Blue Rams - An Alternative?

[jamiesalisbury]

Hi,

I really wanted to get a couple of Blue Rams but my PH value is 8.0 - and I've read that they don't like PH over 7 or so. Do you think they would be ok? If not, can you suggest any alternatives? Their tankmates will be weather loaches, corys, guppies and maybe some tetras in a 95L tank with live plants. I don't think I can have gouramis - the fish tank is next to my piano and I read they're very sensitive to noise.

I did buy a barrel of RO water from the fish shop, but it seems like a bit of a hassle just for 2 fish (I have a tiny flat, so I have to store it in an external garage). Is there any other way to lower the PH without too much hassle? I don't like the idea of getting peat and making my water brown.

Thanks

Jamie

 

[babybell911]

I have two blue rams in a PH of 7.6 they are doing fine.
I think the lower PH is more to do with breeding. As long as you introduce them slowly to your water I think they'll be fine

 

[Liam]

Bolivian Rams would be a good alternative, they will tolerate the high ph. They are not as colourful but they are equally interesting and tough little guys. Yeah unless you get the ph down and the water softened the blues wont do well.

 

[charliesmith]

i'd agree that bolivian rams are a good alternative. I've got a PH of 8 aswell being in central london and wanted blue rams alas the high the PH. I've had my bolivian rams (2 males) for roughly 4 months and they are doing fine! raised my temperature a wee bit aswell , hasn't affected any other fish and the colour of the rams has intensified because of it!

good luck

 

[Callum]

you dont want your water too be too hard though bolivians have limits too

 

[xJake]

Bolivians can do just fine in harder water. I've even heard of people keeping them in brackish water tanks and having them live for years. Be sure to acclimate them slowly by doing a drip acclimation by starting a syphon through some airline tubing with a air control valve on the end to control the flow down to 1 drip per second. They would probably go into pH shock if you tried normal acclimation as most stores keep them at a pH of between 6.8-7.2

 

[jamiesalisbury]

Thanks for the advice! Bolivians sound good - although I still love the look of the blues...tempted to give it a go as I do have that barrel of RO in the garage! I'm not going to do it for another few weeks (got to add my fish gradually and the rams will be last) so I've got time to make my mind up.

I don't have any airline tubing, valves etc., but I'll try to find another way of gradually acclimatising them. Also, Charlie - what temperature do you have the tank at?

Thanks

 

[yvez9]

I'd say go for it with that pH
blue rams are veyr sensitive to water conditions but they should adapt fine if you acclimate them slowly

you should first ask the store the pH of the tank they are kept in. A good store will know or at least have a rough idea.
a way to aclimate them very slowly is to ask the store to put lots of water in the bag. When you get home, transfer the water and fish into a big bowl. Then take tank water and a little (think maybe 5% of the volume of water from the fish store) at a time add it to the bowl. When the bowl is full, remove half the water and continue adding a bit of your tank water every 5 minutes. After about 2 hours they should be ok.

As for Bolivian rams, i prefer them myself. I find them much more active and i think they have more personnality but that's just my opinion