gmen4life

my pH sits at 7.8 and id like it more for cichlids but do not know how much to add for that type of increase im not into useing chems for the increase

Angela_96

Put a bag in your filter of it or just sprinkle some over your substrate.
I have it as substrate in all my african cichlid (mbuna) tanks mixed with sand.

gmen4life

ok cool so it wont take much then i dont wanna over do it is all

Angela_96

I don't think you can overdo it... my whole substrate like I said is crushed coral and the caves (or stacks of rock) are limestone. My ph stays at about 8.2.

gmen4life

yeah i went to the river to get my stones so no lime there i guess ill add a lil first to the filter then check it 24 hours later then dd to my substrae sound good? i just want it all to be perfect for my lil fellas

f1ea

Also, use a couple of airstones.

Angela_96

If there is enough filters going (HOB and canister) airstones are not needed in african cichlid tanks.

Heres one thread on air stones in fish tanks.
Air Pump necessary ?

I keep one for each tank "just in case". But if you have enough flow and the temp doesn't go over 78 its a waste of electircity.

f1ea

Maybe for the sake of oxygenation its not vital (although my tanks are at 83F, so i use some anyways). But extra aeration will also increase pH (by driving out CO2).

Angela_96

The flow from the filters alone provides enough o2 and co2 elimination. The extra aereation can be deadly for some fish causing air embolisms. You have too much air in the tank when bubbles set on stuff and the fish.

As for the PH, the crushed coral will be enough to rise the ph.

gmen4life

i have 2 300 GPH hob and one canister does 185 and 2 power heads with a ship that bubbles i think 1000 gph should be good?

Angela_96

I think thats more than enough... the ship wouldn't have to "bubble" your tank will have plenty of aeriation.

I have an eheim ecco canister and 350 biowheels on each tank, it puts out enough flow.

gmen4life

yeah i like to over build anything its how i do everything in life lol i may buy another 300gph or so canister and take one hob off and put it all dirty on my 30 to help cycle it faster

well i got my LFS to order 10lbs of coral for me so i guess ill use all of it?

Shawnie

I used 60lbs of ecco complete for my 75 gal and my ph is always 7.8-8.0..but I do have seashells in there also... ...not sure how high you want yours but 10lbs is a good place to start as any

gmen4life

if it were 8.0 id be happy and do any sea shells do the same job?

Shawnie

yes they do(only because I had some in my other tanks and my ph was too high) and I had to go back and looks at my african tank post...we used 70lbs LOL ..sowwy...

gmen4life

hmm my lf has some shells in boxs i guess id have to try a few hows 10 sound with the coral?

Shawnie

sounds like a good beginning ...and go from there...your 7.8 isnt bad so that might be all you need..and if your babies are doing ok now, no need to fret

gmen4life

yeah they are all active but ill just try that if i get 8.0 great....

f1ea

Depending on how hard your source water is, it may not take that much to boost the pH up to 8-8.25. I think having like 50/50 (sand/crushed coral) substrate will be enough, then the sea shells and coral stones will be more of an aesthetic issue.

Also your filtration is more than good. Just staty clear of the osmosis stuff and as Shawine says, don't worry too much. After all, high pH is far easier and much less complicated than low pH.