Loaches Online Forum

Hello all, I was just wondering if the Schistura species is ok to keep with other loaches... ie. botia. Also... since they are territorial, should I still get a small group of them... or are they better to just live on there own (with other loaches not of same species). If I end up getting some they...

I would love to take the tank off your hands... but I just got myseld a 55 I am setting up and my girlfriend wont allow me to have more than 3 tanks at a time =(

That is pretty cool!

Does LFS usually have different size tubing in case I wanna make a river type tank by extending the power head intakes to the opposite side of the tank?

Diana wrote:You can also alternate the cleaning and there will be less disturbance to the nitrifying bacteria.

Very true

Hmmmm I'll have to check that out...
The only thing that scares me is the water source coming from another room... I don't want the tank over flowing or anything...

They look cute!

How are you guys adding water directly from a hose? How do you monitor the water temp if it is straight from a garden hose... and how do you remove the chlorine from it? Up until now in my 32gal freshwater tank I've always filled up buckets... use Aqua Plus in it... then slowly added the buckets to ...

Is it ok to run UV sterilizers all the time... or should you only use them when there are problems in the tank?

Good suggestions... I have a clamp that adjusts the flow rate of the siphon on my buckets... I can also keep my hand on the tube if I need to pinch ot stop the flow.

So here's part 2 to the question... whats the best way to get the new water back in without too much disturbance?

Hey guys,

Just wondering the best way to clean sand? I've never had sand as my substrate before... is there any special method or tips for me?

Thanks guys,

~ Jeffrey

Yeah I think I'm gunna go with the two... that was my original Idea... never can have enough filtration... plus more water movement...

What is better for Loach tanks in general... One really good Canister Filter... or a lower line canister as well as a wet-sry with a bio-wheel? Because originally I was gunna get both... but if one really good canister can do the job then there is no reason too right?

Tinman wrote:

The best spot is low to keep the substrate clean and lift waste to the filter imo after you have one on top blasting the surface to increase aeration

Sounds like a plan... I think I'll pick up one more filter to submerge it

Do th loaches prefer the current near the middle, bottom or top of the tank?

A little off topic but I was thinkin' of getting a UV for my tank as well... how exactly do they work? Are they safe?