Crushed Coral with S.A. Cichlids?

[Dirt Diggler]

I am in the middle of a tank migration with my Africans going into a 125 Gal, and my S.A. Fish going into the 45 Gal that the Africans are vacating. I have a bunch of leftover substrate from the African build that is mostly Black Blasting Sand, with a little crushed coral mixed in. I have a lot of driftwood going into the S.A. build, but I am worried about the crushed coral making the water too hard or raising the pH more that the wood can do the opposite. I'll be stocking rams, plecos, and rainbowfish into this tank.

 

[Surfer]

I highly recommend removing the crushed coral and black blasting sand. Normal sand would be better, since it doesn't hurt diggers like plecos and other bottom feeders. Since rams and plecos also prefer a ph below 7, I wouldn't take any chances.

 

[Dirt Diggler]

Thanks! I'll just run with the normal gravel substrate that's already in there.