I own and operate an African Cichlid hatchery in upstate New York. We work withover one hundered species from both Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi. Current capacity is in excess of 35,000 gallons.

Seachem cntacted me when they began development of a new line of cichlid salts. They planned to duplicate as nearly as possible the actual chemical analysis from the three great lakes of Africa: malawi, Tanganyika and Victoria. This is in contrast to the available additives which were little more than combinations of Epsom salt and bicarbonate of soda.

Seachem asked me to test it in my facility. My water is alkaline but low in calcium, magnesium, potassium and trace elements. I had been experiencing low fertility rates in various Tanganyikan substrate spawners (Lamprolugos and Julidochromis). I ran a controlled study with 16 spawning groups. Eight received the Seachem salts and eight did not. All other variables (feeding, temperature, tank size, lighting) were unchanged. The results were not subtle. Seven out of the eight groups receiving the salts responded with virtually 100% fertility rates. The cnrol group remained unchanged.

Since this time, I've used Seachem salts throughout my hatchery; especially with newly imported wild breeding stck. Closely matching the lake chemistry reduces stress during the acclimatization phase.

Sincerely,
Doug Conkling

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