Can African Cichlid Ivory Coast Sand rise KH/GH too much?

[Sf1]

Hi,

I have a Caribsea African Cichlid Ivory Coast Sand in my tank.
CaribSea - African Cichlid Mix?

CaribSea’s Cichlid products naturally buffer for the life of the aquarium simplifying the process of matching water quality parameters to the Great Rift Lakes of Africa. African Cichlid Mixes™ also resist the eventual downward drift of pH in long established or crowded systems.

I buy it before for african cichlid tank, but after changed my mind and decided to go with South American tank.

Now I'm afraid that it will rise my GH/KH level too much... and water will become too hard for South American community and the plants.

ph is 8.0 (same for tap water), but maybe it was lowered by driftwood.

So the question is - do I need to remove and change all my sand or even African Cichlid Mix won't rise the hardness too much?

Thanks

 

[Sf1]

Or buffering means that the sand can keep water hardness without losing it, but won't rise it?

I put some vinegar on it and it reacting!