Loaches Online Forum

That's great, Jim! It sounds like you may have seasonal well water issues that are better for fish in the wet season. Could be it's diluting whatever it was there before...10-40 ppm nitrate is a big swing too. Again, it could be seasonal & your plants help too. I have medium to heavily planted tanks...

Wow! That was a great tank, Erik! Bob, I'd go with java ferns & anubias on rocks or wood. I'm not a moss fan, too invasive. I had trouble with clowns especially with swords a crypts. I haven't kept dojos, I think they're not big veggie fans (other than peas) or leaf botherers, but more diggers in a ...

Maybe think about rosy barbs or denisonii barbs as tankmates. Like Bas Pels said sewellia are not the best choice.

High pH is often associated with high GH. I forget, have you tested for GH & KH? Nitrate? Java fern & vals like hard water, I don't think moss cares. Like Molly said KH could be any amount but 3 or 4 gdh of KH help to buffer the water (hold pH steady). Just to repeat, you want to avoid a roller coas...

Well, the shells, coral & calcium substrate may be adding to your high pH (+ GH) troubles now. You can't just say it was fine 2 years ago, there can be a cumulative effect especially since you've moved...I do understand, we used Lake MI limestone rocks for years but it was a long time before we knew...

I agree with Bas, there's no telling what your castle or rocks are made of. That white lumpy rock is concerning...The castle also might trap detritus leading to anaerobic pockets...those might cause trouble as well.

I like all your plants! & your kuhli looks fat & healthy...but something is wrong...

Well, I lived in N. DE 20 years ago, so I understand the limestone thing...by memory of that time...we were on city water then...not well water. Fish can adapt to a wide range of pH variables over time, but I find it disturbing that it's both your hard water, high pH guppies & your soft water, lower...

I suspect it's something other than just high pH in your well water causing trouble. Guppies like higher pH/harder water. You're likely causing a yoyo effect with your additives & that can be very stressful. If, as I understand you, your kuhlis & cories are ~10 years old? That's a ripe old age & pro...

With goldfish, I'm thinking you want weather loaches (aka dojos). They're not legal to keep in many states, check it out. When I lived in NE it wasn't a far drive to...several states where you could buy them,,,& they were often for sale in MA even though...on the illegal list...I don't think F & W r...

Spectacular pics as always, odyssey! I missed some of your earlier pics until now, amazing! Thank you!

Grasses, depending on what type, may be a lot more difficult to grow than Java ferns & anubias. Most grasses are planted in the substrate, not glued anywhere.

Any fish may jump. It may help if you have floating plants so they can have an idea of the tank's upper limits. I kept pangios in a 10g & then a 20g long, both shallow tanks. But I also had many plants that some liked to hang out in near the surface. I had no jumpers. It's not a matter of loach size...

Oh, I think your tank is way too small to add any loaches. I'll have to look up some of your fish but still...the tank is too small. Sorry, I know that's not what you hoped to hear.

Hey andyroo, it's nice to see you again & welcome back to loach keeping. Any chance of pics of your new little darlings? I wonder just how long your inverts survive hungry little loaches, lol. Nothing like live foods to grow them up fast!

Congrats on the PhD!! That's wonderful! What field?

Thanks Fran. I've been offline for a few weeks (vacation!) but I think I've got it now or at least I did today, lol, for a while.

See you here & there I hope. Thanks for the hints, they helped.