{"product_id":"seachem-cichlid-lake-salt","title":"Seachem Cichlid Lake Salt","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe mineral half of Rift Lake water chemistry, with the published analysis to prove it.\u003c\/strong\u003e Seachem Cichlid Lake Salt is a blend that replicates the general hardness of Lake Tanganyika, Malawi and Victoria — magnesium, calcium, potassium and sodium, plus iron, aluminium, iodine, zinc and selenium. It raises GH without touching pH or carbonate hardness, which is why it is dosed alongside a buffer rather than instead of one. Sold in 250 g, 500 g, 1 kg and 4 kg.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublished elemental analysis\u003c\/strong\u003e — you can see exactly what each gram supplies, rather than trusting a claim about \"essential minerals\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMagnesium and potassium led\u003c\/strong\u003e — 11.83% and 10.08% minimum, the two elements a home-made Epsom-salt-and-bicarb mix leaves short\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLake-specific dose rates\u003c\/strong\u003e — separate rates for Tanganyika, Malawi and Victoria, each with the dGH shift it produces\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDoes not buffer\u003c\/strong\u003e — it will not raise pH or carbonate hardness, so it will not fight your buffer or overshoot your target pH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTrace elements included\u003c\/strong\u003e — iron, aluminium, iodine, zinc and selenium, all declared with minimums\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFour sizes\u003c\/strong\u003e — 250 g for one tank through to 4 kg for a fish room\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUnder 1c per litre at 4 kg\u003c\/strong\u003e — dosed for Malawi, the 4 kg pack works out to under 1c per litre of water treated, against 1.6c per litre from the 250 g size\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGuaranteed analysis\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePer 1 g of product, as published by Seachem.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eElement\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAmount\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMagnesium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e11.83% (min)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePotassium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10.08% (min)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSodium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.53–3.75%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCalcium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.24–3.50%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAluminium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.90 mg (min)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIron\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.20 mg (min)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIodine\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.02 mg (min)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZinc\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.007 mg (min)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelenium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.00002 mg (min)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eProduct type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRift Lake mineral salt\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSizes\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 g, 500 g, 1 kg, 4 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRaises\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGeneral hardness (GH)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEffect on pH\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNone\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEffect on carbonate hardness\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNone — use a separate buffer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater — African Rift Lake aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDosed\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAt setup and with each water change\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDosage and directions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eDose at setup and with each water change. The rate depends on which lake you are replicating, and each rate has a known effect on general hardness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eLake\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDose per 40 L\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHousehold measure\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRaises GH by\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTanganyika\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e11 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.5 teaspoons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.8 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMalawi\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.5 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3\/4 teaspoon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.4 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVictoria\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.6 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1\/2 teaspoon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eThose dGH figures are the point of the table. If your tap water already sits at 6 dGH, the Malawi dose takes you to about 10.4 dGH — so measure your starting hardness before you decide how much to add.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhich size do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow far a pack goes depends on the lake you are dosing for. Litres of water treated per pack, rounded down.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePack\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTanganyika, 11 g\/40 L\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMalawi, 5.5 g\/40 L\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eVictoria, 3.6 g\/40 L\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCost per litre, Malawi rate\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e900 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1,800 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2,700 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.6c per litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e500 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1,800 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3,600 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5,500 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.3c per litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3,600 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7,200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e11,100 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.2c per litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14,500 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e29,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e44,400 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUnder 1c per litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 300 L Malawi tank changed 30% weekly uses about 90 L of new water a week, or roughly 12 g of salt. On that pattern a 1 kg pack is a bit over a year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat it does not do\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eCichlid Lake Salt raises general hardness only. It does not raise pH and it does not raise carbonate hardness, so on its own it will not give you the high, stable pH Rift Lake cichlids need. Pair it with the matching buffer:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-tanganyika-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Tanganyika Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e — for a target pH of 9.0 to 9.4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-malawi-victoria-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Malawi\/Victoria Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e — for a target pH of 7.8 to 8.4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeachem's position on the common home-made alternative is worth knowing: a mix of Epsom salt and bicarbonate of soda does not replicate the lake water, because it leaves out calcium and potassium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lake Malawi, Tanganyika and Victoria cichlid tanks · breeding setups where steady mineral levels matter · anyone on soft tap water keeping Rift Lake fish · use alongside a carbonate buffer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e soft-water South American tanks such as discus, apistogramma and tetras · planted tanks aiming for low hardness · marine or brackish systems · use as a pH buffer, which it deliberately is not · topping up evaporation, since minerals do not evaporate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCare and storage\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep sealed — the blend takes up moisture and cakes if the tub is left open\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDissolve in the new water before it goes in, so grains do not sit on the substrate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeigh where you can; teaspoon equivalents are approximate and the dGH figures assume the gram weights\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-malawi-victoria-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Malawi\/Victoria Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e — supplies the carbonate hardness and pH this salt does not\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-tanganyika-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Tanganyika Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e — the higher-pH option for Tanganyikan tanks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-prime\"\u003eSeachem Prime\u003c\/a\u003e — conditions the fresh water you dissolve it into\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-ph-alert-6-month\"\u003eSeachem pH Alert\u003c\/a\u003e — continuous check that the buffer is holding where you set it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-american-cichlid-salt\"\u003eSeachem American Cichlid Salt\u003c\/a\u003e — the soft-water equivalent, if you also keep Central or South American cichlids\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis product carries the consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law, which cannot be excluded. Contact us if a pack arrives damaged or hardened.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 250 g, 500 g and 1 kg ship as standard parcels. The 4 kg is a heavier parcel and is charged accordingly. No dangerous goods restrictions apply.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow much Cichlid Lake Salt do I use for a Malawi tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.5 g per 40 litres, which is about three-quarters of a teaspoon and raises general hardness by 4.4 dGH. Dose at setup and with every water change.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDoes Cichlid Lake Salt raise pH?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. It raises general hardness only. For pH and carbonate hardness you need a separate buffer — Tanganyika Buffer for pH 9.0 to 9.4, or Malawi\/Victoria Buffer for pH 7.8 to 8.4.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eCan I just use Epsom salt and bicarb soda instead?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt will not give you the same water. Seachem's own note is that an Epsom-and-bicarbonate mix leaves out calcium and potassium, which are two of the four main elements this blend supplies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eIs it safe for plants?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eRift Lake hardness is high by planted-tank standards, so most plants suited to soft water will struggle at these levels. Vallisneria, anubias and java fern are the usual choices in hard African tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDo I add more when water evaporates?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. Minerals do not evaporate. Top up with fresh water only, and dose the salt into replacement water at water changes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eWhich lake dose should I use for a mixed African tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse the rate for the most demanding species you keep, and check the resulting general hardness with a test kit rather than assuming your tap water started at zero.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seachem","offers":[{"title":"250 g","offer_id":55244182552867,"sku":null,"price":28.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500 g","offer_id":55244182585635,"sku":null,"price":48.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 kg","offer_id":55244182618403,"sku":null,"price":86.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"4 kg","offer_id":55244182651171,"sku":null,"price":270.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/0279-cichlid-lake-salt-4-kg_3ecf8328-9df7-4d6a-9dd5-4ed24748b136.png?v=1782710749","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/seachem-cichlid-lake-salt","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}