Any Tip For More Stable Water For Malawi Cichlids?

Hey!

So Iam converting my 65 gallon tank to house Malawis. Just started to read up on ph, gh and kh that I haven't really cared for before.

My tap water is 8.5 pH and 5.5 gh, can't find any info about kh ,that won't work with MalawI Cichlids right? And if not how to raise gh?

Will 1 or 2 limestone do it? I Guess the pH is fine tho There is some driftwood in the tank now, maybe worth removing them?

Also got some corycats,electric blue acara, siameseAE and a Severum in there, Will they tolerate higher gh and pH for a while until they get a new home? I'm planning to get the most peaceful Malawis like blue Dolphin

 

Your water is fine.

 

Hey Dexter Usually with an 8.5 pH your water should be hard enough, but you can use a marine salt mix to raise the gh & KH. Not sure the current occupants would appreciate it though.

There's a DIY recipe as well. Per each 5 gallons:
1 teaspoon marine salt mix
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon epsom salt

 

It says on the water company website 5.5 dh/gh that the water is soft. How can it be soft with a high ph :S

I read that the fishes I want likes atleast 10 gh hardness. The recipe seems nice thanks! Tho I don't know how where to get epsom salt. Maybe its called something else where I live

 

DoubleDutch might know.
Is this available to you?

 

DoubleDutch might know.
Is this available to you?

Not an expert on this David.
Only thing is that Ph and hardness are two different things to me.

 

Not an expert on this David.
Only thing is that Ph and hardness are two different things to me.

I meant what's epsom salt called over there.

 

I meant what's epsom salt called over there.

It is called "bitterzout" but to be honest never heared of itself nor of the use of that hahaha.

 

As long as the water parameters are stable, leave it alone. When you start changing from the normal parameters of your water, you will get big swings at water change time. It’s not worth it. If you are that worried, just get some cichlid trace elements and dose the tank occasionally. It doesn’t effect your parameters......but gives the fish the nutrients they need from the water.