Planning My Second Tank

[Everyones_fairy_godmother]

I have enjoyed my first tank so much that I am wondering whether or not to go for a second, mostly I have stuck to the south american breeds of Cichlids because eventually I fancy some Discus but want some experiance in keeping fish from that reigion before a project like keeping and breeding Discus.

I was thinking on a 22"x24"x20" tank

Fish for it:
6 - Bolivian Rams
6 - German Blue Rams
12-15 Purple emperor tetras
also a few corys from the other tank
possibly a plec too

any thoughts will the rams be ok together? is it over stocked? I checked the fish to sufrace ratio in the tank and it seems ok but I would just like to make sure.

 

[lyotim88]

i would cut down all the rams into a pair of either one and then the rest should be fine.

 

[corycatz]

i would definitely cut the rams down to one pair but you also might get away with a pair of apistoes.

 

[Everyones_fairy_godmother]

Cool, it was the colours that made me want quite a few of the rams, pairs of both of just a pair of one?

 

[corycatz]

Depends but you could probably have a pare of both there pretty laid bake fish fore cichlids.

 

[AdAndrews]

get bolivian rams rather than german blues, blues are really hard to keep imo

 

[Truck]

cut down to 2 pairs of rams, i dont know how you have gone without any deaths or casualties tbh. if you want all of them you would be looking at a 120 UK gallon.

what species of cories do you own? as cories like it cool and rams like it warm, well with rams warmer water is detrimental to their health! 28oC for rams.

 

[Everyones_fairy_godmother]

Not got them yet, just looking into it. Was just wondering about other peoples opinions and experiences of these fish.

Bolivian rams are good at about 22-26C so it suits the croys too, I know the corys enjoy colder water too but around 22-26C is ok for them too.

I have Bronze corys they like the water 22-26C.

 

[Truck]

bolivian rams are not good at 22-26!!!

possible dangers from lower temps

slower metabolism
hexamita
premature death

 

[Everyones_fairy_godmother]

thought that was the German blues that were that iffy at lower temps, but cool more reading is needed I think.

 

[Truck]

thought that was the German blues that were that iffy at lower temps, but cool more reading is needed I think.

both species will be best at this temp. so choose tank mates carefully!

 

[stang1]

Bolivian rams would be fine if kept at a temp of about 25C.

 

[Truck]

really theyre not, read some studies on them. there a few really good ones

 

[stang1]

Bolivian Rams are a lot hardier than Czech Rams and are fine if kept at a temperature of 24-25C.
I'm not disbelieving any studies and perhaps they do better at higher temps but I've not heard of people losing them due to lower temps.

 

[Everyones_fairy_godmother]

really theyre not, read some studies on them. there a few really good ones

Would you mind sharing these studies you have read I would like to read them too if they are online it would be great but books are fine too.