Ram questions

[Finney]

Hi,
I have a cycled 23 gallon (set up for 1 month) with only 3 male guppies, 1 male platy and 2 julii cories so far. I would like to add a few more fish, likely 4 dwarf neon rainbows and a pair of rams. I originally wanted to add kribs, but I think they would be to aggressive for the tank.

I'm debating whether to get 2 German Blue Rams or 2 Bolivian Rams. I've heard that Bolivian Rams are easier to care for and keep alive, which might be good because I'm fairly new to this hobby. However, I do water changes every week (about 20%), the tank won't be heavily stocked, and I have NEVER had NitrAtes in either of my tanks. The tank is cycled for sure, because I had a small ammonia spike and then nitrite spike near the beginning, but nitrate readings are consistently 0.0 ppm. Also, there are live plants in the tank.

So, I'm wondering if it might be possible for me to keep Blue Rams due to my low nitrates? If you think this would be ok, please let me know because I would rather have blues than bolovians (more colorful). Also, how do you sex rams?

Thanks!

 

[Pure]

I'm kinda thinking your tank isn't done cycling yet. A reading of NO nitrates says that the ammonia isn't being converted. Have you tested for ammoni or nitrites? What kind of test kits are you using, drops or strips?

Live plants will eat up the nitrates, but you have to have a good amount of plants for the readings to be zero.

 

[Finney]

Here is the info from when I first set up the tank:

Day 1 – set up tank with treated water, started filter, heater, etc.
Day 4 – added 3 male guppies and 1 male platy
Day 5 – added filter media, plant and rock from another established, cycled tank; Ammonia = 0.0 ppm
Day 6 – Ammonia = 0.25 ppm
Day 7 – Ammonia = 0.0 ppm; Nitrite = 0.15 ppm
Day 8 – Ammonia = 0.0 ppm; Nitrite = 0.0 ppm
Day 9 – Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate all = 0.0 ppm
Days 10, 11, 12, to today (about day 30) – Ammonia, Nitrite & Nitrate all = 0.0 ppm

I'm using the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals drop test kit. I know the nitrate test works, because when I tested a friend's tank, I got a reading of 20ppm. Both of my tanks have never had more than 0ppm nitrate - and one's been set up with no fish deaths for 9 months. Although I know you're supposed to have some nitrates... so I'm not too sure what's going on.

 

[Dr.Gonzo]

I've had pretty good luck with my rams. Just do frequent water changes(at least 40% a week) and I add peat to my filter. Easy.

 

[Pure]

Well now..You never mentioned the tank was set up useing cycled filter media. That changes things a bit. Yeah not sure what is going on with the nitrates there, but yes I would agree that you would be safe to keep rams. Just keep up on your waterchanges, they are pretty unforgiving about being slack in that department.