Help! German Blue Rams

[TMRC Exotics]

No they just said it was good to go. I'll probably take a sample back today and have them tell me the specifics

Don't waste your time, they can't tell you a thing. Those strips are useless. Put your finger in the sample and try to read the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate with your finger tip, it will be just as accurate.

I would return them, your tank is not cycled. What did you use to cycle it? Pure surfactant free ammonia? If not, in 4 weeks it's not cycled.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[alexgrippy]

Don't waste your time, they can't tell you a thing. Those strips are useless. Put your finger in the sample and try to read the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate with your finger tip, it will be just as accurate.

I would return them, your tank is not cycled. What did you use to cycle it? Pure surfactant free ammonia? If not, in 4 weeks it's not cycled.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Aquarium Advice mobile app

They use a liquid test kit. Not strips.

 

[TMRC Exotics]

I've been taking it to my LFS. They use an actual kit but just test strips.

Oh this threw me off, guess you meant not instead of but.

There's also a lot of room for error by the person testing, I do not trust fish stores to be very competent at this.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[alexgrippy]

Oh this threw me off, guess you meant not instead of but.

There's also a lot of room for error by the person testing, I do not trust fish stores to be very competent at this.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Aquarium Advice mobile app

Yeah that was a typo. And I believe it. I've got my own kit ordered but I think I will take them back anyways. I'd hate to have them die on me. Maybe In the future I'll try them again.

 

[toolman]

I would follow whatever advice coralbandit gives, the forum's ram expert.

You will learn a lot your first year, then when you have experience you can get rams. I had aquarium's (before the internet) then got back into the hobby a year/year & 1/2 ago starting with easy/hardy fish, you will appreciate having easier to care for fish.

 

[alexgrippy]

Sounds good, I welcome the advice.

 

[nirbhao]

Thank you for being receptive. We really do want what's best for you and your fish.

 

[alexgrippy]

Thank you for being receptive. We really do want what's best for you and your fish.

I had to call and debate with the store for them to let me return them. Shocked me that they said they don't usually accept returns.

 

[nirbhao]

Yeah, that seems like terrible policy.

 

[DutchMuch]

Yeah, that seems like terrible policy.

Completely agree with this

 

[Polycomb71]

GBRs are probably best off being introduced to biologically mature tanks. They are also very nitrate sensitive, and demanding of impeccable water quality. I kept a couple for a little more than a year, before they died. Making harder water soft is quite a bit of work. My NYC tap water is no good for keeping GBRs. The Bolivian Rams do far better and are way more forgiving.