Seachem Malawi Buffer Malawi/Victoria Buffer is a blend of carbonate salts designed to enhance the natural environment of Cichlids by increasing hardness, buffer capacity and pH. It is formulated to maintain a pH of 7.8-8.4. Buffers to pH of 7.8 - 8.4 Raises KH as well pH Will not affect GH Directions Use 6 g (one level teaspoon) for each 40 to 80 L (10 to 20 US gallons) of water each day until desired pH is attained and maintained. Thereafter, use as required to maintain pH, usually no more than once every two to three weeks. TIPS: It is best to dissolve the buffer in freshwater before use. Use when setting up an aquarium or making water changes (preferably after the addition of Seachem’s Cichlid Lake Salt™) and between water changes as needed to maintain pH. Seachem’s Malawi/Victoria Buffer™ is formulated to maintain a pH between 7.8 and 8.4, depending on the amount used. To attain a lower pH than 7.8, you may use Seachem’s Acid Buffer™ in combination with Malawi/Victoria Buffer™. To attain a higher pH than 8.4, use Tanganyika Buffer™. I'm using Cichlid Lake Salt™ with Malawi/Victoria Buffer™, but found my pH to be higher than desired at 8.6. What have I done wrong? A: The directions are designed for use with DI or RO water. If you are using untreated water as your source water, this will, depending on how hard the water is, influence the final parameters. When both Cichlid Lake Salt™and Malawi/Victoria Buffer™ are used as directed in relatively pure water, the water parameters will approach very closely the parameters of the native lakes. If other sources of minerals are present, such as untreated source water or a dissolving substrate (e.g. aragonite), then the conditions of the lakes will not be duplicated as closely. While a pH of 8.6 is a bit higher than targeted by these products, I expect the pH will likely settle down to something closer to 8.2 – 8.3, even if other sources of minerals are present.
