Hillstream Loach--Stocking Possibilities

[Weiro792]

Hey! So I'm in a pickle.

I really want to get a couple hillstream loaches for my tank which will include the indicated fish bellow. They would replace a gold nugget pleco. 
 
2x veil angels
10x spotted cory cats
4x Blue Rams
 
I was planning on setting up a "river" flowing set up with intakes at one end of my 55 gallon and 2 marineland jetstreams i think they're called. Each rated for I think it's 900 gallons/hour. 
 
My MAIN concern is with the temperature requirements. As the hillstream loaches are more acclimated to the cooler temperatures. 
 
My wife does not like the look of most plecos. So it is down to the GN or the hillstream loaches. I would prefer the loaches. Any ideas on how the loaches would do with this set up?

 

[fluttermoth]

No, it's really not going to work, I'm afraid. The rams would never be happy in water cool enough, or fast flowing enough, for hillstream loaches.
 
They come from totally different environments in the wild, and are adapted to those conditions; while most fish can adapt a bit to less than natural conditions, expecting those two species to co-exist wouldn't be fair on either of them.
 
How about one or two of the smaller whiptail plec species? They're very elegant looking.

 

[Weiro792]

Yeah thats what I figured. I have seen that one, my wife definitely would not like a whiptail

  I'll probably end up with the Gold Nugget anyways. I was just wanting some other peoples opinion. Thanks!

 

[Livewire88]

How about trying to convince the wife you "need" a second tank? 

 

[Weiro792]

Lol, yeah... I wish. Maybe in a few years when I'm done with school. I'm lucky to have one

  But that was my plan at some point. For now I'll stick to my planned stock I guess. Any suggestions other than the rams? I'm looking for some color. Maybe something similar to them.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I might be wrong, but I think you will find "Golden Nuggets" need tanks with lots of flow, almost like a high-end tropical "hillstream loach" setup, in order to keep the oxygen levels maintained in such warm water. This flow will not be appreciated by Angelfish, same might go for German Blue Rams.
 
What are these "spotted cory cats?" Many common corydora species need temperate or low-end tropical conditions, somewhere between 16C and 24C. Ones that do well in the warm water (~27C) needed for German Blue Rams are relatively few, but do include C. sterbai.

 

[Weiro792]

Hmmm I didn't realize they needed extra flow, but I think you may be right. I just did a little more reading about them. Would it be ok to limit the high flow to a certain part of the tank by placing the intakes in the middle of the tank somewhere. That way everyone is happy?
 
The spotted is the same as the peppered cory. The info i had on them said they would do ok in 26C. But that very well could be wrong. There's all kinds of different info on the internet 

  So the temp would be on the high end for the Cory's and on the lower end for the Rams but I do believe there's a bit of overlap. I mostly like the look of the peppered more than any of the other cory's, but I do like the look of C. sterbai.