Loaches Online Forum

Hi everyone!
I'm currently setting up my first Hillstream tank, and I have a couple of questions.
The set-up is a 20gallon long tank. I have an Emperor 280 on an end (rather than the back) of the tank, and a small (90gph) powerhead hidden inside a ceramic stone on the opposite end. This gives me a circular water flow going one direction on the top and the opposite on the bottom. I also raised the filter up an inch or so above its normal resting place on the aquarium lip to increase oxygenation. The built-in spray-bar will hopefully help with this as well.
The tank has a sand substrate with numerous small stones and several large rocks with flat surfaces. I seeded algae from another tank and am leaving the lights (2x20W T8) on most of the time during cycling. I'm going to add some terrestrial plant ferts with Phosphorous to encourage algae-growth while the tank is cycling. I won't stock the tank until there is good algae growth, at which point I will remove the terrestrial ferts counting on the fish-poop to feed the algae. The tank is unheated, though it does get up to 78 during the summer. Finally, I have a few mosses and a couple of Anubias in the tank.

I would like to stock the tank with Sewellia lineolata and Pseudogastromyzon cheni, and I would love if I could raise some fry.

Here are my questions:
-Does the set-up seem suitable for these species? I've read about their requirements, and I think it will work, but I want to make sure there's nothing I'm overlooking.
-Are there any reasons to stock the tank with just one of the species as opposed to some of each? Will either of them eat the fry of the other?
-What would be a reasonable stocking-level of each species? Could I do 4-5 of each?
-Would there be any drawbacks to adding a few Stiphodons to the tank (besides for my wallet!)?
-What are the best foods to give them beside the algae in the tanks?
-If you have any other suggestions, I would certainly appreciate it.

Thank you very much!

Does the set-up seem suitable for these species? I've read about their requirements, and I think it will work, but I want to make sure there's nothing I'm overlooking.
-Are there any reasons to stock the tank with just one of the species as opposed to some of each? Will either of them eat the fry of the other?
-What would be a reasonable stocking-level of each species? Could I do 4-5 of each?
-Would there be any drawbacks to adding a few Stiphodons to the tank (besides for my wallet!)?
-What are the best foods to give them beside the algae in the tanks?
-If you have any other suggestions, I would certainly appreciate it.

>The set up will probably work, but, I personally would want a higher flow powerhead. I have heard of both species spawning in setups with less flow, however. Is this a 20 high or 20 long?
> Both species will get along together. The fact that Sewellia scatter eggs and chenis bury them may cause some issues. I don't know for sure, but I would suspect that foraging chenis would enjoy dining on Sewellia eggs they came across.
>As for stocking levels, You might want to try 3-4 or each provided you provide plenty of hiding places such as pieces of slated leaned against the tank walls.
>I have never kept Stiphodons, so I am not sure about that one.
>Both species will eat frozen blood worms and brine shrimp as well as various pelleted foods. They also enjoy par-boiled spinach leaves.

Thank you for your reply.
The tank is a 20 long. I think I'll see how they behave with the current flow in the tank, but if it seems that they really try to stay on the half of the tank with more flow, I'll try to upgrade the powerhead. I may also try to alter the intake filter of the Emperor 280 to make the pull of water coming into it more uni-directional and in-line with the powerhead.

Does anyone have experience breeding both species in the same tank? I'd likely choose to just keep one species if it would be a problem to have both.

I've had them both breed, but not when housed together. I did have chenis spawn in the same tank at the same time as Liniparhomaloptera disparis, but both species bury their eggs.

Ah. If I were just to get one, which would you recommend? I think the Sewellia are a little more attractive, but does one have more interesting behavior in the aquarium in your opinion?
I appreciate the help.

I think they both are great fish to keep. Sewellia are a bit more attractive, but chenis are less shy.
I'm not sure where you live, but I have not seen chenis in my area in about two years. Sewellia are available all the time.
Do you have access to both?

I haven't seen the Chenis lately. I just remembered seeing them in the past and figured they were still available. This may influence my decision-making!
Thanks for the additional information.