Reticulated Hillstream Loach

[Ryan1988]

Hello,

I saw the video on Reticulated Hillstream Loach's being good for spotted algae. My question is, do these fish work in a low flow environment? I've seen a few articles state that they need a high flow environment to survive. My current 20 Gallon tank Houses 6 glowfish and 2 nerite snails. I had a pleco (common?) for about a year but it recently died. Not sure why as the other fish are unaffected.  

[TheSwissAquarist]

On 10/27/2022 at 6:16 PM, Ryan1988 said:

Hello,

I saw the video on Reticulated Hillstream Loach's being good for spotted algae. My question is, do these fish work in a low flow environment? I've seen a few articles state that they need a high flow environment to survive. My current 20 Gallon tank Houses 6 glowfish and 2 nerite snails. I had a pleco (common?) for about a year but it recently died. Not sure why as the other fish are unaffected.  

I have them in a 29 gal with absolutely diddly squat in terms of flow and they’re doing fine.

People recommend a lot of flow because they come from fast flowing mountain streams in South Asia, but they do fine in low-mid flow range.

Any pics of the tank going?

[TOtrees]

Sharing 2nd hand knowledge here, but I think I recall seeing a video on youtube by LRBretz where he had them breeding in an unfiltered tank in his fish room. So like, zero flow.

[Flumpweesel]

I read high flow as high O2 because I assume that the oxygen rich stream water is rather than the current is what they need. They are adapted to keep still in the flow but a lack of it probably makes things easier as long as the water suits them.

If you run air stones you will probably be fine. 

[John Ebsen]

I Had them breed in a 40 breeder with an aquaclear 110. I've kept them in pretty low flow tanks with no issues. They are really cool fish, but I wouldn't buy one expecting it to clean algae.

[OutBout]

The Sewellia hillstream loaches are omnivorous grazers, not obligate algae eaters, and will be eating the stuff (biofilm, aufwuchs, infusoria) that's living on top of the algae. In my experience, if given the choice, reticulated hillstream loaches will flock to any sinking food instead of focusing on the algae areas. I would say that nerite snails are better at algae control, as I've never seen any go for prepared food if there's enough algae to satisfy their hunger.

Edited October 30, 2022 by OutBout

[The endler guy]

On 10/27/2022 at 12:31 PM, TOtrees said:

Sharing 2nd hand knowledge here, but I think I recall seeing a video on youtube by LRBretz where he had them breeding in an unfiltered tank in his fish room. So like, zero flow.

I saw a video of some one hsl breeding in a quarantine tank😂

[MostlyRock]

My 3 do awesome in my 29, even when it just had a sponge filter in it. Right now I'm running 2 HOBs in there as well to get them ready to cycle new tanks, and I haven't seen any difference in their behavior with the added flow. They certainly haven't seemed to take any more interest in the higher flow areas than lower flow since I put the HOBs in. 

I agree with @OutBout, while I have seen them "eat algae," they eat pellets, wafers, Zuchini, etc. They seem to prefer scavenging prepared foods to just eating algae, so I wouldn't expect them to make a huge difference regarding algae production. I wouldn't get them to take care of algae, I would get them because they look awesome, and because they're silly and play a lot, especially with Kuhli Loaches.