{"product_id":"seachem-american-cichlid-salt","title":"Seachem American Cichlid Salt","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarder water for American cichlids, with pH left exactly where it is.\u003c\/strong\u003e Seachem American Cichlid Salt is a dry mineral blend that recreates the calcium, magnesium and potassium levels of the Central and South American waters these fish come from. It affects general hardness only — alkalinity and pH stay where your buffer put them. Seachem's published dose is 2.5 g per 110 L for South American species and half that for Central American ones. Stocked in 50 g, 250 g and 4 kg.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy hardness, not pH\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmerican cichlids get lumped in with Rift Lake cichlids and dosed the same way. They should not be. Lake Malawi and Tanganyika water is hard \u003cem\u003eand\u003c\/em\u003e alkaline, sitting up near pH 8. Central and South American rivers are mineral-rich but far closer to neutral.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat is the gap this fills. It supplies the calcium, magnesium and potassium these fish draw on for osmoregulation — the constant work of holding their internal salt balance against the water around them — and it leaves the carbonate side of the chemistry alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA Rift Lake salt would push hardness and alkalinity up together. That is the wrong destination for a Geophagus or a Jack Dempsey.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRaises hardness only\u003c\/strong\u003e — Seachem states it affects hardness, not alkalinity or pH, so it will not fight a buffer you already dose\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo published doses, not one\u003c\/strong\u003e — 2.5 g per 110 L for South American species, 1.25 g per 110 L for Central American, rather than a single rate for two continents\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeclared analysis\u003c\/strong\u003e — calcium 15.0–17.0%, potassium minimum 6.0%, magnesium minimum 3.0%, printed rather than described as a \"mineral blend\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCarries trace iodine and aluminium\u003c\/strong\u003e — minimum 0.02 mg iodine and 0.90 mg aluminium per gram\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDry powder\u003c\/strong\u003e — no shelf-life clock the way a liquid additive has; the 4 kg pack is a fishroom size rather than a single-tank one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eType\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDry mineral salt blend for American cichlids\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEffect on hardness\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRaises general hardness (GH, your water's calcium and magnesium load)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEffect on alkalinity and pH\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNone\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDose, South American species\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2.5 g (½ level teaspoon) per 110 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDose, Central American species\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.25 g (¼ level teaspoon) per 110 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhen to dose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAt setup, then on new water at water changes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePack sizes\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50 g, 250 g, 4 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eForm\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDry powder\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDosage and directions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeachem publishes the rate per 110 L (30 US gallons). Dose at setup, and after that only on the volume of new water going in — not on the whole tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMinerals are not consumed the way carbonate hardness is. Re-dosing full tank volume every week walks the hardness steadily upward until it is somewhere nobody chose.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eNew water added\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSouth American species\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCentral American species\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e55 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.25 g (¼ tsp)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.6 g (⅛ tsp)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e110 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2.5 g (½ tsp)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.25 g (¼ tsp)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e220 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 g (1 tsp)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2.5 g (½ tsp)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e440 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 g (2 tsp)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 g (1 tsp)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eDissolve the dose in a jug of the new water before it goes in, rather than tipping powder across the substrate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow far a pack goes\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWorked from Seachem's own dose rates. These are litres of \u003cem\u003enew\u003c\/em\u003e water treated, not tank volume — a 200 L tank on a 25% weekly change gets through 50 L of dosed water a week, not 200 L.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePack size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSouth American doses\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eNew water treated\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCentral American doses\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eNew water treated\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2,200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4,400 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e11,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1,600\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e176,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3,200\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e352,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIngredients and guaranteed analysis\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eTranscribed from Seachem's published declaration, checked 7 August 2026. Spellings are Seachem's own and are kept as printed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIngredients:\u003c\/strong\u003e Magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium sulphate, sodium chloride, aluminium chloride, iron sulphate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGuaranteed analysis, per 1 g\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAmount\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCalcium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15.0 – 17.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMagnesium (min)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePotassium (min)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSodium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.0 – 10.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAluminium (min)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.90 mg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIodine (min)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.02 mg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e South American cichlid tanks — Geophagus, severums, angelfish, oscars · Central American tanks — convicts, firemouths, Jack Dempseys · remineralising RO or rainwater for a cichlid setup · tanks where a GH test reads low but pH is already where you want it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rift Lake cichlids, which need alkalinity raised as well — \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-cichlid-lake-salt\"\u003eSeachem Cichlid Lake Salt\u003c\/a\u003e is that product · marine and brackish aquariums · raising pH or KH, which this does not do · deliberately soft blackwater setups, including wild-caught dwarf cichlids kept soft on purpose · use as a general aquarium salt for disease treatment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSafety and handling\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeachem's label warns that it causes serious eye irritation and may cause skin burns. Wear suitable gloves when handling the powder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep out of reach of children\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAvoid breathing the dust — dissolve it rather than tipping it dry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStore sealed and dry; caked powder makes teaspoon dosing inaccurate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA safety data sheet is published by Seachem at sds.seachem.com\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-cichlid-lake-salt\"\u003eSeachem Cichlid Lake Salt\u003c\/a\u003e — the Rift Lake version, for Malawi and Tanganyika tanks where you \u003cem\u003edo\u003c\/em\u003e want alkalinity raised\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-cichlid-trace\"\u003eSeachem Cichlid Trace\u003c\/a\u003e — the trace element half of the same system\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-ph-alkalinity-kit-75-tests\"\u003eSeachem pH \u0026amp; Alkalinity Kit\u003c\/a\u003e — confirms this is leaving pH and KH alone, which is the entire point of choosing it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-prime\"\u003eSeachem Prime\u003c\/a\u003e — dechlorinate the new water before the minerals go into it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-nutridiet-cichlid-flakes-probiotic\"\u003eSeachem NutriDiet Cichlid Flakes\u003c\/a\u003e — cichlid-specific food from the same range\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/seachem\"\u003eThe full Seachem range\u003c\/a\u003e — water care, media and test kits\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSold with the manufacturer's shelf life; no separate warranty term is published for a dry mineral salt. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply regardless and cannot be excluded. Ships as a standard parcel — a dry powder, not a dangerous good. The 4 kg pack travels as heavy freight rather than a letter-box item.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eWill Seachem American Cichlid Salt raise my pH?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. Seachem states it affects hardness only, not alkalinity or pH. If the tank also needs pH raised, that is a separate buffer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eCan I use it for African cichlids?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is the wrong blend. Rift Lake fish need alkalinity lifted as well as hardness, which is what Cichlid Lake Salt does. This one deliberately leaves alkalinity alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow much do I use for a South American tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.5 g, about half a level teaspoon, for every 110 litres of new water. Central American species take half that — 1.25 g per 110 litres.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDo I dose the whole tank every week?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. Dose at setup, then only on the water you replace. Minerals are not used up the way carbonate hardness is, so dosing full tank volume weekly drives hardness up with nothing bringing it back down.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eWhy are there two different doses?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eCentral American waters are less mineral-rich than South American ones, so Seachem halves the rate for those species. Match the dose to where your fish come from, not to the tank they are in now.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eIs it safe alongside plants and shrimp?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt adds calcium, magnesium and potassium, all of which plants use. It is not a shrimp-specific remineraliser, though — \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-equilibrium\"\u003eSeachem Equilibrium\u003c\/a\u003e is the product aimed at that job.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seachem","offers":[{"title":"50 g","offer_id":55244170068259,"sku":null,"price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250 g","offer_id":55244170101027,"sku":null,"price":28.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"4 kg","offer_id":55244170133795,"sku":null,"price":242.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/725154-1.webp?v=1782710700","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/seachem-american-cichlid-salt","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}