Questions starting 55g Hillstream Loach tank

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ollyj
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 9:31 pm

Questions starting 55g Hillstream Loach tank

Post by ollyj » Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:09 pm

Hello all! I would like to set up a great 55g tank for some Hillstream Loaches. Just a couple questions below to make sure I got the best for these little guys. 8)

I have a 55 gallon. Currently good size gravel in it, but I would like to replace with some type of sand and smooth stones and driftwood.

In the tank there is a 6" tinfoil barb, 3" silver dollar fish, 1" red fin shark , 2- 1/2" Red Minor Serpae tetras , 2- 1/2" Zebra Danios.
I would like to move the 2 big fish that came with my tank out but the other tank has cichlids and didn't think that would work, so hopefully they get along with loaches? . Moved the 3" Synodontis Catfish to the cichlid tank.

Do you think these tank mates will work for the loaches?
I have a new Multistage Marineland C-220 Canister filter. 220 gph for 55gal that I bought originally to make it a saltwater tank that used chemical, mechanical and biological filtration, so I think the filtration will be good.

I was concerned about the water flow in the tank as I know it should similate a river. The artificial plants are wavering a bit and the small tetras and danios get taken a bit by the current. Is the addition of a power head / circulation pump absolutely necessary?
I have a air pump that I was going to plug in for extra aeration via a bubble curtain or similar to help air content.

I have a lot of live plants that I wanted to incorporate opposed to the artificial as well.
How many loaches would you suggest for my 55 gal? I was thinkin 3 to 4 if I had enough driftwood and hiding places.


Suggestions and examples appreciated ! :D

BTW this is the only loach Ican locate via Petco to purchase in my area.... i think it is a Gastromyzon scitulus
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-oLLyj

NancyD
Posts: 1608
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:17 pm
Location: SF bay area,US

Re: Questions starting 55g Hillstream Loach tank

Post by NancyD » Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:55 pm

I'm not sure I'm the best to answer you but here goes... I have a 55g with eco complete substrate, large rounded stones & a couple pieces of driftwood. I have many plants too, mostly crypts, jungle vallisneria, anubias & some stem plants. In it I keep 2 pairs of small gobies, 3 gastromyzon & 8 juvenile sewellia lineoleata. I have 2 Aquaclear 70s & a powerhead. I'd like to add some Vietnamese white clouds for midwater swimmers.

Your danios might be a good fit, maybe the serpae but the others seem like they either are or will grow to be too large for smallish hillstream loaches.
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