Bought wrong product, Does it matter....?

[scuby_snax84]

I went down to the LFS a few days ago to buy a buffer. I usually buy the Seachem Malawi Buffer, but noticed they had another Seachem product on special. So without reading it properly i came home with Seachem "Marine" Buffer. I saw that it said it will stablilise my PH at 8.3. Thats fine but upon reading it again its for Salt Water. Is this going to be a problem if i use this with my African Cichlids. At this point in time my tank of Malawi's seam to be happy enough after a couple of days of being in there.

So basically my question is, Will this buffer kill my fish being that it is a salt water buffer?

Cheers

Brenton

[scuby_snax84]

Update...

So i have read they are basically the same product.

All Good!

[Peter]

Hi Brenton

The Seachem Brand is usually held in high regard amongst forum members and used widely.

An alternative is this homemade buffer recipe I was telling you about a little while ago, which a few members use instead.

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

Then there are those members who purposely use no buffers whatsoever, relying instead on simple regular water changes (with old school water aging and/or seachem prime conditioner) and maintaining a consistent water ph and hardness that way. A simple consistency is the key to their approach rather than using additives to try and continually replicate a particular rift lake chemistry.

If you continue to stick with the first method (which many members do), make sure you investigate prices from our sponsors who I'm sure will be very good value and provide some of the best pricing for you. Make sure you mention you are a forum member.

Cheers

Peter

[whiteknight]

well wrote peter , i have always found aquariums alive to be real cheap with the malawi buffer and rift lake salt also they will post for real cheap if u live no where near there , i am on rainwater here which sits around 6.5-7 ph and my tanks sit constanly on 7.8-8 ph never drop's below i use seachems buffer and lake salt plus always have cal carb substrate and coral bits in my canisters , have used the buffer that i think u r talking about once in my tanks with no problems but i used a bit less than it reconmended but would try and stick with the malawi buffers just to be sure

Terry

[scuby_snax84]

Cheers Peter.

I have got a 500g container so after i use this up i May consider the home made buffer.

Is there any advantage of having your ph a bit higher then the standard tap water ( 7.8 )?

With my fronts will they look different or grow faster or anything?

[Peter]

Hi Brenton

For the tank bred fronnies you recently acquired I believe a steady ph with good quality food (which you have) and regular water changes will benefit them most in terms of health and growth.

A moderator from http://www.frontosa.com.au has previously stated:

IMO anything over 7.4pH is a watse of money and time i believe why spend heaps of money on buffers etc etc

crushed coral in a filter and good clean water simple as with a epsom salt treatment every 2 months to give the fish a clean out is all that you need

That is his opinion of course but he is known as a successful breeder of quality frontosa and it works for him. I would definitely read up on what other successful breeders suggest from the likes of http://www.cyphos.com which is the major North American Frontosa site. Find a method you are comfortable with and prepared to follow consistently - and don't forget to take the time to sit back (take more photos) and enjoy watching your fish grow -that's something of which I need to keep reminding myself.

[scuby_snax84]

Cheers Mate,

I will do just that.