Help With Attaining Ph For Malawis

[mrvillicus]

Im a malawi virgin and after a nightmare tropical nitrogen cycle i want to make sure my water is 100% perfect until i add my fish..Now my confusion, using buffers. My water sits consistently at 7.2 PH, it is rated moderately hard. So to reach the right PH, from my research I should use crushed coral in my sand and use a buffer, such as seachem malawi buffer. Is it as simple as that? I have been looking at a DIY buffer as to be honest, most fish products are priced crazily and im a bit of a penny pincher...any advice guys?

Thanks Ben

 

[Moby-Krib]

A 7.2 isn't horrible for the Malawi's, they could live in that and do just fine.
Lake Malawi is about 7.8ish .

The use of Baking soda , Epsom salt, and aquarium salt is perfectly acceptable.
Take a 5 gallon bucket and experiment how much to add to reach the desired levels.
With my water I found 1/2 teaspoon of soda, 1/4 teaspoon of Epsom , and a 1/4 teaspoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallon brought me to 8.0 and an acceptable hardness.

Your water will likely be a bit different.

The Prepared buffers also contain some trace minerals that are good for the fish but not mandatory to have.

Once you start a regime of modifying your water you will have to stick to it, as forgetting to add the buffers at water change will result in a ph swing that could be detrimental.

 

[thereverendturtle]

Crushed coral or aragonite sand at 10-20% of your substrate should buffer it very well. Another option is to put 2-3 cups in a media bag, in some kind of power filter.

 

[mrvillicus]

great replies, thanks!!!