Hillstream tank

[BlueEther]

It was suggested that you good folks might like to see the riffle tank that I have created for my 2 Gastromyzon scitulus(?)
From the thread at http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewto ... =4&t=59465:

I have just built/rescaped a little standard 2ft (50 odd L) aquarium for my two little hillstream loaches.

I has more flow than my small torrent fish tank, that has about 500l/h flow in another 2ft tank. This new setup has a +3000l/h pond pump turning over the water. This really pushes the water around, and small rocks/gravel.

Watch id HD to see the flow of bubbles:


Caught the two loaches lastnight and placed them in there, seem to have settled in ok
Video:


I have now added more rocks from a local stream so I hope that they enjoy them.

The setup of the tank:

One of the loaches:


Inlet to pump:


Out flow of pump in 20mm pvc, with small (250l/h?) powerhead above it to return water to tank above:


In flow to this tank from tank above, black elbows are on the main pump:


Out flow from tank above (this tank has WCMM, sterbai cory and the last of the grey mullet) :


The plumbing, the air fitting is so I can introduce air into the feed for the pump - makes fantastic micro bubbles:

[Jim Powers]

Interesting setup.

[BlueEther]

I was wondering what you guys think the min temp I could happily keep the Gastromyzon scitulus at? I was thinking of trying to keep two NZ native fast-water fish, torrentfish (Cheimarrichthys fosteri) but the max safe them for them in the long term is about 18 or 19 deg C.

[Jim Powers]

I think that temp is too cool for G. scitulus to be kept. Some Chinese hillstreams might be okay at those temps but Gastros live in water that can get much warmer than that.
Those torrent fish are very interesting! I read an article about them a year or so ago. I am envious!!!
If you do keep them, please post pics and info about them. I'm sure many on this site, including myself, would be very interested.

[plaalye]

Agree with Jim on all accounts, especially the interest in your "torrentfish". Are you a Kiwi? I spent a good bit of time in NZ and did a lot of fishing but never encountered these. Are you familiar with a "Mrs. Simpson" fly?

[BlueEther]

I think that temp is too cool for G. scitulus to be kept. Some Chinese hillstreams might be okay at those temps but Gastros live in water that can get much warmer than that.

Thanks for the info, about as much as I thought.

Those torrent fish are very interesting! I read an article about them a year or so ago. I am envious!!!
If you do keep them, please post pics and info about them. I'm sure many on this site, including myself, would be very interested.

I do keep them and they are a very entertaining fish to watch.

I have two small ones, will be a year old this spring, that are about 55mm long. These two are in another 2ft long aquarium that also houses a trio of redfin bullies (female) that are also about 1 year old. This ~55l tank has about 700l/h turnover via two internal 350l/h filters, one at each end.

The main tank, a 430l 1200x600x600mm, also has some bigger torrentfish in it along with an assortment of New Zealand natives including common and Cran's bullies, smelt, inanga, giant kokopu and a pair of koura. This tank has two 5000l/h wavemakers pointed across the bottom plus about 2000l/h of filtration and a 1/2 hp chiller unit to keep it cool over summer - set at a balmy 17deg, tank is a fresh 14.3 at the moment.

Agree with Jim on all accounts, especially the interest in your "torrentfish". Are you a Kiwi? I spent a good bit of time in NZ and did a lot of fishing but never encountered these. Are you familiar with a "Mrs. Simpson" fly?

Torrent fish are very common, if you know how and where to look

Yes I am a Kiwi and I do recognise the Mrs Simpson fly.

Torrentfish video from before the two wavemakers:

[plaalye]

Very nice BlueEther! I like the bullies & inanga also. The torrent fish are a bit like our sculpins. You reckon the mrs. simpson is meant to replicate torrent fish? I wasn't keeping fish when I was in NZ but rather obsessed with fly fishing at the time. Sorry now I didn't pay attention to the smaller natives. Lovely country you live in!!

[BlueEther]

Thanks

I guess that the Mrs Simpson would be more likely to be imitating a bully (Gobiomorphus sp.) than a torrentfish
One of my torrent fish:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blueether/6450834197/

And a cheeky Cran's bully:

DSC_8184-02 by nzbeeman, on Flickr

[Jim Powers]

Thanks for posting this!!