Adice please, setting up my coldwater tank

[lynzmk]

Eek i'm all excited - i've mentioned elsewhere that i have a small coldwater tank at my parents' house and my mum killed the poor sods (one was 5 years old!) with overfeeding
anyway she was only trying to help lol.
Well now it's empty so i plan to bring it up to my house and set it up in my hallway.
It's about 2 feet x1x1. I've previously kept 4 common goldfish in there but i felt 3 was the best number.
I think i'll be going in for common goldfish again (got strong feelings about some of the 'fancy' types... ) but i'm interested to hear more about weather loaches,and the little plec-like loaches - hillsbeck ?? does anyone know the latin name so i can amke sure i'm not getting lumped with a plec that's going to die in unheated water? (it's happened before! ) )
Also, before i decide to definitely go for goldfish, (and this question is mainly aimed at UK forum users) does anyone know of any other coldwater fish readily available in the uk? I like the look of far eastern bitterlings but can't find anyone who stocks them around here.
Finally can anyone recommend a filtration system - in our tropical tank we have a fluval and are pleased with that, would a small model be suitable for the coldwater tank? Previously i ran a box filter with a pump which was very easy to clean but unsightly and a bit awkward.

Thanks in advance!
L x

 

[ryan]

Most common are the Common, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cantor) and Spotted, Cobitis taenia (Linnaeus) Dojos or Weatherfishes. They are often called "living barometers" of their increased activity at the approach of changing weather. These fishes are pressure-sensitive, swimming about more if it?s about to rain for instance.

The Common Dojo/Weatherfish is drab to light brown naturally, though there are "Golden" Dojos (xanthistic varieties, not albinos) that are human-produced. This species attains a maximum length of about twelve inches. The Spotted Dojo or Weatherfish only reaches a natural length of six inches. Both are excellent scavengers. They should be kept with their own species. Unfourtunatly Golden Dojos can be quite hard to find, I have been searching for some for a while now with no luck so I hope you can find some.

Hillstream Loaches

I am also on the look out for a species of Bitterling, however, due to the damage they can cause native species for most species you now have to obtain a licence to own them. Other fish you could try -

Golden Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)
Golden Minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus)
Gudgeon (Gobio gobio)
Three-Spined Stickleback (Gasteroseus aculeatus)
Ten-Spined Sitckleback (Pungitius pungitius)
Rosyred Minnow (Pimephales promelas) (Licence)
Rainbow Dace (Cyprinella lutrensis)
Common Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)
Sunfish (A Lepomis species)

If you want any more info on any of these fishes just ask nd I will tell you.

 

[lynzmk]

thanks for all that info ryan!
Got the tank home tonight - it needs cleaning and completely starting again, new gravel, plants, everything.
I enjoy that part of it though
I've no idea where i could get most of the fish you list - we don't drive so it's a matter of where we can get to by bus really.
Anyway thanks, i'll be back for more help soon no doubt!

L x