The tank is only 15 gallons.
The other fish in the tank are three guppies and a farlowella. (I've been meaning to relocate the farlowella because I believed the tank is too small for her. I now also believe that she is too big for the tank, in terms of bioload; I figured that could be partly why the nitrate seemed hard to lessen.)
The tank has been set up for at least a few months. To be honest I've lost track but since winter for sure (technically about two and a half years, because I had my first fish in there first - a betta).
I have had the ram for maybe a month and a half or two months.
Ammonia and nitrite have been consistently absent, but nitrate levels (I admit it's hard sometimes to tell the difference on the color chart) are around 30ppm (up to maybe 40/50 if I'm erring on that side, like I said, I find it sort of hard tp tell the difference between a couple of them) which I know is high.
I use tap water with Prime dechlorinator. I have a couple other tanks running perfectly (or sp I think) with the same water.
Last I saw of my ram, he was trying to hide himself under things and lay flat. He had enough spark in him to relocate himself a couple of times, but it definitely seems like his intent is to be as still (and hidden) as possible. That alone isn't weird, he's always liked a hidey spot. But now he's laying down, swimming sideways or even upside-down!
I turned the white lights off prematurely today in hopes that I help him feel successfully hidden, but I don't have high expectations.
