I got a hillstream loach (called Fugax) 9 days ago, and he'd been fine. Coming out of hiding every evening to eat various bits of algae, although there isn't a huge mount of algae about, there is some, and I also put a few algae flakes in a day (although my orandas seemed to eat a few of them so not sure how much Fugax got, there were always some hidden ones that they couldn't get to and Fugax could though)
He was alive this morning before I went to the shops at 11am, but by the time I got back at 2pm he was dead. I'm still doing either 10% water changes everyday, or 20% every 2 days, and the tank is still salted. Water is fine (Ph 7.5, ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 10 (I can't get that to 0 whatever I try ) and Ash and Bruce appear to be fine. I changed one of the 2 filter pads in the main filter the other day, however 1 old one is still in there and the old one I took out is in the smaller filter that is in the tank.
Any idea what could have killed Fugax? Is it likely to be something that could kill Ash and Bruce?

I'm going to go back the pet store, see if they will give me my money back or something cause he should have lived more than 9 days. But I think I will go to the specialist aqautics shop tomorrow and see if they have a bristlenose pleco

It could have been something he caught from the store.

Hillstream loachs prefer fast flowing water. They dont live on algae alone they eat the same varied diet as goldfish do. However hillstreams are ment to be kept in acidic water rather than at the pH prefered by goldfish. These loachs prefer max pH of 6.8. Your pH is too high for these loachs at 7.5. They also prefer to live in groups minimum of five.
Heres a link on these cute loachs for you

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/Hill...streamLoach.php

http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/comfish.html says pH 6.5 - 7.6....that's why I assumed it would be fine in my tank. Also never read anywhere (apart from that link just posted) that it's best to get them in groups. Pet store didn't give me any advice either but then that doesn't surprise me as they never know anything. Think I will take the longer trip and go to the nearest specialist fish store in the future, they are the best in the region. They also said I shouldn't even consider getting a bristlenose pleco to put in with Ash and Bruce. Although don't think I will bother getting anthing else now anyway. Ash and Bruce seem settled and happy, don't want to disrupt that. I considered a snail but I've read they like a few inches of no water at the top of the tank, I haven't got, and can't get that.

i reccomend dojo loaches...

Sorry about your loach.

As for snails they are interesting AND addictive. They just need to be able to get their little air tube up to take in air. Be warned I started off with a couple Red Ramshorns, then I got a Golden Mystery snail, recently got a blue one...........VERY ADDICTIVE little buggars!!

As far as I know all loaches like to be in groups. I do not know about hillstream loaches, but dojos and kuhli loaches are considered to be a scaleless fish and that makes them more sensitive to medications, including salt.

plus they dont like salt.

Sorry about your fish.