[cobraroll]

Hi all,
I currently have a 55g planted tank with 14 ember tetras.

I'm keen to add between 2 to 6 Bolivian Rams, would these (smaller) tetras cope and would this be overstocking?

From what I can gather from research, Bolivians (Altispinosus)
rather than Ramirezi would be alright with London's incredibly hard water and a PH of 7, although various LFS give me different answers.

Thanks,
C

 

[naegling23]

incredibly hard water?

Blue rams require very soft water (below 75ppm), so if the water is high, then they are out.

bolivians have a reputation for being fish that thrive in harder and more alkaline water, but from what I can tell, that is not necessarily true. The seem to be more tolerant than blue rams toward harder water, but they still prefer to live on the softer side. Basically, the optimum is slightly harder and more pH neutral than the blues.

If your water is very hard, I would look toward africans cichlids which would thrive under those conditions.

 

[ahud]

Most of the Africans would eat/destroy your plants. A lot of cichlids do some type of digging when spawning and will unroot the plants.

 

[Dutch Dude]

No wories abouth Bolivians and your tap water. I bread mine at PH=8 and GH=9 :wink:

I would go for a group of 6 Bolivians. They are so much more fun in groups and show a lot of funny social behaviour. They will be fine with the tetra's and no overstocking. I do recommend 2 times a week 50% water change.

Take care and have fun.

 

[MonteSS]

Dutch Dude said what I would have said. Dont fotget a nice group of six cories

....Bill

 

[Dutch Dude]

Dont fotget a nice group of six cories

Unless you want to breed them (cories snack on the eggs and wigglers). Some oto's are relatively save dough.