Aqua Natural African Cichlid Aragonite 9kg

Aqua Natural African Cichlid Aragonite – pH-Buffering Substrate for African Cichlid Tanks

African cichlids come from the alkaline, hard water of the African Rift Lakes, and keeping them long-term in a standard neutral-pH substrate makes it much harder to maintain the stable water chemistry they need to thrive.

Aqua Natural African Cichlid Aragonite is a 98% calcium carbonate substrate that continually buffers pH toward the alkaline range these fish are adapted to, helping stabilise water hardness without constant manual dosing. The oolitic, egg-shaped grains are smooth and rounded, so they’re safe for bottom-dwelling and sifting fish, while the fine grain size packs an enormous amount of surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonise, supporting biological filtration throughout the tank. It’s sourced from ethically harvested ocean deposits and contains no tar, organics or other impurities. For faster results or established tanks that need a top-up, our Seachem Malawi/Victoria Buffer raises KH and holds pH between 7.8 and 8.4 alongside the substrate’s natural buffering. Pair it with a colour-focused diet like Hikari Cichlid Gold Medium to bring out your cichlids’ natural vibrancy on top of the stable water conditions.

Features & Benefits

• 98% calcium carbonate composition continually buffers pH toward the alkaline range African cichlids need
• Helps maintain stable water hardness with minimal manual intervention
• Smooth, oolitic (egg-shaped) grains are safe for sifting and bottom-dwelling fish
• Fine grain size provides a huge surface area for beneficial nitrifying bacteria
• Phosphate-free with no tar, organics or impurities
• Ethically sourced from ocean deposits

Recommended For

• African Rift Lake cichlid tanks (Malawi, Tanganyika, Victorian)
• Any freshwater setup where a stable, alkaline pH and hard water is required
• Bottom-dwelling and substrate-sifting fish

Usage

As a general guide, use around 1kg of substrate per 10 litres of water for a 2.5cm layer, or double this for a 5cm layer. Not recommended for use with undergravel filters, as the fine grain size can cause clogging.