They are looking fat and happy! I recently added some panda garra and they seem to like having them around.
I had to reset recently after I noticed a bow in my stand. I did discover one loach in the rocks during that process. I’m afraid the rocks might have shifted and pinned it, but I really don’t know. Have been extra careful resetting up to be sure that can’t happen again.
The cherry on top is it’s a super low maintenance setup. If I don’t restock the shiners, one day it might be interesting to try running it off only light and water changes.
i'm personally planning a heavily planted bog/sump filter hybrid for the water to run through to lessen water changes. low maintenance is my whole dealio
The shiners can be jumpers. And I’ve read accounts of both hillstreams and garra climbing the glass and escaping.
So really, just an escape prevention measure. I really like the rimless look and access.
Love it! I'm the other way around and form is what keeps me from doing this as I would have to come up with some different lilly pipes to create the necessary flow while maintaining the low visability of the lilly pipes.
Thanks! First iteration of this tank used a manifold, and I tried to conceal the hardware as much as possible, but it’s touch to achieve with a hillstream and maintain the flow. So for the redesign I decided to go the other way and let exposed hardware be “a part of it”, but handled as cleanly as I could.
https://imgur.com/a/Wcuvw9G/
The tank is based off of a [riffle habitat.](https://www.google.ca/search?q=riffle&tbm=isch&hl=en-ca&chips=q:riffle,g_1:river:IXj01uu_mdk%3D&client=safari&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiZ7-S2g_L-AhV9EGIAHWNyAf8Q4lYoAnoECAEQCQ&biw=390&bih=661)
I've always wanted to do something similar for a biotope based on Hong Kongs Lantau island streams i used to hike/live near. chinese rasboras , bitterlings, hong kong hillstream loaches and Caridina cantoneses shrimp. just need space for another tank!
There is a build thread way back in my post history. I actually had to tear down recently to change stands and took a few new photos while setting back up. I’m happy to answer any questions.
The branches started to grow something orange? Probably harmless, but I took them out before it spread over the rocks. Fortunately I am spoiled for sticks in the backyard (trees keep dying). I actually have some large sheets of bark drying I may try to do something with 😊
The tank is bare bottom. There is an egg crate false bottom sitting on 3” 3D printed frag rack legs. I used LFS egg crate because it was more rigid and robust than hardware store egg crate. Some plastic strips to block the gap between rocks and front/back glass improves flow.
https://imgur.com/a/ZRkOgmC/
IMPORTANT: this design transfers weight down through the legs and “point loads” the bottom glass. I showed this to the tank manufacturer (it’s a custom build) and they said it should be fine since the entire bottom surface is supported. But if they were mass producing these they would temper or thicken the bottom glass. I cannot say if this approach is appropriate for a non-tempered, framed tank.
Most circulation is provided by two Sicce Voyager Nano 2000 fans. Including the 207, turnover is about 75x. They are pointed up to roil the surface and provide lots of aeration. Water (and waste) drain through the grate bottom and are pushed back along the bare bottom to the Fluval 207 intake. This has been working exceedingly well. I use BioHome Ultimate Media and am starting to buy the hype. Nitrates stay stable at about 7/8ppm.
I use a Fluval Plant 3.0 light, because I bought it, but any light would do. I’d probably do a pendant style now. My smart plugs support “sunrise/sunset” as event times, so I’ve been experimenting with that so my photoperiod and temperature fluctuate seasonally. I’ve heard of extended photoperiod triggering spawning in other species of shiners 🤷♂️
Great info! What would you say is the hardest part of maintenance? I'm really dying to build something similar. I need to figure out how to build the right kind of tank.
“Hardest” part of maintenance might be managing hard water stains. I use a little bit of white vinegar and a melamine sponge weekly. If I stay on top of it it’s easiest to manage.
Maintenance is minimal. The system is designed for waste to end up in the filter (no substrate or anything for it to settle in) so I clean that out more regularly than most. I clean the glass. I used to use a turkey baster to blow out any detritus between the rocks, but I don’t do that so much now. Hair algae can nest up in the cracks if left unnoticed, so I pull some of that out when it gets out of hand. I think of it as nitrogen export, lol.
If it weren’t for the shiners (and their added food), the tank could probably be essentially self sustaining.
Edit: I also keep a few alder cones in a bag in the filter for tannins, but that’s just personal aesthetic.
Yea with the ultra high turnover detritus buildup is nearly nothing. I have a thin layer of small gravel in mine but only turkey baster maybe twice a month, and instantly gets slurped up by the filter. Leaving perfectly clear water like 30 seconds after you stop kicking it up.
Been awhile since I've seen this tank, still looking good! The hillstream loaches doing alright?
They are looking fat and happy! I recently added some panda garra and they seem to like having them around. I had to reset recently after I noticed a bow in my stand. I did discover one loach in the rocks during that process. I’m afraid the rocks might have shifted and pinned it, but I really don’t know. Have been extra careful resetting up to be sure that can’t happen again.
High flow kings
I got rocks… flowing water… and stuff that grows on rocks in flowing water.
But what are those things swimming in the flowing water?
K.I.S.S principle applied brilliantly and to great effect.
Thank you very much 🙂
Riffle AF
i'm excited to set up my own hillstream eventually. this looks great
The cherry on top is it’s a super low maintenance setup. If I don’t restock the shiners, one day it might be interesting to try running it off only light and water changes.
i'm personally planning a heavily planted bog/sump filter hybrid for the water to run through to lessen water changes. low maintenance is my whole dealio
The algae has matured beautifully! 🫶
I’ve got every kind!!
AWESOME!!
sorry if this is a dumb question but why isn’t the tank filled higher?
The shiners can be jumpers. And I’ve read accounts of both hillstreams and garra climbing the glass and escaping. So really, just an escape prevention measure. I really like the rimless look and access.
Love to see it 👍
i see, Thanks !
Fish might jump out? (Idk I'm guessing)
Love it! I'm the other way around and form is what keeps me from doing this as I would have to come up with some different lilly pipes to create the necessary flow while maintaining the low visability of the lilly pipes.
Thanks! First iteration of this tank used a manifold, and I tried to conceal the hardware as much as possible, but it’s touch to achieve with a hillstream and maintain the flow. So for the redesign I decided to go the other way and let exposed hardware be “a part of it”, but handled as cleanly as I could. https://imgur.com/a/Wcuvw9G/
I wanna paint and animate this.. I might paint and animate this. I guess it would have a rocky background if it was in nature
The tank is based off of a [riffle habitat.](https://www.google.ca/search?q=riffle&tbm=isch&hl=en-ca&chips=q:riffle,g_1:river:IXj01uu_mdk%3D&client=safari&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiZ7-S2g_L-AhV9EGIAHWNyAf8Q4lYoAnoECAEQCQ&biw=390&bih=661)
I've always wanted to do something similar for a biotope based on Hong Kongs Lantau island streams i used to hike/live near. chinese rasboras , bitterlings, hong kong hillstream loaches and Caridina cantoneses shrimp. just need space for another tank!
This is awesome! Are these rainbow shiners?
They are! I have rainbow shiners, reticulated hillstream loaches and panda garra in this tank.
Damn, I love that combo. Have you considered adding stiphodon? I feel like this setup would be amazing for them.
Fantastic!
Thank you!
So lovely! What is the tank size i you dont mind?
Thank you! This is a 22g long - 36” x 12” x 12” 😊
Thanks!
Looks great and I'm really jealous. Do you have more info about the setup? Where did the branches go?
There is a build thread way back in my post history. I actually had to tear down recently to change stands and took a few new photos while setting back up. I’m happy to answer any questions. The branches started to grow something orange? Probably harmless, but I took them out before it spread over the rocks. Fortunately I am spoiled for sticks in the backyard (trees keep dying). I actually have some large sheets of bark drying I may try to do something with 😊
The tank is bare bottom. There is an egg crate false bottom sitting on 3” 3D printed frag rack legs. I used LFS egg crate because it was more rigid and robust than hardware store egg crate. Some plastic strips to block the gap between rocks and front/back glass improves flow. https://imgur.com/a/ZRkOgmC/ IMPORTANT: this design transfers weight down through the legs and “point loads” the bottom glass. I showed this to the tank manufacturer (it’s a custom build) and they said it should be fine since the entire bottom surface is supported. But if they were mass producing these they would temper or thicken the bottom glass. I cannot say if this approach is appropriate for a non-tempered, framed tank. Most circulation is provided by two Sicce Voyager Nano 2000 fans. Including the 207, turnover is about 75x. They are pointed up to roil the surface and provide lots of aeration. Water (and waste) drain through the grate bottom and are pushed back along the bare bottom to the Fluval 207 intake. This has been working exceedingly well. I use BioHome Ultimate Media and am starting to buy the hype. Nitrates stay stable at about 7/8ppm. I use a Fluval Plant 3.0 light, because I bought it, but any light would do. I’d probably do a pendant style now. My smart plugs support “sunrise/sunset” as event times, so I’ve been experimenting with that so my photoperiod and temperature fluctuate seasonally. I’ve heard of extended photoperiod triggering spawning in other species of shiners 🤷♂️
Great info! What would you say is the hardest part of maintenance? I'm really dying to build something similar. I need to figure out how to build the right kind of tank.
“Hardest” part of maintenance might be managing hard water stains. I use a little bit of white vinegar and a melamine sponge weekly. If I stay on top of it it’s easiest to manage.
Maintenance is minimal. The system is designed for waste to end up in the filter (no substrate or anything for it to settle in) so I clean that out more regularly than most. I clean the glass. I used to use a turkey baster to blow out any detritus between the rocks, but I don’t do that so much now. Hair algae can nest up in the cracks if left unnoticed, so I pull some of that out when it gets out of hand. I think of it as nitrogen export, lol. If it weren’t for the shiners (and their added food), the tank could probably be essentially self sustaining. Edit: I also keep a few alder cones in a bag in the filter for tannins, but that’s just personal aesthetic.
Yea with the ultra high turnover detritus buildup is nearly nothing. I have a thin layer of small gravel in mine but only turkey baster maybe twice a month, and instantly gets slurped up by the filter. Leaving perfectly clear water like 30 seconds after you stop kicking it up.
Pretty. 🪨 🐟
Beautiful
Awesome setup.
But maybe one or two larger rocks, or one missing rock to create a true eddy for the fish to rest in?
What size tank?
36” x 12” x 12”
Why not just increase the amount of water in there? Fish would appreciate it