Hillstream Loach and Goldfish?

[Rayston]

I have a 20 Gallon Goldie tank, and will be upgrading to a 55 gallon soon (I have the actual tank, just need to buy filters and lights and such) I will be adding another goldie, for a total of 2. (goldies are big poopers and ammonia producers so you cant put alot in the same tank)

I was originally going to add a rubberlip pleco, but have found that many people have had bad experiences with rubberlips and goldies. I have decided its not worth the risk. I am now thinking of a Hillstream Loach (who surprisingly look a bit similiar to Rubberlips, at least to me) they seem pretty compatible, except for the fact that Hillstream Loaches like fast current, which goldies, most definitely do not. I read this article.


http://www.loaches.com/hillstream_loaches.html

and some other resources, and was wondering if you guys thought there was a way to make both fish happy, maybe set up a corner with a powerhead? I already will have a number of airstones and some decent tank flow from the filters ( I am planning on a Rena Filstar XP3 and a Emperor 400 Biowheel, way more than necessary, but like I said, goldies are dirty) , would it be feasible to set up a small powerhead in a corner, maybe where this already some flow from the filters?

I will admit, I partially want him for his algae eating properties, but I also honestly think these guys are cute and there behavior sounds like an intersting addition to the tank.

Thanx

Rayston

[sophie]

I really wouldn't! HIllstreams are specialists and also for specialists. If you've got three gf in a 55, you could put in two or three dojos, who are (a) tolerant of icky water, (b) keen on still water and (c) robust.

I think getting two basically incompatible fish in one tank is fairly fruitless - and you need to ask yourself about your reasons!

dojos are lovely, lovely fish. very entertaining, and not at all shy (though they can if they want to disappear entirely.

[Gary Herring]

I totally agree with Sophie - both in that Hillstreams are unsuitable for a goldfish tank, and with her recommendation of Dojo's. Dojo (weather)loaches make excellant tankmates for goldfish as their environmental and feeding requirements are very simular. They also have great character and really fascinating and amusing traits. The only thing I would say is have a sand or smooth pea-type gravel substrate, as they love to burrow.

As for Hillstreams and goldfish, the two types of fish are directly opposed in their most fundamental requirements, and no, IMO you could never keep them both happy in the same tank. The reasons for this are many and wide ranging. I wrote this a while ago on a goldfish orientated forum, to explain why:

http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/ne ... 16&forum=1

So please, if you want clean tank glass, your best bet really is an algae scraper. In any case, no matter what you may have read elsewhere, hillstreams are not great algae eaters - its the micro-organisms they graze on rather than the algae itself.

[sophie]

So please, if you want clean tank glass, your best bet really is an algae scraper. In any case, no matter what you may have read elsewhere, hillstreams are not great algae eaters - its the micro-organisms they graze on rather than the algae itself.

old credit card type thing. takes an extra five minutes every water change, and if I can stick my arm to well over the elbow into an unheated tank in December to scrape the glass, I don;t see why everyone else shouldn't! and honestly, to keep a 55 algae-free you'd need an army of fish, to the point where they probably wouldn't fit in the tank.

GF tanks just need scraping, you can;t really outcompete the algae with plants as they just eat the plants. honest. piece of plastic is the answer...

[Graeme Robson]

No need for old credit cards. Unless there's a sale going on! Just use scouring pads. Psst!.....Don't tell the wife.

[sophie]

my wife wouldn't care

the edge of a plastic card is good because it doesn't dump the algae back into the water, just peels it off so it can be wiped off the card...
(anally retentive? me?)

[TammyLiz]

I also use a credit card. Its just as easy, and already on hand so why not?

[Gary Herring]

to keep a 55 algae-free you'd need an army of fish, to the point where they probably wouldn't fit in the tank

Plus if you've got that bad an algae problem, your better of trying to identify the underlying cause/s and seeking to address them. Algae eating fish will only go some way towards masking the symptoms.