you read they say things like "It buffers automatically for the life of the aquarium". Check the bag yours came in (if you still have it) and see if it says something like that.

I'm planning a planted tank with Eco-Complete for Angelfish. Eco-Complete says "Will not increase pH or Carbonate hardness in the long term" (http://www.caribsea.com/pages/products/planted_aquar.html). Now you don't have to use Eco-Complete or an expensive substrate if you are not planning plants, but look for something that says no affect on pH.
 
I'm confused, don't most cichlids take a higher PH anyway? even the new world fish i have been reading on take a PH level of 7.6 to 8.6 or so. Not that i object to taking the subtrate out by any means, i'll do what ever i need to make what ever i decide on as comfy as possible. I do know that some of the new world cichlids live in sand and some in other rocky areas and still others in different areas.
 
It just depends on the cichlid I guess. My understanding is that most of the New World cichlids prefer pH around or below 7.0. This is all based on the concept of trying to replicate natural conditions, and most south american fish live in rivers with lots of tannins from fallen leaves that make the water more acidic. However, most of the fish bred for the aquarium industry are supposed to be more flexible. I don't know how much of an issue it is as long as you do not have wild-caught fish. My Firemouths have done just find with 7.6 pH. I doubt they would have bred in a pH of 8.2, but again, that's guesswork really.
 
my dads new world tank has ph around 7 and the fish are happy. as for what to get i think your best of getting fish that you have seen and that you like, if you get an idea of fish to go in your tank and then tell us what you like we could help confirm the compatible etc. also tank looks great and cant wait to see the pics with fish in it.
 
Central American cichlids prefer pH of 7.4-8.0 and rather hard water, some cichlids like Mayan (urophthaltum) acually enter into the ocean.
South American cichlids prefer more acidic, soft water.
 
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