freshwaterguy

My tank cycled one week a go, I have done a 25% water change and nitrate is now <10ppm I will do 20% wc when 20ppm is reached and keep on top of this. Live plants are due to arrive tomorrow in Java Fern. I have just added two pieces of bogwood which I have read can reduce PH and aquarium has lots of hiding places.

I would like to know if my 4 x tiger barbs & 4 x zebra danios and the below conditions are suitable for blue rams and are a pair the best way to go?

PH 7.5
78F

Advice would be appreciated as the Blue Rams interest me a lot.

Thanks

Jacko

I would say no, without knowing your tank size. The tiger barbs, and zebra danios are a bit on the more wiley side and rams are shy fish that need peaceful conditions. Also they are a warm water fish, likeing temps of 80-85 degrees farenheit. Another thing to remember about them is that they are soft water fish, though they might do okay in your water check with your LFS about the hardness they keep their fish at. Also wait another month before adding them if you are absolutely set on getting them because they are slightly delicate they need a mature aquarium.

freshwaterguy

The two pieces of bogwood have indeed reduced the PH now PH 7, tank has been running since August 5th with Fish and cycled just over 10 days a go.

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 0ppm after todays w/c

Java Fern should help keep Nitrate in check for a while no

My LFS advised that Blue Rams do require a more mature tank and to leave for at least one month before adding Blue Rams which is fair enough.

LFS advised that Blue Rams will do OK with Barbs and Danios, I will be getting at least one more each of these before adding Rams if I do add Rams at all.

Rams are just so cute, if I have to I will take the Danios back to the LFS as I believe these can be fin nippers too.

Jacko

IT isnt the danios that are nasty little fin nippers, it is the tiger barbs. Unless kept in a school of 7 or more then they tend to be aggressive, nippy towards everything in the tank.

Java Fern isn't a very good nitrate absorber because of it's slow growth rate it doesn't absorb anythign as fast. Hornwort (if available) is a superb nitrate absorber because of it's speedy growth rate. Even Java Moss does better than J. Fern.

freshwaterguy

I have today purchased a couple of 50g bunches of Java Moss from Ebay should be here by Wednesday looking forward to getting this.

I will not be getting blue rams well not for at least one more month, I plan to get a few green barbs to make up the barb numbers to 6 or 7 and some neon or cardinal tetras.

With Barbs and to a lesser extent Zebra Danios being nippers I do not think they would be suitable tank mates for blue rams, i think i will wait to purchase blue rams and just build a nice community set up until i get another tank on the go.

I could go without zebra danios but I love my Tiger Barbs

Thank for your advice.

neverendingninja

I don't think barbs really school with other barbs besides their own species, so you may need to get 3 or 4 more tiger barbs.

Jacko

Green barbs=varient of tiger barb.
They are teh ones that look kinda like they were colored on by a kid with a green crayola.LOL.

All sounds well, good luck!

neverendingninja

Good to know! Was just looking out, ya know.

I'm sure someone here knows better than me, as I've never kept barbs at all, but I'm still curious as to whether schooling/shoaling fish prefer their own color variation, or if they don't have any preference when it comes to color morphs.

Just wondering. Fill me in.

Jacko

I haven't kept Tigers before but from other sites I am on most people claim they school just fine together, as long as it is more than one loner of one varieation like:
3 greens
3 regs.
3 albinos

instead of:
7 regs
1 albino
1 green