Switch it Up

I was able to obtain 5 small Botia striata, or zebra loaches, yesterday. They look very good and had been in the dealer's tank for about three weeks, so that is encouraging. They have disappeared into the rockwork and wood piles of the 125-gallon and are out and about after lights out, even schooling with the barbs in the dark. 

I also obtained 6 T. leerii, or pearl gouramis. I got a male and 5 females, to go with the male and 2 females I already have. They will replace the angels I removed and sold from the 125 today. I still have angels in the 150 and plan to keep them there. I may not be able to keep all the gouramis in the 125 but they pretty much have the place to themselves, so it might work out. The barbs and loaches all keep to the bottom and the gouramis to the top, and there's plenty of room. 

I'm soaking some driftwood I found in my attic from a previous setup (don't throw anything away - you will want it someday) and will add that to the 125 to create more structure in the upper areas through creative stacking. I have some valisneria and similar plants but they are taking their time growing, but I hope to create a tall stand of this plant for these gouramis. 

I'll get some pics and video up soon. 

Many consider gouramis and loaches to be incompatible, since gouramis appreciate calm waters and loaches do best in fast moving waters. This tank gives me the unique opportunity to have both. There is a lot of filtration on this tank, with two Rena (now API) Filstar XP3 filters. Yes, two. When there is nothing in the tank with the filters on, and the outflow pipes, without spray bars, are pointed in the same direction, and you add fish food, or even colored water, you can see how much current is in this tank! I'm able to aim the current in a particular direction, or break it up by pointing the two outflows in different directions. 

However, I also have the ability to create current breaks, or baffles, with the use of rocks and driftwood, stacked here and there all the way to the top of the tank. Beside and behind these structures the water is calm and undisturbed, and these are the areas the gouramis like to go to when they want a break. Otherwise, the gouramis are all over the tank and do not seem to mind the current much. They travel in groups or singly and explore all areas of the tank. 

I am also considering adding 3 clown loaches to the tank, as well as two or three more zebra loaches. We'll have to see about that, but it is something I'm considering.