new to loaches please help
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new to loaches please help
hi everybody ive been to this forum many times and you all have sold me on clown loaches. i have a 210 gallon tank with 4inch base of eco-complete 845 watts of lighting plus moonlights tank is planted.i was going to do a tankful of tinies but i came here for info on loaches for possiblly snails. im running a automatic co2 system.so please tell me some combos of tank buddies for my loaches when i get them.im also a little confused aboutclowns beating up plants some say yes they will others say its ok.please someone help me choose and what else i might need .possibly a side flow pump and how big.thanks in advance . gary
so far i have had loaches with all types of fish over a two year period.
i have had them with gold fish, pleco, danios, glass fish, tetras, cherry barbs, tiger barbs, rainbow sharks.
they say goldfish are coldwater fish so don't combine them with this type of fish. but the two got along well.
out of my experience the loach get along really well with cory's cherry barbs, tiger barbs, plecos the best.
they start playing with the cory's and go into these frenzies where all the loach play follow the leader.
i believe the rainbow shark is quite territorial but i found that they seem to share playspace with the loach. i found them to like eachother quite a bit. doing dances and playing and sharing the same home. almost how clowns pack into spaces. the clown and the rainbow shark would do the same.
my one problem, and this is not everyone, i have found is that the loach eat anything smaller than a cherry barb. any tetras, danios that small disssappear. they eat danios the most.
i have read that jumbo danios are ok to use but i also read in a new article on the website that when mating they can tear up some fish. i initially got a loach to clean my tank of snails. i had probably 400 snails in the tank. within two weeks all snails were gone. i even bought another larger snail and the loach killed it and had snail steak. i didn't realize loach could get so large until i read at this site. i have 8 clowns and am upgrading right now. emma turner has a giant tank with 40+ loaches. her posts have quite a bit of useful information about loaches.
there are smaller loaches more adequete for snail cleaning but with a tank that large you could probably get some fat loaches lol...
i have had them with gold fish, pleco, danios, glass fish, tetras, cherry barbs, tiger barbs, rainbow sharks.
they say goldfish are coldwater fish so don't combine them with this type of fish. but the two got along well.
out of my experience the loach get along really well with cory's cherry barbs, tiger barbs, plecos the best.
they start playing with the cory's and go into these frenzies where all the loach play follow the leader.
i believe the rainbow shark is quite territorial but i found that they seem to share playspace with the loach. i found them to like eachother quite a bit. doing dances and playing and sharing the same home. almost how clowns pack into spaces. the clown and the rainbow shark would do the same.
my one problem, and this is not everyone, i have found is that the loach eat anything smaller than a cherry barb. any tetras, danios that small disssappear. they eat danios the most.
i have read that jumbo danios are ok to use but i also read in a new article on the website that when mating they can tear up some fish. i initially got a loach to clean my tank of snails. i had probably 400 snails in the tank. within two weeks all snails were gone. i even bought another larger snail and the loach killed it and had snail steak. i didn't realize loach could get so large until i read at this site. i have 8 clowns and am upgrading right now. emma turner has a giant tank with 40+ loaches. her posts have quite a bit of useful information about loaches.
there are smaller loaches more adequete for snail cleaning but with a tank that large you could probably get some fat loaches lol...
All your loaches are belong to me!
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Emma Turner
- Posts: 8901
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:07 pm
- Location: Peterborough, UK
- Contact:
Hi Gary, and welcome to Loaches Online. 
Myself and many others here have been keeping clowns for a good number of years, so anything you'd like to ask, fire away.
Your aquarium is a very good size for clown loaches, and although you may find that your plants succumb as the loaches get larger, I don't think you'll regret their purchase for a single minute. Many people get away with groups of smaller clowns in planted aquaria without too many problems, but believe me, if you keep a large group, and these all reach a substantial size, the plants will suffer! I have around 40 clowns in a 1000 litre aquarium, along with a breeding group of Puntius filmamentosus barbs. This combination works very well and the fish live in harmony together.
I would suggest other Asian tankmates for your clown loaches, and size will not matter. Clown loaches are gentle giants and will not take small fish. I'd recommend many species from the barb, danio, rainbowfish and rasbora families (although you'll need to check temp requirements etc as not every fish will appreciate the high temps that clowns prefer).
You'll need a lot of filtration and water movement, as clowns become big messy fish and need excellent conditions at all times. As an example, I have 3 Eheim external filters on my tank, 2 of which are the giant Professionel 3's. Added to this, I also have 2 large Aquaclear powerheads to increase water movement and aeration. The surface water of the aquarium is visibly churning.
Feel free to ask any questions, I'm sure others will chip in with their experiences.
Emma
Myself and many others here have been keeping clowns for a good number of years, so anything you'd like to ask, fire away.
Your aquarium is a very good size for clown loaches, and although you may find that your plants succumb as the loaches get larger, I don't think you'll regret their purchase for a single minute. Many people get away with groups of smaller clowns in planted aquaria without too many problems, but believe me, if you keep a large group, and these all reach a substantial size, the plants will suffer! I have around 40 clowns in a 1000 litre aquarium, along with a breeding group of Puntius filmamentosus barbs. This combination works very well and the fish live in harmony together.
I would suggest other Asian tankmates for your clown loaches, and size will not matter. Clown loaches are gentle giants and will not take small fish. I'd recommend many species from the barb, danio, rainbowfish and rasbora families (although you'll need to check temp requirements etc as not every fish will appreciate the high temps that clowns prefer).
You'll need a lot of filtration and water movement, as clowns become big messy fish and need excellent conditions at all times. As an example, I have 3 Eheim external filters on my tank, 2 of which are the giant Professionel 3's. Added to this, I also have 2 large Aquaclear powerheads to increase water movement and aeration. The surface water of the aquarium is visibly churning.
Feel free to ask any questions, I'm sure others will chip in with their experiences.
Emma
East of the Sun, West of the Moon.
newbie
thanks emma i have a 30 gallon sump flow is at 1200gph my problem is with co2 they dont want top water disturbance.im ready to setup cross flow with powerheads i guess i better buy some external filters to help with filtration anysuggestions about keeping turbulence down on surface so i dont eat up co2? gary
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Emma Turner
- Posts: 8901
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:07 pm
- Location: Peterborough, UK
- Contact:
Hi Gary,
I'd suggest that you run extra couple of large powerheads (angled up towards the water's surface) at night time when your lighting is off and your plants aren't photosynthesizing. You certainly don't want a build up of CO2 at night time, as I'm sure you're probably aware - clowns need well-oxygenated water. You could have these powerheads on a timer, so that they come on when the main tank lights go off. I'd recommend the Hagen powerheads such as the Aquaclears because they take the Quickfilter cartridges underneath that prevent any fish from being drawn into the motor/impellor chamber.
I'd suggest you go for one external filter as back-up to the sump you already have. A decent sized external will also help to produce a good amount of flow within the aquarium. You'd probably want to mount the return spraybar a little below the surface so that it doesn't create problems for your CO2. Personally, I would do away with the CO2 altogether because of the potential problems it could cause the fish, but it is your decision. Other people have had success with this, but it is just my opinion. Plants that withstand the clown attentions the longest appear to be Microsorium pteropus and Anubias species, although larger specimens will do their best to uproot/destroy these in the end!
Your tank could comfortably hold 20 clown loaches, plus other fish. I'd recommend you buying clowns of 2.5" and over, in groups of 5 at a time. Quarantining new purchases is also always a good idea, as you can also give them a series of Levamisole treatment (for skinny disease which they are prone to) prior to putting them in the main tank.
If you do continue with the CO2, I would forget what I said about adding any of the larger barb species to your tank. These tend to have extremely high oxygen requirements and will not fare well. Most also love anything green and leafy.
Emma
I'd suggest that you run extra couple of large powerheads (angled up towards the water's surface) at night time when your lighting is off and your plants aren't photosynthesizing. You certainly don't want a build up of CO2 at night time, as I'm sure you're probably aware - clowns need well-oxygenated water. You could have these powerheads on a timer, so that they come on when the main tank lights go off. I'd recommend the Hagen powerheads such as the Aquaclears because they take the Quickfilter cartridges underneath that prevent any fish from being drawn into the motor/impellor chamber.
I'd suggest you go for one external filter as back-up to the sump you already have. A decent sized external will also help to produce a good amount of flow within the aquarium. You'd probably want to mount the return spraybar a little below the surface so that it doesn't create problems for your CO2. Personally, I would do away with the CO2 altogether because of the potential problems it could cause the fish, but it is your decision. Other people have had success with this, but it is just my opinion. Plants that withstand the clown attentions the longest appear to be Microsorium pteropus and Anubias species, although larger specimens will do their best to uproot/destroy these in the end!
Your tank could comfortably hold 20 clown loaches, plus other fish. I'd recommend you buying clowns of 2.5" and over, in groups of 5 at a time. Quarantining new purchases is also always a good idea, as you can also give them a series of Levamisole treatment (for skinny disease which they are prone to) prior to putting them in the main tank.
If you do continue with the CO2, I would forget what I said about adding any of the larger barb species to your tank. These tend to have extremely high oxygen requirements and will not fare well. Most also love anything green and leafy.
Emma
East of the Sun, West of the Moon.
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