Should I add another cichlid?

[cuiviewen]

Hi everyone!
This is my firs message, I hope I get some answers! I have an 80 x 30 x 40 in which I keep a couple of Bolivian Rams, 10 Black Neon Tetras, 1 small Opaline Gourami, 1 Dwarf Suckermouth Catfish and 2 Corydoras. Do you think I could add a couple of some other dwarf cichlid? Above all I am concerned about not overstocking due to the lack of space, I believe that there's enough filtration and I make weekly partial water changes. The Rams only seem to be interested in one half of the tank and the other half remains deserted! Only the male goes once in a while... I'd like to have a couple of Apistogramma bitaeniata or Apistogramma gibbiceps (I don't know their common names in English!) because they do not seem to be so territorial... Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Cuiviewen
Argentina

[Michael Kwist]

I sould place some more corydoras in youre tank this are groupfish

[cuiviewen]

Yes, that's what I'm planning to do... Is it the asme for them if I combine different species? I've got a Bronze Cory and a Panda Cory, and they get along wonderfully! I am trying to find other species here (which is not so easy) to put them in my tank... But what about other cichlids, what do you think?

[Lisachromis]

Are your dimensions in inches or cms?

[cuiviewen]

Centimetres! I would be sooooooo happy if they were inches!

[Lisachromis]

Well..... if you're talking cms, I'd say you've more than maxed out your tank. That makes your tank approximately 25 gallons. You already have 16 fish in it. As long you keep up with your water changes, you should be ok. I would not add any fish at all. The apistos would become more territorial than your rams will. Rams are not very aggressive at all.

[cuiviewen]

Snif snif... ok, thanks for replying. Do you think that if I removed some of the fish I could get some apistos? Or is the problem the surface of the tank (80cms x 30cms)? I do weekly water changes of approx. 20%, I add AquaSafe every time and I have plants, an external filter and lots of aereation... would it be possible if I had less fish? How many should I remove? I want apistos badly!!!!! Thanks for your patience...

[Lisachromis]

It's not so much that the tank itself can't hold the apistos (though you are maxed out!). It's that they need a certain amount of territory. A 20g is about the territory they'd take. That doesn't leave any for the rams at all. It would be a stressful situation. Can you get a second tank? Then you could add the apistos to that, and maybe half of the tetras as dithers.

[cuiviewen]

I have a second tank, but it's smaller... it's 40 x 20 x 28 cms (that would be approx. 21 litres or US Gallons: 5.5 or UK Gallons: 4.5). Too small, right? I'm keeping my fingers crossed that because of some kind of miracle you'll say it's acceptable! I want the tiniest apistos, you know? Really peaceful ones... LOL Unfortunately, my flat is "maxed out" as you say, at least for the moment! LOL And if I tell my boyfriend I want another tank... I don't think he'll find my hobby cute anymore! LMAO Thanks for being so patient!!! (Say YES!)