Yes Or No To Blue Ram Cichlid

[Rummynose]

I've never paid much attention to cichlids before, but ever since I saw a picture of the blue ram cichlid I have been getting more and more interested in finding out more about them and whether I could fit one or even a pair into my 30 gallon tank. I know they are very sensitive fish to water parameters, and that their life span is not very long (usually 2 yrs).

I am interested in hearing your opinion on whether adding one or a pair would be too much for my tank:

30 gallon (36 inches long)
Aquaclear 50 filter (cycled, almost one year old)
temp set at 26 C (78 F)
ph 6.5 (had ph crash due to extremely low water hardness in tap water and am now buffering with crushed corals in filter, ph has been stable since adding the crushed coral)

9 rummynose tetras
6 black phantom tetras
3 otocinclus (lost 3 of the initial 6 during the ph crash 4-5 weeks ago)
some red cherry shrimp (hiding in there somewhere)

plants: Cabomba, vallis, amazon sword, pennywort, a few java fern, a mossball and java moss on drift wood
one cave (made for aquariums)

substrate: natural, polished gravel

If you guys think it would be too much, I will wait until I am investing in a bigger tank! I read the blue ram cichlid is supposed to be compatible with black phantom tetras, but for the rummies there are divided opinions.
Any input you guys could give me would be very much appreciated!
Thanks

 

[Fishy friend2]

I think that a ram will be fine in there

 

[hawkdaddy]

personally i think your water paramaters are pretty good, but i reckon rams prefer quite soft water, and 30Gal is definitely enough for rams
I keep my rams with a few emperor tetras, and judging off how they get along the compatibilty should be alright
I'm not an expert on stocking or but for everything else i think i pair of rams would be fine in there.
Great choice of fish btw, rams are one of my favouries

 

[Rummynose]

Super! So, I could get at least one!

I will research some more about this beautiful fish and then browse my LFSs to find one, lol!

 

[Keeper Of Cichlids]

Rams prefer soft water, low ph and high temps, your tanks perfect.
They can live up to 5 years providing their tank, water, temps are perfect for it.
They do really like temps from 28c, maybe you could raise it?

 

[Rummynose]

Rams prefer soft water, low ph and high temps, your tanks perfect.
They can live up to 5 years providing their tank, water, temps are perfect for it.
They do really like temps from 28c, maybe you could raise it?

Thanks, Keeper Of Cichlids, that is really good news, so the temp will be raised lol!

 

[Keeper Of Cichlids]

Glad I could be of help!

 

[Man of fish]

Have you looked at bolivians? Very similar. Just another suggestion but if you like blues go for it! They're just a little more demanding.

 

[Rummynose]

Have you looked at bolivians? Very similar. Just another suggestion but if you like blues go for it! They're just a little more demanding.

Yeah, it's the blue ram that caught my eye, lol! My husband seems to like it a lot too!!!!