An Amazon Tank

[Fishy_7]

I am thinking of starting a new small tank specifically for Rams. I love those fish but have had a real lack of success in keeping them. I put it down to the hard water in my area and obvilously they need soft. A friend of mine recently told me about the "Aqua Soil" product, which is a substrate that has qualities in keeping water soft and acidic. I also plan to filter peat and possibly filter the water before I add to the tank to reduce the hardness. I will aim to make this tank a planted one as well.

What would be a good size tank to aim for for a couple pairs of Rams, possible a small shoal of Rummy Nose tetras and a few corys?

Any suggestions on tank size and methods in keeping water soft and acidic will be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Ace Of Spades]

I am thinking of starting a new small tank specifically for Rams. I love those fish but have had a real lack of success in keeping them. I put it down to the hard water in my area and obvilously they need soft. A friend of mine recently told me about the "Aqua Soil" product, which is a substrate that has qualities in keeping water soft and acidic. I also plan to filter peat and possibly filter the water before I add to the tank to reduce the hardness. I will aim to make this tank a planted one as well.

What would be a good size tank to aim for for a couple pairs of Rams, possible a small shoal of Rummy Nose tetras and a few corys?

Any suggestions on tank size and methods in keeping water soft and acidic will be appreciated. Thank you.

Id say about 15-20 Gallons would be minimum for a couple of rams, about 8 tetra and 6 cories, if you had a half decent filter. Unless your PH is off the scale like 7.5+, I wouldnt really worry about it. Most fish are tank bred these days and unless your buying WC fish or F1 fish a neutral or slightly higher PH wont harm them much as long as you acclimatise them slowly.

Thats my opinion

Many THanks
Ace Of Spades

 

[shroob]

Bogwood is good for an amazon tank, it looks the part as well as having qualities that affect the water's chemistry softening and lowering pH. If you're serious about really wanting to change your waters stats, an RO unit might be a good investment, this way you can get the water you want.

 

[Fishy_7]

I am thinking of starting a new small tank specifically for Rams. I love those fish but have had a real lack of success in keeping them. I put it down to the hard water in my area and obvilously they need soft. A friend of mine recently told me about the "Aqua Soil" product, which is a substrate that has qualities in keeping water soft and acidic. I also plan to filter peat and possibly filter the water before I add to the tank to reduce the hardness. I will aim to make this tank a planted one as well.

What would be a good size tank to aim for for a couple pairs of Rams, possible a small shoal of Rummy Nose tetras and a few corys?

Any suggestions on tank size and methods in keeping water soft and acidic will be appreciated. Thank you.

Id say about 15-20 Gallons would be minimum for a couple of rams, about 8 tetra and 6 cories, if you had a half decent filter. Unless your PH is off the scale like 7.5+, I wouldnt really worry about it. Most fish are tank bred these days and unless your buying WC fish or F1 fish a neutral or slightly higher PH wont harm them much as long as you acclimatise them slowly.

Thats my opinion

Many THanks
Ace Of Spades

Thanks for the input.

I tried to keep Rams in my community tank, I have a lot of bogwood, filtered peat etc. but the water remained hard despite trying to soften it. Ultimately, the Rams perished and I can only put it down to the hard water as all the other fish were fine, it was only the Rams that died with 2 weeks of introducing them. I bought 2 pairs over a 2 month period.

 

[Ace Of Spades]

I am thinking of starting a new small tank specifically for Rams. I love those fish but have had a real lack of success in keeping them. I put it down to the hard water in my area and obvilously they need soft. A friend of mine recently told me about the "Aqua Soil" product, which is a substrate that has qualities in keeping water soft and acidic. I also plan to filter peat and possibly filter the water before I add to the tank to reduce the hardness. I will aim to make this tank a planted one as well.

What would be a good size tank to aim for for a couple pairs of Rams, possible a small shoal of Rummy Nose tetras and a few corys?

Any suggestions on tank size and methods in keeping water soft and acidic will be appreciated. Thank you.

Id say about 15-20 Gallons would be minimum for a couple of rams, about 8 tetra and 6 cories, if you had a half decent filter. Unless your PH is off the scale like 7.5+, I wouldnt really worry about it. Most fish are tank bred these days and unless your buying WC fish or F1 fish a neutral or slightly higher PH wont harm them much as long as you acclimatise them slowly.

Thats my opinion

Many THanks
Ace Of Spades

Thanks for the input.

I tried to keep Rams in my community tank, I have a lot of bogwood, filtered peat etc. but the water remained hard despite trying to soften it. Ultimately, the Rams perished and I can only put it down to the hard water as all the other fish were fine, it was only the Rams that died with 2 weeks of introducing them. I bought 2 pairs over a 2 month period.

Well my water is ridiculously hard and my rams are surviving alright.....It could of been a bad stock? or there could be something wrong with your water, as even though they wont be as sensitive as wild caught fish, they wont be the most hardy of fish either...

 

[Fishy_7]

I have a spare Fluval 201 cannister filter would using it for a 20 gal tank be overkill?

Well my water is ridiculously hard and my rams are surviving alright.....It could of been a bad stock? or there could be something wrong with your water, as even though they wont be as sensitive as wild caught fish, they wont be the most hardy of fish either...

Perhaps. I have kept Rams in a community tank before and they lasted a year. Where do you get your fish from? I live "down the road" from you in Rayleigh

 

[Ace Of Spades]

I have a spare Fluval 201 cannister filter would using it for a 20 gal tank be overkill?

Well my water is ridiculously hard and my rams are surviving alright.....It could of been a bad stock? or there could be something wrong with your water, as even though they wont be as sensitive as wild caught fish, they wont be the most hardy of fish either...

Perhaps. I have kept Rams in a community tank before and they lasted a year. Where do you get your fish from? I live "down the road" from you in Rayleigh

Eyy so many essex peoples on this forum , well there are hundred of places to go in Essex which is why I like it, and we have easy acess to trains so you can go even further. There are a few Wickford Aquatics, Theres one on the turnoff to billericay on the A127. But my favourite of all has to be Swallow Aquatics Rayleigh so far such a nice shop, Although I havent had the chance to visit many shops so I will do soon

 

[Fishy_7]

Eyy so many essex peoples on this forum , well there are hundred of places to go in Essex which is why I like it, and we have easy acess to trains so you can go even further. There are a few Wickford Aquatics, Theres one on the turnoff to billericay on the A127. But my favourite of all has to be Swallow Aquatics Rayleigh so far such a nice shop, Although I havent had the chance to visit many shops so I will do soon

Yes - Swallows is the store I use