What parameters for a Blue Ram tank? Ideal set up?

[abbysue]

Soooo, I thought that I'd be building and African tank, but it seems that my local water ranges much more towards SA norms: soft water with lowish GH and KH.

AND in terms of pretty fish, rams are just so nice!

So far, in my 55g (cycled! tank), I have pool sand, a big chunk of drift wood, some rocks stacked to make hiding places. A Fluval 306 filter, ceramic heater and some nice benificial bacteria.

What would an optimal number of rams be?

Should I get some juvies and let them grow up and pair naturally, or young adults?

What plants? Density?

Will a bristle nosed pleco do OK?

Dither fish? A school of some sort of tetras?

Thanks in advance for any help. If the rams would do better with another kind of substrate, I could make that happen, but with some reluctance

Susan

 

[Andrew McFadden]

This should help out with water requirements and stock
Species Profile: Blue Ram (Microgeophagus ramirezi)

 

[abbysue]

Thanks, Andrew!

 

[Andrew McFadden]

No problem