New member: Substrate mix for cobalts, other Malawi spp.

[ptabar]

Long-time freshwater tropical aquarist, but venturing my 1st-time with African Rift cichlids: I plan to convert one of my 55-gal tanks to a L. Malawi tank, and want to hear from experienced folks on the best mix of substrate material. I'm hearing that at least 40% river gravel with at least 20% crushed coral... & I've heard that Aragonite can trip me up if I don't need a pH above 8.2, etc. Hoping to start with Blue Cobalts and maybe some peacocks... & not planning on adding any Shellies right now... My water chem/nitrate/nitrite/ammon levels are within Malawi specs in my other tanks right now, except for Kh (obviously), and I have seasoned biofilters I can transfer. And I've got plenty of cave habitat rocks! So, thanks for any sugg you can add on substrate material/mixes!

[daimen123]

you can just use sand. I use rocks to buffer the water and you could even put a bag of crushed coral in your filter for a buffer. But like you said your water is within spec.