What Should I Do?

[ugly fish]

Hi
This morning I lost my blue ram . I don't know why as the other fish are really well so I am wondering what, if anything to try next.
The tank is 125 litre and has:
1 hoplo cat
8 black neons
6 glowlight danios
3 kuhli
1 peppermint plec
Ammonia and nitrite are 0 so water is fine. Tank has been running for ages so not new or anything.
I don't know whether I am fully stocked and to leave it as is now but I might give the hoplo to a friend so I am wondering if I would have room for something else? I would like just a pair of fish and was thinking kribensis maybe but preferably something hardier than the poor old rams as I haven't had much luck with them at all.
Any suggestions or advice very welcome.
Thanks

 

[celaeno]

i would not put a pair of male/female kribensis (kribs) in your tank, as they will terrorize your other fish when they breed. male kribs fight with each other and so do female kribs. so if you want kribs, you're going to have to go with one only. i recommend a male, as females are usually more boisterous.

 

[ugly fish]

Thanks for the reply. I am still in the thinking stage anyway and kribs are just part of the thought process. I really loved the rams but unfortunately I can't seem to be able to keep them alive. As I say my water is perfect but they seem to die for no reason.
Do you think I have space for another fish or even better a pair?
Any suggestions for something small-mid size and pretty?
thanks

 

[backtotropical]

Hi Ugly Fish,

Fish don't usually die for no reason. How often do you do water changes and how much water do you change?

Cheers

BTT

 

[ugly fish]

Hi
Yes I agree they don't normally die for no reason. For some reason though I haven't done very well with rams. I bought 2 male rams to begin with (not "to begin with" as tank has been running for years! just the first of the rams) about 4 months ago and 1 died a week later. I replaced that with a female when I found one and she soon showed the same symptoms (sitting on the bottom and breathing quickly) so I took her back and got another which died with no symptoms 2 weeks later. And now this one and obviously I am not going to replace them as it is just ridiculous!
I think it must be the hardness of my water (think it is about 7.8) or something which they don't like as it is always just after a water change that they start to go downhill. I change 30% every week but recently it has been about every 4 days as I added the glowlight danios just after Christmas and I was being ultra careful as the tank had been the same for so long. I don't have a nitrate test kit at the mo but I think it should be ok with all the water changes. I use either the white or the yellow bottle of water conditioner although at the mo it is the yellow.
I really disappointed that I can't get on with the rams as I think they are gorgeous.
any other suggestions would be gratefully received!