Loaches Online Forum

I'm setting up a tank using the river-tank manifold described on Loaches Online for about six Hillstream Loaches (Beaufortia kweichowensis), but I don't know what other fish (top or middle level), live plants, etc. I can put in a tank with a flow as strong as it may be.

I was thinking of some sort of danio, barb, or torpedo shaped tetra (e.g. Neon or Cardinal) or perhaps White Clouds because they're from the same enviromet somewhat and Vallisneria, sagittaria, and other reed like plants.

The tank is a standard 55 gallon (48x13x21),will have numerous large rocks and natural caves, have a mineral enriched substrate covered with pea gravel, and will be set up on the bottom floor. I hope the lighting system will be a high wattage ballast giving about 2.5 wpg, but if I can't find or afford the kind I'm looking for it wiil only about 1 wpg. I'm in the process of gathering materials right now and have not purchased any of the fish or plants yet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I would go with some type of danio or white clouds.
As for plants, val will work in such an environment and looks cool swaying in the current. I have it in one of my river tanks as well as one of the smaller grass like sagitarias . Java fern, African water fern (bolbitis) are other good choices.

I've had great success with Cryptocoryne balansae in my River Tank, which grows quite long and waves about in the current.

I'm with Jim on his dither fish suggestions. It'll also keep the tank on an Asian theme.

Emma

Thanks a lot! I really needed some sort of confirmation. All the "Pro" and "Official" websites I've tried to E-mail have all ignored me as to this question.

Another thing though. Does anyone know where I can get some natural White Clouds!? all the online stores I've tried only sell mutations, mutations, mutations! And my store(s) do(es)n't sell them at all.