Anyone want to help me with fish combos/tank size?

[MammaBearinTN]

I'm really trying to do my homework beforehand. Although I haven't had a fish tank in probably a decade, I did keep fish for years so know what I'm getting into, even if my memory is a bit vague on details. Tank will likely be a 30 gallon long (36" x 12" 16").

1) I would love to have a pair of German blue rams and a pair of golden rams in one tank. I know water parameters are the same, but are golden rams quite as delicate as the blue rams?

2) Assuming my tank is a 30 long, can I also keep 5-8 corydoras in this tank, as well? Is that too many fish hanging out at the bottom?

3) I'd like something that hangs out in the upper column of the tank, although I realize that a 30 long doesn't have much height. Maybe a gourami?

4) What should I include to help with algae?

I know GBRs are very difficult to keep, but I'm determined to try.
I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions.
Thanks!

 

[Essjay]

1. Yes, they are the same species. They need warmer water than most fish so tank mates have to be chosen with care.

2. Not with rams because cories need cooler water.

3. There are some tetras which are happy at the temps rams need, eg cardinals, rummy noses.

4. If you have live plants you need to keep fertiliser and light in balance so that algae doesn't grow. If there are no live plants, have the tank lights on for only a few hours to stop algae growing. Preventing algae is better than having to buy sonmething to eat it.

 

[MammaBearinTN]

1. Yes, they are the same species. They need warmer water than most fish so tank mates have to be chosen with care.

2. Not with rams because cories need cooler water.

3. There are some tetras which are happy at the temps rams need, eg cardinals, rummy noses.

4. If you have live plants you need to keep fertiliser and light in balance so that algae doesn't grow. If there are no live plants, have the tank lights on for only a few hours to stop algae growing. Preventing algae is better than having to buy sonmething to eat it.

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. Too bad about the corys, as I've read on a few sites that sterbai corys can successfully take water up to 82 degrees. I've also read messages of people who are keeping them, but I wonder how successfully? I don't want to stress my fish, so I probably won't try it.

 

[Wills]

Sterbai Cories are a good candidate because they are often kept with Discus who have similar water reqirements to the Rams. In a 30 gallon though I wouldnt have bottom dwellers, I'd go for one species of Ram and a large school of tetras that would thrive in the higher temperatures like Rummy Nose or Cardinals.

Its worth researching good discus tank mates to find options with rams as they have the same requirements of soft water with a ph under 7, high temperatures and clean water (low-no nitrates).

They are a very challenging fish, have you considered any other dwarfs cichlids like Apistogramma? A.Panduro could work well for you as they offer a lot of the colours you are looking for with red and blue males and black and yellow females and they are a bit more flexible on temperatures so open up your options for other species.

Wills

 

[Essjay]

Sorry, I'd missed the fact that sterbais can cope with higher temps. It's cories in general that need cooler water, sterbais are the exception.

 

[MammaBearinTN]

Sorry, I'd missed the fact that sterbais can cope with higher temps. It's cories in general that need cooler water, sterbais are the exception

I would imagine that even the most experienced fishkeeper learns something new around here.

 

[Essjay]

Definitely, fish keeping is continuous learning