Hi, Getting a Fifty Five gallon, Want Blue Rams

[bungalowbetta]

Hi all, I am new to your forum. I usually hang out over at Petfish.net, a wonderul site that has taught me alot . I have only had a five gal tank for about two-three years, and haven't purchased another tank, because i was waiting for just the right deal 8) Well I will be getting a 55 gal this weekend, and it's coming with the stand, lights, filtration, and well everything for 50.00 :shock: :!: :!: :!:
Okay to the point,
We have pretty much decided on what we want in the tank,
Rams, tetras, and cories, and my piggie cherry barbs! I have two cherrys in my five along with some pygmys cories, yes overstocked, but working.
I plan on moving the cherry barbs and getting a few more to cycle the fifty five with.
At some point we will decide on what tetra we want in the tank, get some cories (I like julius(Sp) I think)
IT will be awhile before we add the Rams Probably last- to avoid territorial disputes, as well as making sure our water is in the proper parameters, and acidic.
We are wanting to make it a amazon biotype tank. Which from what i've read will be good for all the inhabitants that we would like to keep.
We are guessing about
5 cherry barbs
10-12 2" tetras
about six cories
and 5-7 Blue Rams.
With driftwood and slate stacked caves. and live plants(if we can pull it off)
Any help on Planting you can offer, I think we will have sufficent lighting, and a canister filter, but any hints, or plants that would do or look best in this tank,
and info on the ratio of m/fm rams we should think about, and things i am missing in taking into conisderation with adding them to my tank.
Any thoughts -let me have it.
Also learn more about me at
http://hv3.7h.com/
I keep bettas pretty well, and have a little website dedicated to them.
It's a work in progress and there is alot more to add, specially when we get the 55 up.
By the way my user name is supposed to be BUNGALOWBETTA(it's missing the N) Haven't figured out how to get into my profile and edit is-so if anyone can help me with that too... :oops:

[bungalowbetta]

These Rams-
Perhaps we will want a few Ruby Clowns as well.
I would like to know with the rams and the ruby clowns-
Is it best to have Pairs or a bigger female to male ratio-
So in a fifty five if i had All Blue Rams would I want say three females and one male Or more like two pairs, or a pair of rams and a pair of ruby clowns?
How many total would be best in a fifty five that will have a full tetra and cory population?

I know that these guys can be sensitive to nitrates (or is it Nitrites? in the water) How often would a stocked 55 gal need to be changed in normal circumstances to accomidate these guys?
I am a little green with such a big tank, but don't mind the changes, just used to dealing with a five gal :? 10% once a week? Less /more?
Thanks and any replys would be great!

[finz]

Frequency of water changes depends on the numberand size of your fish as well as tank size. 10% a week is a good place to start - keep testing your water to see how well it works.

I'm afraid I can't answer you questions on the Rams' I have never kept them for any lenghth of time. It seems to be difficult to find healthy ones in my area.

[Rex Karr]

Sounds like you got it pretty much figured out. There's not much I can really help you with, because I have never kept Rams at all. In fact my only dwarves are Dorsigerus. As far as plants, I have no idea. All of mine are clothe and come from wal-mart, becuase all of my fish are large and dig.

As far as water changes,...well theres one thing we have in common. 10% a week may be fine. But 30% or so would be better.

Good luck, and I hope someone else can provide more info on this species.

And welcome to the Cichlid Forums!