Congo Tetra

[foley69]

its so frustrating what to do i like bolivian rams but im not too sure also if that is the case i can add some surface dwelling fish and then add a bristlenose and put 2 homes in for the RTBS and the bristlenose or bad idea


also i am gettin a ph test kit and a nitrate test kit either tmz or friday but my loach seem fine swimming round as they usually have done in the past but im sure to be safe i will have these kits tmz or friday

 

[Miss Wiggle]

realistically in a tank that size I would leave the RTBS the whole floor to himself, so only middle/top water swimmers.

I know it can be really dissapointing when you have your heart set on something, personally I really don't like RTBS, just don't get the appeal and cos they're so territorial they can really limit your other fish choices.

Wait and see what some others say though, I'm not a RTBS expert so I could well be wrong. Just my opinion and thoughs.

also i am gettin a ph test kit and a nitrate test kit either tmz or friday but my loach seem fine swimming round as they usually have done in the past but im sure to be safe i will have these kits tmz or friday

Just asked cos rams can be quite sensitive to pH and nitrate so need to know your readings for them before making any decisions. rams also need a mature tank though so you'd have to wait a few months before getting them, so plenty of time to do your research and see if it could work.

 

[minxfishy]

Im in agreement with MW here, I personally dont think its a good idea to mix any ram with a RTBS, purely on territorial issues. If both decided they want the same space, then you could have problems - with the rams coming off worse I imagine. Although like MW I know nothing about RTBS but I do about rams.

The ph providing it is stable shouldnt be too much of a problem, whilst rams prefer 6.6 - 7.4 range, they can be kept higher providing you acclimatise slowly. The nitrAte ideally should be kept 20ppm or below, which in some cases is difficult depending on the range it comes out of your tap. Although some of it can be compensated by heavy planting and extra water changes.

 

[foley69]

i have an amazon sword in and another plant which i do not know what it is called but will look it up they will help with the nitrate and ammonia...these sharks are fussy hahaha ermmm ill resarch and then let you all know my outcome and will post some pics of my tank when it is done so you can see if all my effort is worth while

thanx for all the info much appreciated

also what about a bristlenose if i supply both fish with a home to swell in then get some mid-top dwelling fish

 

[waterdrop]

Am I remembering correctly that one of the issues with a RTBS is that they remain pretty innocuous, pretty harmless, for a good part of their early life, but then reach a size quite a bit later where they eventually become more aggressive and a much bigger problem?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[minxfishy]

You should be ok with a BN, yep lots of cave decision for them, BN love bogwood so that would more likely be his home of choice underneath some somewhere.

Yeah Waterdrop, from everything Ive read and heard, RTBS are fine for a long time but the older they become the more aggressive they turn.

 

[foley69]

good i shall get some bogwood for the bristlenose a cave foe the RTBS if i cannot get bog wood what about driftwood ??