55 Gal Stocking Question

[Kstawski]

My 55 gal (long) tank has been cycled and running for a little over 3 months. So far I have a bottle nose plec with 6 white tip tetras (I've been slowly stocking). I do a 20% water change weekly and my lfs has been testing my water and reported that all levels are fine. I was wondering if a German Blue Ram, or a couple, would be an appropriate addition? If not, any other recommendations?

Any input would be much appreciated!

 

[Ruskull]

Hello!
 
I've never kept them myself, but I believe German Blue Rams prefer a warm tank, like around 83-84 degrees.  What temperature are you keeping your tank at?

 

[fluttermoth]

Rams are very delicate and difficult little fish to keep; some people consider them harder than discus.
 
What are the hardness, pH and nitrate levels in your tap water?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Also, it would be a good idea to have your own test kit.
 
 
Oh, and welcome.  Do you live near Chicago?

 

[Kstawski]

I'm gonna pick up a test kit tomorrow, it just seemed cheaper for them to do it, haha. Any brands better than another?

I live on the northwest side of Chicago, near ohare.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Liquids are better than strips.
 
 
I thought you were a Chicago guy.  Congrats on another Cup - although, the first one a few years ago hurts me still...

 

[Jbram]

Hi Kstawski,
 
I am by no means an expert on fish, I have only been doing the hobby for a total of a year now.  I have a pair of GBR and I love them and have had no issues with them other then when I removed eggs from their tank to try and keep the fry safe. For some reason the day after I removed the eggs my male died and no one could give me a definitive answer why.  He had followed the rock to the top and stayed there when I pulled it out.
 
Originally I had them in a 40 gallon community tank with 2 DG some tetra and corys.  I have since moved the female to my 120 gallon and gotten a new male.  She has been in the new tank for a month and I added the male about a week an half ago.  Yesterday she laid a large amount of eggs.  I have not personally had any issues with my GBR and they get along fine with all my other fish except for when they have eggs then the others just have to stay out of their corner.  I keep  my tank at 79, all the research I have done before getting them said between 72 and 79 for tank conditions with a  ph around 6-7.
 
I have heard how hard these fish can be but I tried them and have had good luck thus far thankfully.  Beautiful fish and mine have always been extremely active in the tank and bring large personality.  My female is tiny and she doesn't put up with crap from anyone. 

 

[Wills]

Lets see if I can clear up some of the confusion on Blue Rams the problem with them is it very hard to know what kind you have and what generation from wild they are. If it is a wild ram or an F1 or F2 bred stock then you need to keep them in low ph with a high temperature if they are a farm bred one they are generally going to be hardier and actually need neutral ph with mid range temps. This is because of how they have been farmed for generations over 5-10 years in places in Asia like Singapore and Eastern Europe like Czechoslovakia so the water they are raised in for lets say 10 generations become natural to them and its how they thrive in most tanks.
 
Generally though I would usually recommend bolivian rams or even other dwarf cichlids if its a mixed tank - for example Apistogramma Panduro provide a similar colour palette to Blue Rams - with their electric blue males and black and yellow bumble bee females.
 
From your success with these in a mixed tank Jbram I would say you have farm bred Rams so your keeping them correctly and by the sounds of it raising them fantastically Dont beat your self up about your old male, when fish are breeding it can be a real strain on them - all their senses are heightened and it is not unusual for one partner to die in the process - its not a nice situation but it is always a risk when you have breeding cichlids. 
 
Wills

 

[fluttermoth]

I would also point out that rams very often look perfectly fine for a good few months but then suddenly die for what seems like no reason and with few, if any, symptoms when they ought to be living for between three and five years, easily

 

[Jbram]

Bah got home from work and my snails ate all my rams eggs...

 

[Wills]

I would also point out that rams very often look perfectly fine for a good few months but then suddenly die for what seems like no reason and with few, if any, symptoms when they ought to be living for between three and five years, easily

 
Thats what happens when they are a the wrong end of the temperature for their line of breeding - its usually the ones closer to wild that struggle in this way. Its sort of like what happens with Gymnogeophagus but on a shorter timescale.
 
Wills