German Blue Rams And Gravel(or Other Types Of Cichlids) In Lightly Planted, Tall 26 Gallon Aquarium

Currently have a 26 gallon tall aquarium with gravel. The most plants I'm hoping for are some hairgrass. I absolutely adore German blue rams, but I don't want to spend the money or time buying the sand and cycling the tank all over again. Are German rams okay with gravel and a lightly planted tank? If so, cna I keep more than a pair? If not, can you give me some suggestions for other types of cichlids which are okay with gravel? Thanks!

 

Any other tankmates?

I can’t help you with the gravel, but they need an established tank and the more plants the better.

 

Currently have a 26 gallon tall aquarium with gravel. The most plants I'm hoping for are some hairgrass. I absolutely adore German blue rams, but I don't want to spend the money or time buying the sand and cycling the tank all over again. Are German rams okay with gravel and a lightly planted tank? If so, cna I keep more than a pair? If not, can you give me some suggestions for other types of cichlids which are okay with gravel? Thanks!

if you go to ocean state job lot they have pool filter sand for $10 for 50lbs. plus changing substrate won't do anything to your cycle. I did it twice this weekend

 

Any other tankmates?

I can’t help you with the gravel, but they need an established tank and the more plants the better.

I would like more than one pair if possible, but if not, maybe a school of tiger barbs?

 

If you get a pair, they will get really aggressive during breeding, so if you want to do other fish I'd do a school of peaceful bottom feeders. Tiger barbs are too aggressive. But a pair would also show some very interesting behaviors

 

GBR should be fine in gravel. You just need to keep it clean and free from mulm [build up of waste] .
As for more then one pair what is the foot print of your tank ? The height is wasted space for rams and makes growing plants a little more difficult IMO .
I have kept 2 pair [breeding] in a 20 tall which is 12x24 .

 

I

if you go to ocean state job lot they have pool filter sand for $10 for 50lbs. plus changing substrate won't do anything to your cycle. I did it twice this weekend

What ive heard, is that if you're not careful, that sand can clog your filter, is this true? Also, while that's a great deal, I don't have an ocean state in my state. Although, we probably have something similar somewhere. Thanks for the advice!

GBR should be fine in gravel. You just need to keep it clean and free from mulm [build up of waste] .
As for more then one pair what is the foot print of your tank ? The height is wasted space for rams and makes growing plants a little more difficult IMO .
I have kept 2 pair [breeding] in a 20 tall which is 12x24 .

Same here, I have a 12x24

 

if you use one of those HOB's you should let the sand settle first otherwise you will potentially suck it into the impeller. I don't use HOBS on any of my big tanks but my youngest has one on her 55 and my QT has a HOB. Fortunately pool filter sand has almost zero cloud when you put it in water.

 

Same here, I have a 12x24

Just give them some line of sight breaks and a 'territory' for each in opposite back corners.
The real trick for most is finding a real 'pair' from LFS.
You should get your rams from a breeder[umm]..

 

If you get a pair, they will get really aggressive during breeding, so if you want to do other fish I'd do a school of peaceful bottom feeders. Tiger barbs are too aggressive. But a pair would also show some very interesting behaviors [

What about a school of corys? Ik GBRs like to hang out at the lower half of the tank, and so do corys. Ive kept tiger barbs in the past and if kept in large enough schools I find them perfect (not too aggressive, but enough to hold their own) the only thing I'm worried about is how aggressive the GBRs would be

 

I think you can do a school of cories, bronze, albino, or sterbai. Do you plan on raising some fry?

 

if you use one of those HOB's you should let the sand settle first otherwise you will potentially suck it into the impeller. I don't use HOBS on any of my big tanks but my youngest has one on her 55 and my QT has a HOB. Fortunately pool filter sand has almost zero cloud when you put it in water.

Fortunately, I don't have a HOB filter, but I did not know how great pool filter sand was. Youve helped me so much, but do you think that they would have pool filter sand at home depot or Lowe's?

Just give them some line of sight breaks and a 'territory' for each in opposite back corners.
The real trick for most is finding a real 'pair' from LFS.
You should get your rams from a breeder[umm]..

Sadly, I don't think my LPS has any GBRs, so ill prob have to call around and go out of town. Hopefully I don't get ripped off. Thanks for the advice!

I think you can do a school of cories, bronze, albino, or sterbai. Do you plan on raising some fry?

I only know a few breeds of cory, but can you give me a few suggestions on which breeds will cooperate/match the colors best to GBRs?

 

Bronze/albino and sterbaI are the only ones that come to mind that are temp. compatible with the rams.

 

SterbaI are the most heat tolerant of cories according to many.
GBR need minimum of 80f going up to 86f to stay healthy.Lower temps compromise their immune systems .MAke sure all the fish you plan with them are heat tolerant. IMO rams need to be #1 fish in tank as far as requirements go.If their needs can not be met you might want to consider Bolivian rams ,they do better in 76f water.
I breed and ship GBR all over the country[HawaiI several times,all successful]

 

Fortunately, I don't have a HOB filter, but I did not know how great pool filter sand was. Youve helped me so much, but do you think that they would have pool filter sand at home depot or Lowe's?

Depends on the store, but usually Home Depot or ACE Hardware carries it.

 

Alright, I'm kind of tired of reading this on this forum but GBR and any cichlid for that matter sift through sand for food, and sand is their preferred substrate, and do not get cories without sand, bottom dwellers especially cories and plecos need sand, cories non-stop sift through sand and if you have gravel you will kill your cories. Pool Filter Sand is literally $7 for 50LBS of it, and all you'd do is drain your tank, take your gravel out, and rinse the sand in buckets a few times and then put it in. Your fish will enjoy the sand much more. Rams sift through sand for food