Loaches Online Forum

You should check out Mark Duffil's (Mad Duff here on LOL) loachfanatics site on facebook. He's bred several (many) species of loaches, no "stripping" just the natural method.

I'm not sure I'd trust yoyos with cardinal tetras. I haven't kept yoyos but 6-8 inch fish can eat 2 inch 1s. Maybe add to your danios & rainbowfish...& maybe another loach or 2. They all do better in groups. Have at least 3 hiding places (wood, rocks etc) for the loaches. It will help them feel secu...

Happy Birthday to Anthia & all your clowns! I look forward each year to your New Year update on them. Congrats to you all!

From what I can tell your yoyo loaches are almost fully grown. They can grow to 6 inches But I'm not great on cms/inches, lol. What size is your tank? That & how they were kept before you acquired them can make a difference...Did you ever treat them for internal parasites? They're not uncommom in lo...

Thanks Charles, I did get your pm with an email notification of that but no confirmation that I replied. I did send you my email. Thank you for any information you think I can use & understand. As always your insights are very helpful.

Happy winter holidays in whatever way you may observe them.

I'm not much of a facebooker but I do loach fanatics, my plant club (sort of, when the main site was down) & a very few relatives. My settings are on paranoid, lol. If I don't know you already I won't "friend you". I visit maybe once/week. You are 1 of the reasons I stick around here at all. I check...

Charles, I always appreciate your input, as do many of us. Unfortunately this site is dying (sniff). It's very sad to see. I hope you'll join some of us at facebook loach fanatics...or maybe you have?? You have some very good insights I hope you'll continue to share. We need informed people like you...

I'm not sure what red spotted loaches might be. Common names are hard to identify as a species.

Can you post a pic? You'll likely have to upload it to a hosting site, this site has an older format.

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...