Are there any Cichlids that DONT need a sandy substrate?

[Endgame319]

I got a big sharp gravel but have good pH and gH for cichlids, help?

 

[Terry]

There are lots that don't need a sandy bottom, but it depends on your size of tank. If you give some more info there are lots of people on AA that will give you great advice.

 

[Endgame319]

its 25gal, pH close to 8, medium hard

 

[Rxblade123]

A 25 gallon isn't big enough for some adult cichlids. Stick with African since you have a higher PH. You can get a pair of Convicts, Electric Yellow African Cichlid and others. Get the ones that don't get very big though. Some African Cichlid can grow large. I'm not very sure about the Lake Tangerygi Cichlids. Oh and I don't know how to spell that word lol.

 

[Endgame319]

Nevermind, I decided to use some ph down chemicals. thx anyways

 

[Allivymar]

Do be careful with Ph Down Endgame. That stuff can mess up a tank really badly and cause a pH crash. One needs to know the gH/kH levels in the tank. If they are pretty high, you'll find using pH down won't make a difference. By adding more and more what will happen is it will cause the pH to not stay lowered, then drop suddenly and severely, stressing and likely killing the fish (fish do not deal with pH changes well at all). Also, Ph down contains a lot of phosphates, opening the door to algae. There are other, safer ways of reducing pH and gH/kH levels, such as using peat.

Do check out the following articles to get a better sense of pH, gH, kH and a pH crash:
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-chem.html
http://www.algae-control.com/crash.html
http://www.algone.com/water_parameters.htm
http://www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUpDoc/WaterQuality/pHSwing.htm