few questions from a newbie

[saidbyme]

About 2 months ago the state fair came through, my son won 3 goldfish. We stopped on the way home, bought all the stuff we needed (3 gallon tank, rocks, decorations, etc) and of course they were dead by the next day. So I did some research, found this place, read a lot and ended up with a betta. I got a new tank and she was in a 5 gallon tank with a hillstream loach. Upgraded the tank to a 10 gallon and added an ADF. ADF, betta and loach are all happy, well, the loach is just there. She (he?) tends to just stick by the filter and in hindsight, I wouldn't have gotten it (bad petco advice). The 10 gallon tank came with the bio wheel filter but I swapped it out for the Whisper that came with the 5 gallon since the betta seemed to hate the flow.

Can I add anything else? The loach is rarely visible without serious looking, the ADF is entertaining as is the betta but it seems so empty in there. She is not aggressive or timid, seems pretty laid back to me actually. I like the tetras but I'm not sure a school wouldn't overload the tank.

[ChoclateBetta]

The tank is overstocked the Betta and the frog are fully stocking if the loach is black and orange it grows huge and schools so you need a way bigger tank the loach is not a good tank mate the Betta is too aggressive.
http://www.loaches.com/species-index...a-macracanthus
http://tamarind.hubpages.com/hub/Clown-Loaches
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/lo...clownloach.htm
if it looks like this you get a big tank a 10 gallon is needed for fish friends that 10 gallon is minimum 5 gallon is fully stocked just with Betta and frog.

[saidbyme]

Nope, its a hillstream loach like I said in the original post :) From all the research I have seen on them, their max size is 2-4 inches....

Editing to add.... maybe I was to rambly in the original post. Loach. ADF and betta are all in the 10 gallon which is what I am looking to add more to.

[registereduser]

You can use this to help determine your capacity limit.

http://www.aqadvisor.com/

also you may need to upgrade the filter since it was made for a 5 gallon.

[ChoclateBetta]

Originally Posted by saidbyme

Nope, its a hillstream loach like I said in the original post :) From all the research I have seen on them, their max size is 2-4 inches....

The tank is still overstocked they need a special tank for O2 it is way to small and under built for the loach one needs high current.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...03&pcatid=3003
http://www.loaches.com/articles/hill...-the-fast-lane
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fres...treamLoach.htm

[xjenuhfur]

You can always baffle the filter that was meant for the 10gal and your betta buddy may like it better. :)

[Olympia]

The hillstream loach won't do well in this tank. It needs huge filtration and a powerful current, which the betta won't appreciate. The originate in fast flowing streams with high oxygen content and have trouble breathing without good flow.

[ChoclateBetta]

Originally Posted by Olympia

The hillstream loach won't do well in this tank. It needs huge filtration and a powerful current, which the betta won't appreciate. The originate in fast flowing streams with high oxygen content and have trouble breathing without good flow.

Finally do not forget the size.

[saidbyme]

ok so pull the loach out.... gotcha

[saidbyme]

Originally Posted by xjenuhfur

You can always baffle the filter that was meant for the 10gal and your betta buddy may like it better. :)

Thanks I was looking into that earlier but the biowheel was so stupidly loud.... I think I may go with something quieter