Q:  Do I need Cichlid Salts in my African tank?    

A:   That will depend on a few factors.  If your tap water is moderately hard or harder, and has a pH of 7.0 or higher, then just adding Aragonite (crushed coral) to your filter's media basket is all you need to do.  Let nature find a balance.

If, you water is soft and/or acidic then you may wish to get a holding tank (plastic trash cans work great) and fill it with enough water to perform a water change.  Add a powerhead for circulation and some limestone/coral and let it sit for 24-48 hours. (sometime the whole week) This will harden the water and raise the pH so as not to crash your tank pH when adding new water.

 The most important aspect of your tanks water parameters is consistancy.  If you maintain a stable pH the fish will be much happier than one that is in a "perfect" range but fluctuates through the week.