Loach display tank revamp

[doglover_50]

Quite beautiful! I finally got my loaches into my new tank (more on that soon in a separate thread). I'm curious--if you don't recommend the bamboo you put in your display, is there something similar for smaller tanks (oh, say...75 gallons) you would recommend?

[Emma Turner]

Thanks doglover_50. Where are you based? (could you add your location into your profile for us)

Unfortunately, in the UK, there does't seem to be much in the way of alternatives. I've seen only one type of 'fake bamboo' for aquariums which is made from resin, and it only comes in one size and shape (hollow with hidey holes) and is designed to lay flat. So it really doesn't give any scope at all. Don't know what the situation is like elsewhere with regards to bamboo alternatives. I'd suggest looking for larger pieces of bogwood to stand upright against the back glass if decoration for taller tanks is needed.

Emma

[doglover_50]

Thanks Emma. I'm in Flagstaff, Arizona (that's an hour from Grand Canyon). We are a very small city--one Petsmart and 2 LFSs. More options are available in Phoenix which is 2 hours away with 43 billion people in the suburbs.

I have two pieces of driftwood, one very large, one small, bought from foster and smith (does that make it bogwood?). The large is leaned on the small to create a cave-like area. I also have a rock-like (plastic) structure with several holes the fish can swim through--it's made to look like a large rock-like-thing-kinda. It's highly not natural, but it does for the moment, and they seem to adore it for swimming around. Otherwise, all I have at the moment are ye' old fake plants and a Seio to move the water.

I will get pix up soon--but now that I have the luscious sand, I need to continue working on making the proper environment.

[helen nightingale]

Mikev, dont expect all striatas to improve with age and end up looking like Emma's Dad's one. my mature one is quite boring looking in comparison. do expect them to all look different from each other. spend enough time staring at them and they can be surprisingly easy to tell apart

[andyroo]

little structural question:
8ft tank, about 2ft tall- how wide/how many gallon?

Main question: how thick is the glass?
Regular glass or low-iron (looks great/very very clear)

A

[helen nightingale]

i know what i forgot to ask!

is that grey histie still in there, and that massive striata that i never saw?

[Emma Turner]

little structural question:
8ft tank, about 2ft tall- how wide/how many gallon?

Main question: how thick is the glass?
Regular glass or low-iron (looks great/very very clear)

A

Hi Andyroo,

The glass part of the 8ft display tank was made by Seashell Aquariums who make all our system aquariums, display tanks, and tanks for our customer orders: http://www.seashellaquariums.co.uk/index.asp. It is 12mm (0.47") glass with a double base. If I remember rightly, the dimensions of this aquarium are 8ft x 28" high x 18" wide, but it is part of a centrally filtered softwater system that holds 700 gallons or so.

i know what i forgot to ask!

is that grey histie still in there, and that massive striata that i never saw?

Yep, the big grey histie is still about, but no sign of that massive Botia striata. This is such a shame as I would really have liked the LOL people to have seen this fish.

Emma

[helen nightingale]

aww, thats a shame, i wanted to see him. im glad the histie is still there though. he is so unusual.