the garlic is a good idea.
if it is a farm fish, or a hobbyist bred fish pH may not really play into the problem unless you are 7.8+ (although many people successfully keep rams in the 8.2 range. the strains i was keeping F0 and some F1, F2 hobbyist bred never did well above 7.4).
how often and how much water do you change--i kept up a regime of 50% minimum 1x to 2x weekly when i was serious with this species. they are sensitive to water issues.
look for any protrusion at anus. watch the gill rate and for flaring gills.
how long have you had them? did this one ever exhibit other behavior--for how long? what other fish are in there with the rams? how many of each? how big is the tank? how many other rams? sex of the others? dominant females and dominant males frequently have issues with conspecifics. could it be result of intra species aggression?
when i started with rams i played with store boughts for awhile. the only way i could achieve a good survival rate was to medicate first and ask questions later. levamisole hydrochloride (usually easy to find at a farm supply store--deworming of livestock) first and then a maracyn/maracyn II treatment. that got me to a very high survival rate. I hate to medicate so i started going for wild caughts and hobbyist bred (think "The Trader" from the ACA--or
www.tangledupincichlids.com) specimens. That let me punt to hopital tank on case by case. Rams are what got me to my own microscope. i love the species. they can be a pain in the *ss.
Going to the corner is not a good sign--i would change water, regardless, on a daily basis to see if that helps him come out.
rams love to hide out in the plants. they are not cave dwellers. they come out to play when they feel secure. they typically hide in corners as a result of illness or discomfort with other fish in tank.
