Its time to ask for insperation

[Bender]

Here goes I just got off the phone with my uncle and as of today I now own two 20 longs and a stand. I have to wait to fill it up till august when I go up to see him. I know what I am going to do with the top tank. RIVER tank for my hillstream loaches (Borneo or what ever you want to call them.) If I am right in my assumptions and reading the markings as small as they are there are 3 types all with different personalities. I would like any input or ideas you may have as to what to stock with them. Plants, fish, invertebrates, rocks, interesting decor. AND this is where the fun really starts: ideas for tank 2 (please for my dyslexic brain please put which tank your referring to with each idea.)

[Bender]

As for the rock on tank one I was thinking smooth river rock, smooth pea(or smaller) gravel, things like petrified wood chunks. Along with drift wood and live plants. So if you know of sorces or things I should check into; IE type of gravel I should look at and plants that thrive with water current. And while my brain is going all add on the prep work for this tank how cool do you think it would be to have a moss wall along the back of the tank instead of backing the tank with a background. All ideas, tips, comments, or leads welcomed. Pics will be posted as I go because we all know we all love pictures.

[myjohnson]

Tank two:

Apistos, 1 male and 2-3 females.

If I had the space I would keep these fish.

[Bender]

This is the project tank. Thanks for the teaser Gary

[Bender]

One of the hillstream loaches (sorry about the dirty glass)

[Bender]

Tank two:

Apistos, 1 male and 2-3 females.

If I had the space I would keep these fish.

I was never really into Cichlids till I met a couple people from here and well they might be growing on me... might... (help!) BUT I am still an oddball fan... maybe cherry shrimp in an heavy planted tank for <Tank 2> This is the point I ask some one to talk me out that idea.

[magicfishy]

The river tank idea is great! I love hillstreams. Not sure if you've seen these websites yet but I thought they were very helpful when I was setting mine up.... http://www.loaches.com/articles/hill...-the-fast-lane
and also this one on how to set up a hillstream tank.... http://www.loaches.com/articles/rive...anifold-design. Good luck!

[Bender]

I have read those plus a couple more. I really like loaches.com its a well designed website and the id system is a good one.

[Bender]

Ok its update time with pics to follow... for tank one I have 2 power heads, several rocks to act as bolders, 5 or 6 pieces of petrofied wood (I just got at a pet store for a steal, muah ha ah,) a couple plants (but not enough,) an undergravel filter.... I still need more plants, sponge filters for the returns, I would like to find a cheap HOB filter thats at least 30 gal rated, and small pea sized river rock for gravel... that and ideas lots of ideas. So any ideas as to what I can use in the first tank or ideas as to what to use on the second tank.

[stevenallenbarnard]

http://www.loaches.com/articles/hillstream-loaches-the-specialists-at-life-in-the-fast-lane

[Bender]

Thanks for the link but thats something we have already discussed in the thread. Thanks for looking at the thread and offering up a comment, but what I am looking for is emanative ideas that would be cool or interesting. Or places to run down parts and or things for the tanks cheaply that way I have a bigger bang for my project buck.