So with the information everyone helped me with on my last post I took this idea away from the conversation. Basically, I want to turn my empty 75 gallon into a recreation of a stream. I have found 2 species of fish that I really like, that are also in my area. The Rosyside Dace and the Saffron Shiner. I know of a place that has what I think to be 1 of these 2 fish living there but, it is illegal to seine or use bait traps there. So getting the fish from there is a no go. So, the questions I have are. With your stream tanks how strong do you generally make the current and what power head would you suggest for a 75 gallon? Is there an online supplier or Rosyside Dace and Saffron Shiners? Can Rosyside Dace and Saffron Shiners live together without harmful aggression towards each other? Do Rosyside Dace or Saffron Shiners spawn in an aquarium setting? Are there any coldwater plants (don't necessarily have to be from NC) that work well in a stream tank? I know this is a ton of question but, I am trying to learn all I can before I set this tank up. Thanks in advance for your help and information!

You can also use baited hooks using a piece of worm. Get some tiny hooks from the fly fishing dept. file off or using pliers crimp down, the barb. I used to use them to catch dace when I was a kid & didnt have a net.

I discussed current and water flow with pictures in this post: http://forum.nanfa.o...need-a-current/

"Do Rosyside Dace or Saffron Shiners spawn in an aquarium setting?"
You'd want a second tank to put fry. They'll eat their own.

"Are there any coldwater plants (don't necessarily have to be from NC) that work well in a stream tank?"
Basically all of the 'tropical' plants will grow in your unheated tank, too. And there are some native species I like that tropical plant keepers don't consider. Vallisneria americana is an example of a native plant that is becoming more popular with tropical fish keepers. I've got myriophllyum pinnatum, ludwigia repens, duckweed, and a potamogeton in my tank, and in the past had ceratophyllum demersum and bacopa monnieri. I have found the plants to nonchalantly grow in either tropical or unheated setup. If you have a stream tank there are some really awesome plants that only grow in fast moving water. I collected some awesome gracilaria looking things from the riffles of a river one time but then it didn't do so well in my no-current 10 gallon. You'd be able to grow those fast-current species along with your run of the mill low current plants, which are what the rest of us are limited to.

"Is there an online supplier or Rosyside Dace and Saffron Shiners?"
Here is my go-to list of native fish vendors:
http://www.zimmerman....com/Price.html
http://btdarters.com...talogs_fish.htm
http://www.aquacultu...er-Vertebrates/
http://www.jonahsaqu...te/fishlist.htm
http://www.aquabid.c....cgi?fwusnative
Although it really is more fun to go out and collect from the waters near you. Not the one where fishing is illegal, of course, but I'm sure there are plenty that it is legal to collect from. First set up your tank. Then buy a fishing license, and read the regulations packet that comes with it. Then follow the suggestions Gerald gives you about where to go collecting. I think he listed some sites on the previous forum topic. And I gave you this: http://portal.ncdenr.../bau/nativefish

Edited by EricaWieser, 01 December 2012 - 03:17 PM.

NC-WRC has online maps of designated trout streams (by county), and also in a book you can buy from their website. IME rosysides can sometimes get bossy in a small tank (20 gal) with few fish, but in a 40 gal or larger with a big school of mixed minnows they should be fine. Both spp spawn on chub nests, which you can simulate with a bowl of pea-gravel or marbles placed in a spot with current. Winter cooling (below 55 F for a couple month) helps bring them into breeding condition, but sometimes they'll spawn even when kept room temp year round, if diet and water quality are good.

You might be able to talk to your local NC fisheries biologist and see where you can collect the species you want.

http://www.ncwildlif...ries_NC_map.pdf