Loaches Online Forum

I am trying to figure out the best way I can make a 10g tank suitable for a hillstream loach or two.

I went to an auction recently and got a bunch of slate for a dollar and messed with it until I was kind of happy with the arrangements. Since the tank would only house a hillstream loach I want to try and get as close as I could to their natural surroundings so I planned on rock only(slate) no plants, high flow, and extra aeration. I am really wondering though if this would be the best set-up. The slate takes up quite a bit of space, it's pretty heavy, and it has some rough edges.

Any advice (even suggesting I start over) would be greatly appreciated.
I really like these little guys and would love to have the perfect species tank.

Here is what it looked like when I finally stopped rearranging the slate. There are pieces on the bottom to act as anchors.


And here is some video after I added an airstone and a powerhead.
http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j295/ ... V02760.flv

http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j295/ ... V02761.flv
Thanks in advance

Jeremy

To dull the sharp edges tap the edges of the slate with a hammer. Do this outside, where flying stuff and sharp debris will not be a problem. You can tap the sharpest areas over and over rather than one bigger blow to nick and rough up the edge. (Wear eye protection)

I have usually seen rocks in fast moving water worn down by the water into rounded shapes. Go see some rivers and get a feel for how the rocks are moved around, where more rock piles up, and where hollows or voids appear. Check the upstream side of large boulders, and the downstream side. Are the smaller pebbles in either location?

Then see if you can duplicate that in your tank. In a 10 I would use perhaps a single 3-4" rounded rock, and quite a few about 2" or so, then bury the rocks about halfway (call it 1" or so) of smaller pebbles (1/4"-1/2"), but not really fine stuff. In nature soil and sand would have been washed away from the maximum water flow areas of a stream long ago. Another optional decoration would be a branch of driftwood. Nothing with lots of twigs Think of a branch that has been battered and broken on its trip down from the mountain. There might be a stub left when part of it was broken off.
If I wanted to plant the tank I would use fine stuff, but cover it with pebbles. Plants would have to be really sturdy ones like Anubias.