Another Malawi Cichlid Tank Question

[Southern30]

I set-up my 1st Malawi cichlid tank ever and guess I am missing some needed info. I have a 75gal tank with about 40lbs of lace rock and three realistic fake plants. I used three and a half bags of the cichlid substrate with live biological "stuff" in it. Sorry to sound like a girl on that one! I used Cycle and also took one of the bio-wheels from my established tank to replace one from the new filter. I was also told by the nice fish people to use something called Cichlid chemistry which I have, twice. However I am having problems getting the KH and PH to the right levels. I was also told I could put 16 small, 1-1/12inch, Malawi cichlids in there now and add 10 more in two weeks to a month. Can someone please give me any and all the info you think I need to get this together.

 

[mark7616]

The best thing to do would be to fishless cycle your tank and add all the fish at one time. 26 fish would be ok in your tank but what are the dimensions. Have you decided on what malawi cichlids you would like to keep. The substrate is it the black and white very fine gravel.

 

[Southern30]

I cannot give the dimensions as at work, but this is the norm 75gal tank that I know is 4' long. The substrate I am sure is called Cichlids substrate and is a mix with small granite looking rocks and coral. Comes in water and states has biological bacteria in the bag. I cannot do a fishless cycle now as was told by fish store it was ok to get the fish so they are in there now. As for the type I have I know I have Yellow labs, but do not have the paperwork with the others names on it. Have a few blue and orange ones, not sure if that helps.

 

[Southern30]

Well went back to the store and got something called Super Buffer and I am hoping this helps get the KH. I know I am new here but would love to see what others have used, Jen

 

[mark7616]

a ph of 8.0 is perfect try not to keep adding chemicles

 

[Southern30]

a ph of 8.0 is perfect try not to keep adding chemicles

My KH is only at 4, was told it needs to be around 12-14 and have no other way to get it up..... I have been told and have read that they need a PH around 8.6.

 

[mark7616]

a ph of 8.0 or over is fine as your malawi will be tank bred this will help as wild caught would need better water but tank bred can adjust to different water better.

 

[dthoffsett]

I'm not a big fan of the chemicals or "quick cures" the most LFS sell. There are a couple of things you can do at home to raise your KH. I have a similar problem, I have a nice high PH of 8.2, but my KH is around 3-4 out of the tap, which leads to massive PH swings. I started out using baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), then switched my substrate to crushed coral, the substrate change helped, but I still had to add baking soda. I'd heard of several people putting crushed coral into filter bags and adding them to their filters (I have both a cannister filter and an aquaclear that allows the addition of extra media), and bingo, I have a nice high KH (around 15) and I no longer have to add anything to the tank. Something to consider.

As far as PH levels, lake Malawi generally has a PH of 7.8 - 8.2, whereas Lake Tanganyika has a much higher PH of 8.6+, which is where most LFS get their assumptions. As Mark pointed out, tank bred fish have a much higher tolerance of PH levels as commercial breeders rarely match wild levels exactly, not to mention most LFS use large filter systems that supply water to all of their tanks, and so are unable to give different levels to each species. A stable PH is far more desirable than trying to acheive the wild parameters, however, raising your KH and GH will often raiser your PH a little, and will buffer against PH swings, which is always a good thing.

Here's an article to make your own buffer recipe, much cheaper than any LFS will sell.

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/buffer_recipe.php