Loach Recommendations for Beginners?
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:45 pm
Hello all.
I'm not completely new to the aquarium hobby, but it's been a few years since I've had an active tank. I have a primitive knowledge of water chemistry, tank cycling, and popular fish compatibility. I successfully kept a couple of planted community tanks stocked with hardy fish (tetras, corys, danios, etc.) for years.
I have recently become captivated (due in large part to this site) with loaches. I just moved to a new place and bought a new tank. It's a 47.5 gallon tank and its dimensions are 37" L x 18" W x 21. 5" H. I have become particularly fascinated with clown loaches, but I recognize that this habitat is probably a bit small for their potential. I know there's a ton of information available on this website, and it's probably been discussed in earlier threads (though I could not find any). However, I thought I'd appeal to the expertise of the active users on this site for this question:
What would you all recommend as a relatively hardy loach, compatible for the size tank I have? I would like something behaviorly similar to the clown loach that would be comfortable in the size tank I have. Maybe a few different species? What are your recommendations as far as stocking (numbers and species) for a tank of this size? I am fully willing to create the habitat around the inhabitant's needs, and right now I have a blank canvas. The hardier the better! Thoughts?
Thanks.
I'm not completely new to the aquarium hobby, but it's been a few years since I've had an active tank. I have a primitive knowledge of water chemistry, tank cycling, and popular fish compatibility. I successfully kept a couple of planted community tanks stocked with hardy fish (tetras, corys, danios, etc.) for years.
I have recently become captivated (due in large part to this site) with loaches. I just moved to a new place and bought a new tank. It's a 47.5 gallon tank and its dimensions are 37" L x 18" W x 21. 5" H. I have become particularly fascinated with clown loaches, but I recognize that this habitat is probably a bit small for their potential. I know there's a ton of information available on this website, and it's probably been discussed in earlier threads (though I could not find any). However, I thought I'd appeal to the expertise of the active users on this site for this question:
What would you all recommend as a relatively hardy loach, compatible for the size tank I have? I would like something behaviorly similar to the clown loach that would be comfortable in the size tank I have. Maybe a few different species? What are your recommendations as far as stocking (numbers and species) for a tank of this size? I am fully willing to create the habitat around the inhabitant's needs, and right now I have a blank canvas. The hardier the better! Thoughts?
Thanks.