Driftwood can lower pH (sometimes it doesn't).
7.6 is fine for anything from lakes Victoria or Malawi. Just check it in a week to make sure it stays up. Or check the gH and kH. If you have "hard water" most likely you don't need anything at all. If you don't, putting crushed coral in a bag or media container in a filter is most likely enough to keep the pH up.
I think reef sand would work, but its more expensive than you need. Crushed coral starts out ok (after you rinse all the dust out), but it slowly dissolves in soft water and eventually you have smaller pieces that can get in your impellers. However, before mine gets to the that point, I cover my filter intakes because snail shells are getting in my impellers. I haven't used sand. Its another impeller destroyer, but you can put a sponge on the intake. Sand is more 'natural' and some of the prettiest tank pics I've seen have sand. Most cichlids don't seem to have any trouble moving even large gravel about. If you get "earth-eaters", its cool to watch them throw sand out their gills.
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