The top tank in my rheophilic breeding rack was designed and set up to somewhat mimic a shallow rapid. Perhaps leading into a some riffles or a small drop in the stream level.
The tank, as with the rest, measures 150cm x 30cm x 30cm and has a pump with variable output ranging from 3000L/h to 6000L/h. This is changed randomly to mimic rainfall and drier periods.
The base of the raised section of the tank is hollow and the rocks in the front are slightly more than an inch wide. This cut down a lot on weight and material needed. The whole system was seeded with algae/aufwuchs covered rocks from a local hillstream about 2 mins from my house. This, with the 13K lights, has given a nice base for the fish to feed on.
The tank initially housed 4 Stiphodon ornatus but the breeding of them is too complex at this point so decided to add Sewellia sp to get started.
So far I have added 9 loaches:
2 x Sewellia sp. "spotted" SEW01 - I am hoping they are a pair but they are rather shy and hard to get a good look at.
7 x Sewellia Lineolata - There appears to be 3 color forms in the tank.
Setting up the tank
The frame work
The mesh is to stop small gravel and sand particles falling through.
Plastic grates were used to raise the bottom and save weight.
A side view showing where the gravel would hide the plastic fillers
Adding the gravel and rocks
The outlet from the pump on the ground 5 foot below.
The slope of the rapids
Middle
and the right side of the tank near the overflow
The tank, as with the rest, measures 150cm x 30cm x 30cm and has a pump with variable output ranging from 3000L/h to 6000L/h. This is changed randomly to mimic rainfall and drier periods.
The base of the raised section of the tank is hollow and the rocks in the front are slightly more than an inch wide. This cut down a lot on weight and material needed. The whole system was seeded with algae/aufwuchs covered rocks from a local hillstream about 2 mins from my house. This, with the 13K lights, has given a nice base for the fish to feed on.
The tank initially housed 4 Stiphodon ornatus but the breeding of them is too complex at this point so decided to add Sewellia sp to get started.
So far I have added 9 loaches:
2 x Sewellia sp. "spotted" SEW01 - I am hoping they are a pair but they are rather shy and hard to get a good look at.
7 x Sewellia Lineolata - There appears to be 3 color forms in the tank.
Setting up the tank
The frame work
The mesh is to stop small gravel and sand particles falling through.
Plastic grates were used to raise the bottom and save weight.
A side view showing where the gravel would hide the plastic fillers
Adding the gravel and rocks
The outlet from the pump on the ground 5 foot below.
The slope of the rapids
Middle
and the right side of the tank near the overflow