Stocking 30 Gallon Aquarium

[CollegeGuy]

Hello everyone!

I just purchased a 55 gallon aquarium to hold my mixed African Cichlids. I now have an empty 30 gallon aquarium. I now admit that a 30 gallon tank (30x12x18) just won't work with African Cichlids. I thought I would try my hand at other cichlids.

I am rather interested in several of the Rams available, but I am concerned about a few things:

The first thing I am concerned about is the high ph of the water where I am from. Out of the faucet I have no problem hitting 8.2 ph. I also have very hard water around 300ppm when you do water tests as well as an alkalinity around 300ppm.

Does anyone have any suggestions about stocking rams in a 30 gallon? Also, does anyone have experience keeping rams in tanks that are near my water range.
(8.4ph /300 ppm hardness/300 ppm Alkalinity)

Thanks for any and all input!

Best regards,

CollegeGuy

 

[thereverendturtle]

Rams are not going to be happy in your water. You would need R/O water and maybe a few cups of tap water to keep them happy. You would be better off with dwarf rift lake cichlids, like julidiochromis or the shell dwellers, with some dwarf rainbows for either fish.

 

[onidrase]

Agreed with reverend, you might as well be having sand pouring out of your faucet with those numbers. But julidochromis are even better than Rams IMO