20 Long With High Flow

[MuddyWaters]

Hey everyone. I have a 20 gallon long that I want to host some high flow freshwater fish in. I specifically want to have 2 or 3 hillstream loaches (Balitoridae, I think they're called). When looking at other fish to keep in there, I started with the idea that I will NOT get tetras- I LOVE tetras- can't get enough of them, but figured I'd do something different with this.

When I mentioned this build at the club a couple of folks immediately suggested danios of some sort. I know about zebra danio and the long fin, plus CPD, but not much else. I went to a site and found 36 different varieties! I didn't know there were so many or that they were so beautiful!

I am thinking I'll get a cannister filter just to overfilter (makes me feel better) and since the flow can be high it shouldn't be a big deal. I think I should have a long stretch where the flow goes most of the length of the tank, and then some kind of decent sized eddie (or more than one) where they can chill. No idea yet how to structure that.

I'm not so interested in plants for this one- I load most of my tanks with as many plants as I can jam in there, but figured I'd focus almost exclusively on the fish & hardscape. I am thinking maybe to add some buce plants and anubias and keep the light kind of low, but nothing too extravagant, and honestly I don't know how those plants would do in flow- I am guessing they'd have to be in the areas without flow. That would just be "gravy" though, so not really a big deal at this point.

I'd love input / suggestions. The only thing I'm set on is the hillstream loaches. I got the bug for those in here- one of you guys- Badger or Magnum Man (?) - set up a high flow tank with these in it and I have been really enamored with the idea.

TIP FOR THOSE WITH MTS & SPOUSE AGGRO: I started with 1 tank, like everyone, and have slowly grown to 7 active tanks over time. My wife said "absolutely no more" after I got 2 going, but I have managed to slip the others in. Anyway, I bought this tank and brought it home months ago. Didn't say anything, didn't do anything with it. Just put it on the bottom shelf of the rack in my fish room (it's really the laundry room, but I refuse to call it that). My wife saw it at one point, "What the heck is that?" "Oh, it's one I've had for a while," I replied truthfully. "It was on sale- I'm just holding on to it."

THEN, more recently, I organized the fish room (that made her happy) and happened to move the tank to the middle shelf sitting longways, just like I'll have it when I fill it up. It has sat there for a couple of months, so she's used to seeing it there.

Next step is to just fill it up. "Well, it was just sitting there" I will say, when the inevitable "WHAT, ANOTHER ONE?" comes

Ping me if you need some coaching- I live in a townhouse and will have 8 active tanks and a quarantine tank. I got this MTS thing down (she doesn't read this forum, thankfully).

 

[Back in the fold]

@MuddyWaters You are a man among men . You have mastered the art of new aquarium foolery. I do much the same thing . I sneak things home , let them sit around for a bit and then set them up . Currently I have a five gallon with a bunch of Guppies and Platy’s in it in the front room and I have a ten gallon in waiting to replace it . The five will go back in my fishroom and then I go get another ten gallon to wait its turn . I keep the same size aquariums so nothing looks new .

 

[CassCats]

I'm a wife, it's my husband who nitpicks over tank numbers.

May I suggest, a good quality wooden stand for the tanks with cupboard doors.... put smaller tanks on the inside of the cupboard

As for high flow fish suggestions... if it's a 20g consider some microdevario kubotai! They're small but you can have a good sized shoal in a 20g and they'll do great with good flow rates.

 

[MuddyWaters]

CassCats - that is a great idea! I ended up building a metal rack with 3 shelves in what used to be called the "laundry room" (still is by some uncooperative members of my family) and that allowed me to expand with some 10 gallon tanks set longways. It has room for more, even after the 20 gallon....I'll have to take it very slow.

I did recently buy a 40 gallon breeder at the aquarium club auction. I got it for $2!!! My wife definitely knows the value of a deal, so she didn't say too much. Also, it has a pretty big spider-web crack at one end- the thing cracked on the way to the club meeting. So, at some point, that thing will hold something. I need to fix the crack first- thinking I'll have to take at least the top frame off to get the glass out and replace it. Different task for a different day...

OH! Those fish are fantastic!!! Also, like you mentioned, the size would allow for a nice shoal. That's what I really want because I want to see them swimming in the flow- they'll be beautiful. Seriously Fish said they are not good fish for a new tank, though, so I may have to get a few danio or something to get the tank settled in for a couple of months.

Have you kept them? Do you find them to be pretty active? thanks again, CassCats-

 

[CassCats]

CassCats - that is a great idea! I ended up building a metal rack with 3 shelves in what used to be called the "laundry room" (still is by some uncooperative members of my family) and that allowed me to expand with some 10 gallon tanks set longways. It has room for more, even after the 20 gallon....I'll have to take it very slow.

I did recently buy a 40 gallon breeder at the aquarium club auction. I got it for $2!!! My wife definitely knows the value of a deal, so she didn't say too much. Also, it has a pretty big spider-web crack at one end- the thing cracked on the way to the club meeting. So, at some point, that thing will hold something. I need to fix the crack first- thinking I'll have to take at least the top frame off to get the glass out and replace it. Different task for a different day...

OH! Those fish are fantastic!!! Also, like you mentioned, the size would allow for a nice shoal. That's what I really want because I want to see them swimming in the flow- they'll be beautiful. Seriously Fish said they are not good fish for a new tank, though, so I may have to get a few danio or something to get the tank settled in for a couple of months.

Have you kept them? Do you find them to be pretty active? thanks again, CassCats-

I kept them years ago, they're an easy favourite. Active and always moving. They behave like danios but are smaller and bright neon green if not in a bare setup. They are a fish in wish to keep again in the future, but no space at the moment to do so. They're robust little guys in terms of attitude. Not skittish like the boraras are.


I'll have to go back in time to find some of the photos of mine.

 

[CassCats]

Here we go

 

[Back in the fold]

@MuddyWaters $2 bucks is a great deal . Replace the glass . Cut out the old sealant and pull the broken glass out , no need to remove the frame .

 

[MuddyWaters]

Update on the upcoming build: A friend at the fish club happened to auction some hillstream loaches last meeting. I called him and he is indeed breeding them and happy to sell me a few.

He also has one remaining microdevario kubotai from a group he bought that awhile back that didn't do well.

So, I gotta get busy building the tank.

I'm thinking I'll go with gravel- both fish are in flowing water where gravel rocks and sand all occur. I have one tank with sand- I like it, but to me it's kind of a pain to deal with, so I'll go with gravel.

Oh, my friend also told me he will give me a nice sized rock and a piece of wood from his breeding tank so I have a good start for food. He told me he's never seen the hillstream loaches eat any food he has added. I guess they're like otocinclus in that regard.

So, that's a bit of a quandary. I have 2 kinds of fish I want for this tank, and neither of them are good ones to start a new tank with. I'm thinking I might add some endlers to get the thing going, but I don't think endlers will like the flow. I just have TONS of them, so I could add a bunch pretty easily.

Anyone have an idea on how to get the tank "seasoned" (not just cycled) before I add the hillstreams and the m. kubotai? My buddy feels that the rock and wood he'll give me will be enough for the hillstreams, but I'm a little nervous about it.

 

[MaloK]

To get a tank "seasoned" fast You will need a good amount of ammonia, filter media and substrate from the "giver" tank.

I know it will seem gross, but it's how I do it.

Drop a complete vacuum cleanup bucket of a water change ( normally the most sane of every tank you have. ) in the new ( already planted ) tank, with the filter going at max power and a good dose of ammonia.

Make sure you maintain ammonia above 0 and check for nitrite. It goes really fast for me.

 

[CassCats]

Some food options are also bacter AE to boost a good biofilm supply for biofilm grazers such as hillstream loaches

 

[MaloK]

Bacter AE is an enzyme that will precipitate matter decomposition, It will help in bacteria and biofilm development, but...

Wont change anything regarding the nitrogen cycle. Besides helping create more ammonia and use more oxygen.

A seasoned aquarium is a balance between nitrogen and life cycle. other parameters, hardness and acidity more related to species handling.

But it's a very strong product that will produce biofilm on contact. And misused can have quite conteracting effects.

 

[CassCats]

Bacter AE is an enzyme that will precipitate matter decomposition, It will help in bacteria and biofilm development, but...

Wont change anything regarding the nitrogen cycle. Besides helping create more ammonia and use more oxygen.

A seasoned aquarium is a balance between nitrogen and life cycle. other parameters, hardness and acidity more related to species handling.

But it's a very strong product that will produce biofilm on contact. And misused can have quite conteracting effects.

Oh no I wasn't recommending it for the cycle, but as a food supplement for afterwards.

 

[Magnum Man]

sorry I'm so late to your project... you've gotten good advice and paid attention to previous posts... only thing I would suggest, I've not already seen posted is make sure your fish are of compatible temperatures... most of the hillstream's thrive at temps around and just over 70 degrees, and most of your tetras ( just for example ) thrive at the upper 80's... I've not really kept danios, I'd suggest a visit to Seriously Fish , or a similar knowledge website, just to check recommended temperatures

my hillstream's eat most foods I offer, one of their favorites is Bug Bites milled to dust... the substrate below where I drop the food is completely covered with Hillstream's of all varieties, right after feeding...

I'm using one canister right now, and I don't like it as well as my hob filters, and while it's rated to flow more, it does not flow more water that either my Tidal 75's, or Aquaclear 70's... I would personally hang a Tidal 75 on one of the short sides causing a good cross flow in your tank...