Rift-lake water chemistry, made simple.African cichlids from Lakes Malawi and Victoria need hard, alkaline water — and a pH that stays put. Let it drift and colors fade and stress sets in.Seachem Malawi/Victoria Buffer is a blend of carbonate salts that raises carbonate hardness, buffer capacity, and pH, holding it steady between 7.8 and 8.4. For a full recreation of the lake environment, pair with Cichlid Lake Salt and Cichlid Trace.Seachem Laboratories has been a chemistry-driven company since 1979, developing its treatments in-house in Madison, Georgia. This buffer is engineered to work as part of a system: its chemists blended the carbonate salts to hold a rift-lake pH, and designed it to pair with Cichlid Lake Salt and Cichlid Trace — and with Tanganyika Buffer or Acid Buffer — to fine-tune the environment. Use 6 g (1 tsp) per 40–80 L (10–20 gallons) daily until the target pH is reached. Then dose as needed — usually every 2–3 weeks — to hold pH. Best dissolved in fresh water before adding, ideally after Cichlid Lake Salt. Keep your cichlids in true rift-lake water. Add to cart.Why Seachem Malawi/Victoria Buffer True rift-lake chemistry: a carbonate-salt blend that raises carbonate hardness, buffer capacity, and pH to hold a stable 7.8–8.4 for Malawi and Victoria cichlids. Concentrated and long-lasting: 6 g (1 tsp) treats 40–80 L (10–20 US gallons), then only every 2–3 weeks to maintain, so a container lasts. Stable, drift-resistant pH: the buffer capacity resists the pH swings that fade colors and stress cichlids. Built to work as a system: pairs with Cichlid Lake Salt and Cichlid Trace for a full lake recreation, with Tanganyika Buffer for a higher pH or Acid Buffer for a lower one. Best ForAfrican cichlid tanks recreating the hard, alkaline water of Lakes Malawi and Victoria — keeping pH steady in the 7.8–8.4 range for vibrant, low-stress fish.What It DoesA carbonate-salt blend that increases carbonate hardness, buffer capacity, and pH, maintaining a stable pH of 7.8–8.4. For a higher pH use Tanganyika Buffer; for a lower pH combine with Acid Buffer.DirectionsUse 6 g (one level teaspoon) per 40–80 L (10–20 US gallons) daily until the desired pH is attained and maintained; thereafter use as needed, usually no more than once every 2–3 weeks. Best dissolved in fresh water first. Use when setting up a tank or with water changes (preferably after adding Cichlid Lake Salt).Available Sizes250 g, 500 g, 1 kg, 4 kgFAQWhat pH does this buffer hold?It maintains a stable pH of 7.8–8.4, the hard, alkaline range that Lake Malawi and Lake Victoria cichlids need.How do I pair it to target a higher or lower pH?For a higher pH, use Tanganyika Buffer; for a lower pH, combine this buffer with Acid Buffer to bring the target down while keeping the water buffered.How do I get the full rift-lake environment?Pair the buffer with Cichlid Lake Salt and Cichlid Trace, dissolving the buffer in fresh water and adding it (preferably after the Cichlid Lake Salt) at setup or with water changes.
