Setting Up My First Aquarium - Glotetras And Kuhli Loachs, Questions.

Setting up My First Aquarium - GloTetras and KuhlI Loaches, Questions.

First off, I really wanted to do a 10 or 15 gallon, and read on multiple sites the KuhlI Loaches would be fine in a 10, but some people on forums insisted they need at least a 20. Thoughts?
It looks like Glo Tetras and KuhlI Loaches don't fight or anything, and I was thinking of getting probably five of each? That seems to be the minimum group people recommend keeping them in.

Also I've never done any fish keeping. I've been reading up on the nitrogen cycle, so I know I have to buy my tank like a month before I put any fish in and put in the formula thing people recommend and run the filter and test the levels, any more info on that would be awesome.

I'd like to have a standard light on the aquarium, but also a black light to put on some times and show off the tetras. Would that bother the Kuhlis?

Any other newbie info would be much appreciated.

 

You won't really see the kuhlis for a few weeks, when I got them they hid behind the filter and stayed there

Only came out at night when the lights are of, I would see them rush back in the morning when I turned the lights on

 

Only came out at night when the lights are of, I would see them rush back in the morning when I turned the lights on

Yeah, I read that they can be shy, but if you keep them in a larger group it's supposed to help, and if you spend a lot of time around the aquarium (especially at food time). How many did you have?

 

I had five and then bought a few more a couple of months later, and then I sold a couple, so I'm not too sure how many I have now
I also had a mixture of gravel and sand but I had loads of bog wood to hide in. I found out after I got them that they like to bury under stuff, so soft substrate is better

 

I had five and then bought a few more a couple of months later, and then I sold a couple, so I'm not too sure how many I have now
I also had a mixture of gravel and sand but I had loads of bog wood to hide in. I found out after I got them that they like to bury under stuff, so soft substrate is better

Yeah I'm going to get them a substrate. How long have you had yours now? Are they still shy?

 

I'd do a 20 long for those fish, minimum. Tetras like that horizontal swimming space. And you need a group of at least 6.

 

I'd do a 20 long for those fish, minimum. Tetras like that horizontal swimming space. And you need a group of at least 6.

Okay cool, thank you for the input, I will get 6.

 

Since april last year I think, around that time

 

Since april last year I think, around that time

Are they still shy? Or do you see them often now?

 

Are they still shy? Or do you see them often now?

I only see them when I'm watching tv and they can't see anything moving outside as well as feeding time just after the lights go on, but I'm sure if you get little tubes like in the picture they'll make them their home and stick around there (they did in the fish shop). I didn't have enough space with the stuff I already had in the tank
But they were thinner so the kuhlI had just enough room to fit3 at the same time

 

I have both glo tetras and kuhlis together. They are both very active and definitely need 20 gal minimum, they are also both schooling fish and do best in groups of at least 5-6. They will get along fine, just make sure to have hiding places for the loaches, rocks or low bushy plants are best.

Tetras can be nippy, and I have seen mine rarely peck at the loaches during feeding. The way the tank is setup though the loaches are never more than a couple inches from a hiding place, so they just disappear if they're being bothered. Because of all the hiding spots I also see mine constantly. I think they feel safer so they come out more.

The light won't bother anyone. In fact you should feed the kuhlis just a few minutes before turning off the light as they are nocturnal, and turning on the black/blue light will allow you to see them eating, which is a lot of fun to watch

 

I have both glo tetras and kuhlis together. They are both very active and definitely need 20 gal minimum, they are also both schooling fish and do best in groups of at least 5-6. They will get along fine, just make sure to have hiding places for the loaches, rocks or low bushy plants are best.

Tetras can be nippy, and I have seen mine rarely peck at the loaches during feeding. The way the tank is setup though the loaches are never more than a couple inches from a hiding place, so they just disappear if they're being bothered. Because of all the hiding spots I also see mine constantly. I think they feel safer so they come out more.

The light won't bother anyone. In fact you should feed the kuhlis just a few minutes before turning off the light as they are nocturnal, and turning on the black/blue light will allow you to see them eating, which is a lot of fun to watch

That's really useful, thanks! Do you have anything else in your tank with your Kuhlis and GloTetras? I'd like to stock my 20 gallon a little more if I can.

 

That's really useful, thanks! Do you have anything else in your tank with your Kuhlis and GloTetras? I'd like to stock my 20 gallon a little more if I can.

I have zebra danios and amano shrimp with them in a 55gal. I have really light stocking now, but I'm planning ember tetras and bolivian rams as well. They're very peaceful, so just nothing that can eat them, and nothing the tetras can bother with nipping.

For a 20 gal I would get the tetras, kuhlis, and a single centerpiece. A top dweller if possible because the tetra are mid dwellers and the loaches are bottom dwellers. A couple of honey gourami would look cool

 

I have zebra danios and amano shrimp with them in a 55gal. I have really light stocking now, but I'm planning ember tetras and bolivian rams as well. They're very peaceful, so just nothing that can eat them, and nothing the tetras can bother with nipping.

For a 20 gal I would get the tetras, kuhlis, and a single centerpiece. A top dweller if possible because the tetra are mid dwellers and the loaches are bottom dwellers. A couple of honey gourami would look cool

Awesome. People are very insistent that Kuhlis need a 20 gallon, so I was afraid it'd be bad to add much else in with them.

 

Awesome. People are very insistent that Kuhlis need a 20 gallon, so I was afraid it'd be bad to add much else in with them.

The reason they need a 20 gallon is the floor space. They're very active and utilize every inch of the tank, in a small tank they would be terribly cramped. It's fine to add other fish to the tank though, they actually have a very low bioload and take up very little swimming room, so imo there's rarely danger of overcrowding with them.