Compatible Fish?

JenCliBee · May 13, 2009

hey all, im going to be setting up my planted tank within the next month and i need some advice on compitable fish that will live happily with rams, i will be having a pair of blue rams (i think there called that lol) and i have no experience with rams whotsoever so any help would be a appreciative

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The tank will be primarily community working around the rams so which fish should i go for?

The tank is a rio 125..... rough dimensions are 32x17x14 and roughly 33 us gallon.

Tank stock i will be having so far will be the 2 rams, 11 sterbai cory's (maybe less just depends it i decide to split them or not) and 2 blue Panaque plecs (L239), tank will be heavily planted and will be running a external fluval 305 filter and maybe an extra powerhead inside just to add to the turnover for the plants.

Temperature ive read needs to be between 26-30 for rams but i would prefer the lower end of that scale to make it more barable for the plecs, ph will be around 6 becasue i have very soft water and doesnt buffer the ph so from tap water of 7 it drops to 6 within a day or two.

So thats a little background hopefully so people can help that little bit better lol

Thanks for your help

jen

bagu · May 13, 2009

my rams are fine with my tetras and SAE and my pleco i used to have!

in fact im getting a few corys soon

they are very peaceful! Just have lots of plants and hiding spots; and your set

minxfishy · May 13, 2009

Unfortunately you wont be able to lower the temp less than 26 or the rams wont thrive, they do like it to be warm.
Some people will come along and tell you they must be at 28, no less, or they will encounter all sorts of problems, however mine were happy at 26 but no less, unfortunately the plecs wont like it higher, so you might have to re-think. How about some apistogramma's instead of rams?

meguro · May 13, 2009

dont forget cardinals or rummys for dithers

JenCliBee · May 13, 2009

minxfishy said:
Unfortunately you wont be able to lower the temp less than 26 or the rams wont thrive, they do like it to be warm.
Some people will come along and tell you they must be at 28, no less, or they will encounter all sorts of problems, however mine were happy at 26 but no less, unfortunately the plecs wont like it higher, so you might have to re-think. How about some apistogramma's instead of rams?

26 will be fine for the plecs and if the rams will tollerate that then im sorted on that account

, may rethink the plecs but im not sure yet.... so now that sort of sorted what others suggest on the other fish compatibilty

Apisto's i may look into but tbh i think the other half has her sights set on rams

, i would just have a tank of plecs if i had my choice lol

meguro · May 13, 2009

bolivian ram can work in a wider temp range than blue ram. and apistos can look just as good.

minxfishy · May 13, 2009

Well its me, so Im gonna say rainbows arent I :lol:

, shoal of 8-10 praecox.

Davo86 · May 13, 2009

Cardinals, black neons, and marbled hatchets

JenCliBee · May 13, 2009

Was thinking green neons and galaxy rasbora's and a couple of other species of cory, how do they sound?

JenCliBee · May 13, 2009

Anybody else? input would be nice!!!

mancin · May 13, 2009

What about some Harlequin Rasboras? :good:

drobbyb · May 13, 2009

minxfishy said:
Well its me, so Im gonna say rainbows arent I , shoal of 8-10 praecox.

Definately.

keenonfish · May 14, 2009

JenCliBee said:
Was thinking green neons and galaxy rasbora's and a couple of other species of cory, how do they sound?

Sounds nice... I am rather partial to green / black neons myself and considered getting them as a nice contrast with my neons / cards, but went for a couple BPT's instead which I love :good:

- will be getting more for shoal effect I think!

JenCliBee · May 14, 2009

Thanks all for the suggestions

, the rainbows are a no go, i dont really like them and the other half really doesnt like them lol.

Harlequin Rasboras are just not my cup of tea, very plain and simple and to readily available, pretty much the same with marbled hatchets again not somethink that takes my fancy

Think im gonna go with the green and black neons with a nice group of galaxy rasbora's if i can source them that is

So will just ask, will the proposed fish be ok with the rams?, the L239 may be changed so temp of tank could be kept at the rams ideal of 28 so with this in mind will the G/rasbora's and the green and black neons be ok with that temp?

On the plec front i may go with a couple of L183's or a royal instead so temp is fine.

Thanks again all

jen