How to Use Aragonite for an African Cichlid Tank

Aragonite is the ideal substrate for an African cichlid tank. This fine sea sand maintains the elevated pH, which is required in aquariums that house African cichlids. Aragonite leaches calcium, carbonate ions and numerous trace elements into the water once the pH of the tank falls below 8.2. Aragonite does not need replacing, and is superior to oyster shell and calcite in its ability to buffer water. This highly porous substrate material is an ideal medium on which beneficial bacteria cultures can grow and it therefore also can be used to purify your aquarium water.

Things You'll Need

  • African cichlid aquarium
  • Aragonite
  • 2 10-gallon plastic buckets
  • Dark-colored aquarium gravel
  • Long-handled aquarium net
  • Long-handled aquarium tong
  • Freshwater rocks
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Instructions

    • 1

      Rinse your hands in warm running water to remove any lotions, residue soap or detergent. All of these are detrimental to your aquarium water and cichlids.

    • 2

      Pour your aragonite into a 10-gallon plastic bucket. Place the bucket under a garden tap and turn on the water fully.

    • 3

      Half fill the bucket and turn off the water. Use your hands to agitate the aragonite. Pour off the dirty water, which contains dust and any debris or detritus that was in the dry aragonite. Be careful not to pour any aragonite out with the water.

    • 4

      Repeat if necessary, but a single rinse should be sufficient.

    • 5

      Pour dark-colored aquarium gravel into a second 10-gallon plastic bucket and rinse under a garden tap the same way as you did with the aragonite.

    • 6

      Add the dark-colored aquarium gravel to the aragonite and mix the two very well with your hands. Aragonite is typically white or at least very light sea sand, which reflects a great deal of light back up into the water. By mixing dark gravel with the light aragonite, the amount of light that is reflected is greatly reduced and your African cichlids will be more comfortable.

    • 7

      Remove your aquatic plants and aquarium décor if you already have an established tank.

    • 8

      Use a long-handled aquarium net to carefully scoop out the original substrate.

    • 9

      Place the aragonite mixture into the same net and lower the net onto the aquarium bottom. Use a long-handled aquarium tong to grip the back of the netting material and tip the net to pour out the aragonite. Repeat until you have added all the aragonite to your aquarium.

    • 10

      Place the aragonite mixture onto the bottom of the aquarium if you are starting a new tank. Place a number of rocks on top of the substrate and pour the water onto these when you fill the aquarium, so as not to disturb the aragonite.