Are Vanmanenia Hillstreams?

[tglassburner]

On this page
http://www.loaches.com/articles/hillstr ... -fast-lane
There is this list:
Genera

* Aborichthys
* Annamia
* Balitoria
* Beaufortia
* Bhavania
* Crossostoma
* Ellopostoma
* Formosiana
* Gastromyzon
* Glaniopsis
* Hemimyzon
* Homaloptera = Balitoropsis
* Indoeonectes
* Lefua
* Lepturichthys
* Nemacheilus = Noemacheilus
* Neogastromyzon
* Neohomaloptera
* Oreonectes
* Orthrias
* Praeformosiana
* Protomyzon
* Pseudogastromyzon
* Shistura
* Sundoreonectes
* Travancoria
* Trilophysa
* Sewellia
* Sinogastromyzon
* Vaillantella
* Yunnanilus

I don't see Vanmanenia on the list is this just because they were missed on the list or are they not hillstream?

[Mark in Vancouver]

I don't know much about Vanmanenia, but from looking at that list, I think it needs updating. Vaillantella and Schistura, for instance, wouldn't be considered hillstream loaches, IMO, even if they share some similar habitat.

I think that it's helpful to separate "brook loaches" from the hillstream group, particularly when you're thinking about aquarium design. The sucker-bodied Balitorids have a set of requirements that goes slightly beyond the torpedo-shaped Nemacheiline group.

It's all about habitat, IMO. Brook loaches tend to live in slightly deeper water. Their bodies are not adapted to withstand the torrents in which sucker-bodied hillstream loaches are found. While habitat may overlap among many of the species, I think that the best way forward with a hillstream set up is to provide for the sucker-bodied fish first, and other fish second.

I kept a 65 gallon brook loach tank for quite a while, and although the water was flowing very fast, it was just too deep for hillstream loaches to survive very long. I stopped trying to keep them! Meanwhile, the brook loaches all did well, without exception. The other side of that is that some brook loaches do well in shallower setups meant for hillstream fish.

I suspect I've strayed off the point of your question... I just mean that considering their habitat can be the best starting point if you're considering adding fish to a specialized setup.

[Martin Thoene]

"Hillstreams" is the somewhat generic catch-all name for members of the Balitoridae. That's what that list is. Vanmanenia should actually be included.......so now it is.

Vannies IMO fall into the "needs lots of current" group.

Martin.

[tglassburner]

It's all about habitat, IMO. Brook loaches tend to live in slightly deeper water. Their bodies are not adapted to withstand the torrents in which sucker-bodied hillstream loaches are found.

So should I provide slightly less flow? I'm going to get my powerheds today and would like to get the correct size. If you see my "plumbing my rivertank" thread you'll see the manifold setup, It is a 30 gallon tank, what AC model would you recommend?

[Jim Powers]

I don't think you need to provide less flow.
Even though the "lizard fish" type of hillstreams aren't as stream-lined as the suckerbelly types, they are designed to take strong flow. I have found that the similar L. disparis often tend to hang out in the strongest flow, just like the suckerbellies.

[Martin Thoene]

Go large or stay home Remember that Aquaclear/Hagen powerheads are adjustable. You can always turn down the wick a bit, but my Vannies are in a 65 with 2 full-blast A/C 802's (70's). They're very happy.

In my 30 with the Sewellia there's an 802 (70) plus an old 201 (probably equivalent to a 30)....plus 3 different HOBs on the back.

Martin.

[tglassburner]

Well, I bought what I can afford at this point, I will eventually add more, but I currently have,2 AC50s (formerly 402), I will be adding a H.O.T. Magnum with biowheel and spraybar. How does that sound?

[Jim Powers]

What size is this tank?
The 50s will put out about 270 gph, each, which should be fine.
I use them in a couple of my river tanks.

[Jim Powers]

Well, I see in another thread that its a 30g that is 36" long. These should work well in that size tank without producing too much heat.
I'm looking forward to the pics when its up and running.