Having Trouble Deciding

[buffalogal]

I'm almost through with the fishless cycle on my Amazon biotope inspired tank. I keep flip flopping over whether to get a pair of german blues, a blue and a gold, or a pair of Bolivians. The Bolivians do have such sweet faces! Which are your faves? My LFS has all three plus some other apistos.

I should mention that it's a heavily planted 33 gallon with sand and eco complete, lots of bogwood a ceramic "cave" and a large filter for a 55 that holds 2 cartridges. My ph is about 6.5 and the water is fairly soft. I'll have an albino bristlenose pleco, a few cory cats and some rummy nose tetras as companions. Also I would love a koi angel if it's not overstocking. I do have an empty 30 gal flat backed hex that I can start up if need be.

Thanks for your opinions and pics!

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

I don't have any personal experience with German Blue Rams yet since my water is on the hard side, but since they are infamously delicate I would advise choosing your provider carefully if you decide to go with them.

I do really love my Bolivian Ram, but then again I'm a big SA dwarf cichlid fan.

 

[angelmouse]

i think blues and golds are much prettier than bolivians, but the bolivians are more hardy.
Angel

 

[joecoral]

i'm with angel, i think the blue and gold's are much more attractive fish

 

[thegnu]

Your water sounds very good for blue rams though i would check the nitrate level. Blue rams love soft acidic water and hate nitrates so hard alkaline water and high nitrates kills them in no time at all, i would hate to think how many die in people's tanks every year and they deserve so much better

 

[buffalogal]

Thanks. I'm still not sure what I'll do. The Bolivians, from the posts I've read here, seem to be a little less skittish and definitely hardier. Is this anyone else's experience? Since these will be my first chiclids, (except for the 2 years I worked at lps, but they weren't really "mine") maybe the Bolivians would be better? I do have another tank that isn't up yet. I was thinking about 2 angels and 3 cockatoos. Maybe, since the cockatoos are more aggressive, I could do blue and gold rams on the bottom instead? A pair of each?

Your water sounds very good for blue rams though i would check the nitrate level. Blue rams love soft acidic water and hate nitrates so hard alkaline water and high nitrates kills them in no time at all, i would hate to think how many die in people's tanks every year and they deserve so much better

Thanks gnu. I have a lot of bogwood which helped soften the water. I love the blackwater look of the tannis.

As for the nitrates, all fish deserve better than that. That's what I hated about working at the big box Lps. Customers wouldn't listen beause they were going to do what they wanted and then, surprise, surprise, they lost their fish. I hate it when people think of animals as just part of their decor.

I have some nitrate at the moment, but it's because the tank is still cycling. I'm just rethinking my stocking options while I wait.