70 Gallon In Cycle

[Shelby]

So, got a 70 gallon tank getting ready to cycle so I'm looking at stock. I want something relatively peaceful with lots of color. Bolivian Rams are goregous as well as German Blue Rams. How many could I get? Would love to have lots of fish in this tank. I can mix in other fish with these guys right?

I'm thinking bottom feeders like cory's or dojo loaches. I have two (dojos) in a 30 gallon tank but they are getting rather large and I can move them over. Maybe some angels?

Couple of questions though. Water will be RO water so the PH is totally neutral. I plan on putting in black sand, some driftwood, probably fake plants so if they are uprooted it isn't a big deal. Can I use limestone peices to build caves and crevices for them? Or do I need something like slate?

Will post my cycle log in the freshwater section as it isn't starting until Monday or Tuesday. Waiting for supplies to be delivered! I'm taking some filter media out of my 30 gallon tank to jump start my cycle so I'm excited. I'm thinking it shouldn't take too long!

 

[kaivalagi]

get some geo red head tapajos if available near you, I think a group of 4-5 would be okay in that tank (don't normally grow past 6"). They sort of stick together in a group too and are so far the most interesting cichlids I've had and so far zero aggression except when standing up for themselves

Definitely go with fake plants, I found out the hard way with my geo's...



I question the RO only simply because I have seen here and there comments on no mineral content being a problem...I would certainly do some digging on the subject before you go ahead with RO only anyway...

 

[Shelby]

That is one of the reasons I was going with the rams because they prefer a neutral PH. Was the site I read wrong about rams?

 

[kaivalagi]

That is one of the reasons I was going with the rams because they prefer a neutral PH. Was the site I read wrong about rams?

The problem with RO water is that not only is acid/alkaline content removed but also any minerals that are good for fish. This and a stable pH in my mind are far more important.

Anyway I've always thought that blue rams "require" < 6.5 pH, bolivian rams 6.5 - 7.5...according to species listings anyway

To be honest the documented pH requirements for most (not all) fish can be a little over kill and are a guide but by no means an essential requirement. A lot of people don't pay too much attention to them, within reason anyway. I for example have geo's in my tank that "should" be in < 6.5 pH but mine is 7.5 and doing just fine...so long as your pH is steady and fish are introduced very very slowly i.e. over an hour or more with tank water added to their bag bit by bit, they should be fine and dandy.

If fish are reared in captivity their pH requirements are much "looser" than wild caught too

Every case is different thought, some fish, such as blue rams, can be extremely sensitive and so keeping pH in their native levels is best, but I have seen people keeping rams in 7.5 pH just fine...

What is your natural pH from the tap? I would hazard a guess that your tap water pH levels would be fine for Bolivian rams for example...

edit: may be worth keeping an eye on this topic: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/331685-my-new-rams/
pH at 7.5 with blue rams...

 

[Glenbo1981]

Green Terror!