Loaches Online Forum

Hi all here is my first Hillstream tank. It`s 48" x 12"x 15" 48 gallons, 2 power heads at 600lph and 1 at 2000lph working with a manifold system. tomorrow I intend to plant it up with some Java fern and Anubias but would like your opinion at this stage in case it needs to be changed. The stock I hope to have in the tank are Hillstream loach of some sort (obviously) and some Mountain Minnows. Are there any good online suppliers for the loach or minnows as my lfs has none at the moment and don't know when they will be getting them back. I have some Cherry shrimp will these be ok in this set up if not are there any Shrimp that will go in here ok?

Looks like a cracking set up for a Hillstream tank but i have concerns on the amount of substrate. How thick is it?

Lovely long tank btw!

Hi thanks for your comments. The substrate is about 2 1/2" thick as i had a problem keeping the manifold down. Basically I have 2 manifolds 1 for the 2 600 lph and 1 for the 2000 lph which is inside the other so as you can imagine I had twice the problems. Next time I will probably mastic the manifold in place. The sand is only at the front to hide the manifold as its a tight fit, trying to get all the pipe fittings in. What are your concerns with the depth of substrate? keeping it clean?

jonboy8465 wrote:I have some Cherry shrimp will these be ok in this set up if not are there any Shrimp that will go in here ok?

Hi Jonboy,

The obvious shrimp choice for a fast flowing river tank would be the Atya fan shrimps, an example of which would be the Singapore Wood Shrimp (Atyopsis moluccensis). These are filter feeders which sit in the current to catch their food, and are harmless even to small fish life. It may be of interest that I have had a colony of tiny Red Crystal shrimp (Neocaridina sp.) in my river tank for some time now, and they seem to really love it and they breed in there (and are therefore 'self sustaining'). I would think that if you include plenty of hardy plants, cherry shrimps, being a similar species would also do well in such a set up. However, I would wait until the tank has been up and running several months before adding any shrimp, and also take your time when acclimatising them as they can be very sensitive.

Hope this helps,

Emma

I have cherry shrimp in my river tanks and they do well. I would agree with Emma that you should wait until the tank is well established before adding them.

The problem with deeper substrate is that even with lots of water movement above there is often very little water movement deep in the substrate. With poor water movement there is little renewal of the oxygen, and in such anaerobic areas certain bacteria grow that can produce gasses that are harmful to the fish.

Hi thank you all for the advise its much appreciated. I will wait for a few months before adding the shrimp. As for the substrate thanks for the warning. would have thought with more flow through the tank it would clean deeper into the gravel especially as its coarse stones, the sand is only at the front to cover the manifold. but if you have had problems in the past with thick substrates then i will listen to your words of caution.
Here are a few more pics after a bit of a rescape I have added some medium sized stones and some plants.

Jonboy...I like the lenghth of the tank & the river rock. I'm kind of new to this so please excuse me if it seems like I ask dumb questions.
What will the blue sponge pieces contribute to the tank?

Hi Its a 4 ft tank I have another 2 to set up yet! The blue sponges are the inlets to the manifold system that feeds the power heads this way you get a directional flow to replicate a river or stream. take a look at this link it will explain it all to you.

http://www.loaches.com/articles/water-m ... h-aquarium

Jonboy, i cant remeber where you live, but if you can manange to get to Emma's shop, you wont be dissapointed with the choice of hillies. you are more likely to go home and set up another tank.


you tank looks great

i live in sussex. where abouts is the shop? I don't mind driving if i can get some good quality fish.

jonboy8465 wrote:i live in sussex. where abouts is the shop? I don't mind driving if i can get some good quality fish.

Maidenhead Aquatics Peterborough.... its well worth the drive You will be spoilt for choice.


Ashleigh

very tempting but its a 3hr drive. do they have o2 to put in the bags? would hate to get home an find all the fish dead.

jonboy8465 wrote:very tempting but its a 3hr drive. do they have o2 to put in the bags? would hate to get home an find all the fish dead.

Honestly, they'd be fine for that length of time without the added oxygen as long as they were in large bags with plenty of air in them - BUT Emma and co would put oxygen in just to be sure!

Hi,
Your Hill-stream tank looks nice.
mac