{"product_id":"caribsea-african-cichlid-mix-sahara-sand","title":"CaribSea African Cichlid Mix - Sahara Sand","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E3F2FD;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe easy way to give African cichlids the water they need.\u003c\/strong\u003e CaribSea African Cichlid Mix is an aragonite-based substrate formulated for African Rift Lake cichlids. Unlike inert sands, it naturally buffers your water toward the high pH and hardness of Lakes Malawi and Tanganyika, and it keeps buffering for the life of the aquarium, resisting the downward pH drift common in crowded cichlid tanks. This is the warm Sahara sand color. Stock it with your favorite \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fish\"\u003ecichlids\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3 style=\"margin:16px 0 6px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eWhy African Cichlid Mix\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAragonite substrate that buffers toward the high pH and hardness African cichlids need\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeeps buffering for the life of the tank, resisting pH drift in crowded systems\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSimplifies matching Rift Lake water conditions without constant dosing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNatural warm Sahara sand coloration that shows off vivid cichlids\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes a dose of beneficial bacteria to help start your cycle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3 style=\"margin:16px 0 6px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eHow to Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdd about 1 to 2 inches, or more if your cichlids like to dig and sift\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRinse before adding to reduce initial cloudiness\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePour water gently onto a plate to keep the bed in place\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdeal for Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika cichlid setups\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3 style=\"margin:16px 0 6px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;margin:6px 0 4px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;background:#E3F2FD;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eBrand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCaribSea\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;background:#E3F2FD;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eType\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eAfrican cichlid substrate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;background:#E3F2FD;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eColor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eSahara sand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;background:#E3F2FD;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eFunction\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBuffers pH and hardness for Rift Lake cichlids\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;background:#E3F2FD;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eSize\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e20 lb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;background:#E3F2FD;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eBest for\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eFreshwater African cichlid aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3 style=\"margin:16px 0 6px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003ePair It With\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRift Lake rockwork and caves for territories and breeding sites\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse more \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003efreshwater\u003c\/a\u003e supplies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3 style=\"margin:16px 0 6px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it change my water chemistry?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, intentionally. It buffers your pH and hardness upward toward Rift Lake conditions, which is exactly what African cichlids need.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich cichlids is it for?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfrican Rift Lake cichlids, such as Malawi mbuna and peacocks and Tanganyikan species.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need to rinse it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, a good rinse before adding helps reduce the initial cloudiness common to all substrates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhite or Sahara Sand?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt comes down to the look you want. Both buffer your water the same way; only the color differs.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CaribSea","offers":[{"title":"20 lb","offer_id":48297873342683,"sku":"00222","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/image_81147ea5-497e-427b-bdb7-1e0878f80d8a.jpg?v=1771947414","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/caribsea-african-cichlid-mix-sahara-sand","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}