German Blue Ram envy - could I add a pair in my 30

[fishmommie]

I have a serious case of German Blue Ram envy. (thanks Mandy K <g>)

I'm wondering if I can have a pair in my 30 gal that's stocked with 1 dwarf gourami, 8 colombian tetra, 6 serpae tetra, 6 cories, 1 bnp, and 2 apple snails.

This tank has been established (meaning stocked and cycled) since last May. Substrate is gravel, not sand. the tank is not planted although I did recently add a 2nd, bigger piece of driftwood that has several live plants attached to it. lots of hiding places. never had any disease. tank is very stable

Filtration: Aquean 30 HOB, Aquaclear 50 HOB
Maintance: 50% W/C weekly + vac
Nitrate usually run around 10 - 15 pre water change

So first question:
1) compatibility? would this mix of fish work for the rams?
2) if so, would I have to change the substrate to sand to make the rams happy? I'm not interested in breeding or raising babies.
3) any other things I should be thinking about?

suggestions? advice?
Thanks

EDIT: just realized i probably posted this in the wrong section. Compatibility maybe or dwarf cichlids? sorry. wouldn't let me delete.

[seb's fish]

I would say yes, but water temperature and quality might be an issue

[fishmommie]

I would say yes, but water temperature and quality might be an issue

Hey Seth - thanks for weighing in. Care to elaborate on the water quality? Are you thinking more than 50% W/C or the nitrates? I don't see the temp being an issue as per their profile it matches my current stock pretty well.

[seb's fish]

It's just that I have heard that they need pristine water quality and and if you have gravel I would change it to sand

[fishmommie]

It's just that I have heard that they need pristine water quality and and if you have gravel I would change it to sand

thanks again, Seb.

Anyone else? I am hoping someone who keeps or has kept rams can weigh in too.
Thanks

[bceagle]

Sounds like you have excellent water quality but would add a couple of Anubias to go with your Java ? Fern. I have never found Rams difficult in a community tank but you do need to test weekly as too high a level of nitrites will kill them. The Anubias helps filter the water.

[mizzoutank]

hey fishmommie,

speaking from experience here, so you could end up with a different kind of dwarf gourami.

but I had near the same set up in my 45.
it started off fine, but for some reason my DG became alpha male of the entire tank
he would not leave my ram alone. (i even added the DG after the ram...)
I finally had to return the DG because the ram was more important to me. but it was not a good set up. I never saw any nipping happening, but the DG kept chasing my ram. it would last like 30seconds of zooming around the tank, a break for a few minutes and repeat. just not fair.

so you could have a better tempered DG, but i personally wouldn't recommend that
(if you put your DG in another tank-then you'd have a great set up)

also-what is your pH and gH on the tank?
rams prefer under 7 pH and softer water-but that doesn't mean if you acclimate appropriately, it'll work.

[~firefly~]

If your pH is under 7 and you have soft water (or can soften it yourself) then I think you might be ok, but as Lady Hobbs points out, the DG might be a problem. Why is it that DGs always spoil everything?

Looking at some of the rams on here...I must say, I'm tempted by a pair myself to go in with my cherry barbs and cories...but I'm not sure it's a wise temptation! Need another tank.

[Hardy85]

I am starting to feel the same way. I may wait to see how it works out, and I also want my tank to be finished before I add them so that I know what to expect for water params. I have a higher PH - 7.4-7.6 range, but I also have a DG, you may want to try adding female DG... That may take some of the males attention away from the rams.

[fishmommie]

thanks everyone. I really appreciate the input.
my ph is always under 7 in that tank and we do have soft water so it sounds like I wouldn't have any water issues.
I have a stopgap if the gourami would become a problem. He can always move to my 90 with the congos and angel and BP's and the sev. I have a DW gourami in that tank now and the tank is definitely big enough and has enough distinctly different territories that the 2 DW could exist without issues. As a matter of fact, these 2 gourami were in my 30 together for months with very little problem. Truth be told, I think they miss each other. Neither fish has been very active since I separated them so I've been thinking of putting them together again, either in the 90 or the 30.
If I get the rams and the DW gives them any trouble, this will make that decision easy.

Thanks again for helping me assess this situation. Must do some serious thinking on it now :o)