Starting a Ram Tank

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Rolance

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Mar 18, 2013
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450
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Louisiana
My brother has a 29 gallon that had a few african cichlids in it. Well that didnt quite work out so we tore the tank down to completely clean it and change the gravel to sand and re-scape it. The africans made it super nasty.

He is running two AC 50's and we were buffing the water to 8.2 ph. We returned the cichlids to the store we got them a year ago and got store credit for them. Now he wants to try his hand at German Rams. They look beautiful but i heard they are hard to keep.

We are doing a fish in cycle in his tank right now using filter media from my 55 gal community tank and his old filter media (just squeezed it out in tank water and put new purigen pouches in it). He has some danios and tetras in there right now and i just checked the parameters and everything is good. Gonna let the tank establish for a few weeks before gettting the rams.

How many rams should he get? Is 7.5 ph ok for rams?
What other fish could he get? Bottom feeders? Otos?
 
2 mf pairs and some Cory's would be cool, that oh should be fine, temp should be around 81-82.
 
yeh we were thinking about doing some Cories with them.

The only thing im worried about is that I keep reading that the only hard part with them is acclimating. We are definitely going to make sure the tank is good and cycled, but the drive from our LFS is about 40 mins. We have a bucket with a lid on it for transport.
 
Just drip acclimate them, my Lfs is about 40 away too, mine survived the trip;) a school if rummynose tetras would be a nice addition with the rams, than some emerald Cory's.. Be a sweet tank right there..
 
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Just drip acclimate them, my Lfs is about 40 away too, mine survived the trip;) a school if rummynose tetras would be a nice addition with the rams, than some emerald Cory's.. Be a sweet tank right there..


Lol that's what I'm planning for my 45 gallon! 8 Rummies, 4 Bolivian Rams, 6 Peppered Cory's, and some guppies. :D
 
Lol that's what I'm planning for my 45 gallon! 8 Rummies, 4 Bolivian Rams, 6 Peppered Cory's, and some guppies. :D
thats my 20 tall!! A ram, 6 neons, 2 guppys and 6 Cory habrosus... All the levels are covered... Great tank..
 
Yah!! When they're not getting mysterious illnesses and dying for no reason;)
 
So Rams are not recommended for tanks that have been established for less than a year. Putting Rams into a tank that is established only a few weeks or even months is likely a recipe for disaster. I would recommend you continue to run the tank with the tetras and danios for at least six months - ensure that parameters are steady and not changing at all, and then add your rams.
 
So Rams are not recommended for tanks that have been established for less than a year. Putting Rams into a tank that is established only a few weeks or even months is likely a recipe for disaster. I would recommend you continue to run the tank with the tetras and danios for at least six months - ensure that parameters are steady and not changing at all, and then add your rams.
even if the filters are matured?
 
Lol poor rolance is probably getting spammed with notifications right now.


Cycling 45 Gallon. ???
 
lol yeh.

I was told that as long as the tank is cycled and not changing parameters it should be fine. That shouldnt take a year
 
I added mine to a 2 month old tank.. Aside from a bout w parasites it's been smooth sailing..
 
Ok, so this is what I'm going to do. First, I will add my school of RNT. The next week, I will buy my cories. Then, I will add my BR. I am going to add my guppies as soon as the tank is cycled.


Cycling 45 Gallon. ???
 
Just something you might want to take into account! Rams of all types are currently been mass breed in some very poor conditions with chemicals added to the tanks to improve the colours of the fish. My advice to you is to not get the fish from your LFS but instead find a specialist breeder.

Within the tank make sure you have plenty of little hiding spots for the rams. Your PH could do with been lower than 7.5 but speaking with a breeder they can tell you their tank PH's.

Good luck there not an easy fish to keep but they are beautiful.
 
even if the filters are matured?

I am also curious. I want to add my rams after my tank is cycled but I want it to be safe for them too.


Cycling 45 Gallon. ???

If you have a mature filter and water parameters are constant, then you are good to go. Keep in mind however that water parameters can and do change often on a cycled tank for 6 months to a year. Even after a year water parameters can change quickly, especially with changes in maintenance. German Blue Rams have a reputation for being hard to keep for a reason.
 
If you have a mature filter and water parameters are constant, then you are good to go. Keep in mind however that water parameters can and do change often on a cycled tank for 6 months to a year. Even after a year water parameters can change quickly, especially with changes in maintenance. German Blue Rams have a reputation for being hard to keep for a reason.


Lol I'm talking about Bolivian rams, more hardy, no?


Cycling 45 Gallon. ???
 
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