- Sku: 276
- Vendor: Seachem
Seachem Cichlid Lake Salt
Seachem Cichlid Lake Salt is the mineral half of Rift Lake water. It is a blend of salts built to replicate what African cichlids actually swim in, carrying the physiologically essential elements, magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium, plus trace components including iron, aluminum and iodide. This is the product that sets your GH. Browse our other water care.
Dosing by Lake
All doses are given per 40 L (10 US gallons).
| Lake | Dose per 10 US gal | Raises GH by | Target GH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanganyika | 11 g (1.5 teaspoons) | 8.8 dGH | 8 to 14 dGH (3 to 5.5 meq/L) |
| Malawi | 5.5 g (3/4 teaspoon) | 4.4 dGH | 4 to 8 dGH (1.5 to 3 meq/L) |
| Victoria | 3.6 g (1/2 teaspoon) | 3 dGH | 3 to 6 dGH (1 to 2 meq/L) |
How to Use It
Add Cichlid Lake Salt when setting up an aquarium and when making water changes. On an established tank, base the dose on the volume of water you are changing, not the whole tank. Dissolve it in fresh water before adding.
Do not add salt when you are only topping up evaporated water. Evaporation removes water and leaves the minerals behind, so replacing it with more salt steadily drives hardness up. Top-ups get plain fresh water.
What Makes It Different
Seachem's point about this product is worth repeating because it is checkable: a mineral blend built mostly from Epsom salt and bicarbonate of soda will raise hardness, but it does not replicate lake water, because it is short on calcium and potassium. Those are named on the label here alongside magnesium and sodium, which is what makes it a replication product rather than just a hardness booster.
Features
Choose Your Size
| Size | Net weight | Container | SKU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 g | 250 g (8.8 oz) | Jar | 276 |
| 500 g | 500 g (1.1 lbs) | Jar | 273 |
| 1 kg | 1 kg (2.2 lbs) | Jar | 277 |
| 4 kg | 4 kg (8.8 lbs) | Bucket with handle | 279 |
Seachem states the 4 kg bucket treats 14,400 to 45,600 L, the range reflecting the Tanganyika dose at one end and the Victoria dose at the other.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Dry mineral salt blend |
| Sets | General hardness (GH) and mineral content |
| Essential elements | Magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium |
| Trace components | Iron, aluminum, iodide |
| Affects pH or KH | No, use a buffer for those |
| When to dose | At setup and with water changes only |
| Water type | Freshwater |
| Made in | USA |
The Other Half: pH and KH
Cichlid Lake Salt sets GH and minerals. It does not set pH or carbonate hardness, and Seachem is explicit that you should pair it with the matching buffer:
- Malawi/Victoria Buffer for pH 7.8 to 8.4
- Tanganyika Buffer for pH 9.0 to 9.4
- Cichlid Trace for the trace elements the tank uses up between changes
- NutriDiet Cichlid Flakes and other cichlid foods
- GH and KH test kits, which this product genuinely needs
- Seachem American Cichlid Salt if you keep New World cichlids instead of African
FAQ
I used this with a buffer and my pH came out at 8.6, higher than expected. What went wrong?
Probably nothing. Seachem's directions assume relatively pure RO or DI source water. Untreated tap water, or a dissolving substrate such as aragonite sand, adds its own minerals on top. Seachem expects the pH to settle closer to 8.2 or 8.3 even with other mineral sources present.
Does it raise pH or KH?
No. This is the GH and mineral side. Use Malawi/Victoria Buffer or Tanganyika Buffer for pH and carbonate hardness.
How is this different from aquarium salt?
Plain aquarium salt is sodium chloride. This is a multi-mineral blend built to a lake profile, with calcium, magnesium and potassium in it. They are not interchangeable.
Do I dose it every week?
Only with new water. Add it at setup, then with each water change based on the volume being replaced. Never for evaporation top-ups.
Which lake are my fish from?
Mbuna, peacocks and haps are Malawi. Frontosa, Tropheus, Julidochromis, Altolamprologus and the shell dwellers are Tanganyika. Ask us if you are unsure, it changes the dose by a factor of three. If your cichlids are from South or Central America rather than Africa, you want American Cichlid Salt instead, which is dosed far lighter.
What should I be testing?
GH, to confirm you have hit the target range for your lake, and KH and pH alongside whichever buffer you are running.
Have a question?
Seachem Cichlid Lake Salt
