New loach tank questions

[phantomlink]

I've got 4 Yoyo loaches right now in a 125 gallon that has been running since the summer. I wanted them to have their own tank ( another 125 ) but had a few questions I'm having problems finding online:

This tank will only have Yoyo and possibly some Clown Loach, its 125 gallon 72x18x21. I know Clowns like having more and more, but I read Yoyo are best with 5 or so and dont need a giant group to be happy. How many clowns can I fit in the tank with 5 or 6 yoyos? Will the clowns play/live fine with the yoyos if I cant fit 5 or 6 clowns?

Tank is low tech, so only plants I could have are Swords ( I know they put holes/kill them ), Hornwort, and crypts/javafern. Are these ok or should I stick to rock formations for caves, PVC pipe and fake plants?

I know loaches like a good current, what kind of powerhead should be in the tank and how do I set it up without blowing sand everywhere?

[DainBramage1991]

A 125 is big enough for as many or as few yoyos as you want. They'll love a tank with that much space. Don't worry about getting too many, within reason. 3-5 is considered a minimum, but you are correct that they are perfectly happy in small groups. However, in my opinion, more yoyos in a tank that size wouldn't be a problem and I would even encourage it.

As for the clowns, the tank size will be your limiting factor, not the yoyos. The rule of thumb I've heard is that you should allow roughly 20 gallons per clown, so 6-7 should fit nicely in your 125 (keeping their growth potential in mind, of course). With good filtration and good upkeep, you won't have any trouble keeping yoyos in the same tank. Yoyos and clowns tend to get along well with each other, in my experience. Provided there are plenty of hiding spots, everyone should get along just fine. Mine do. They even play together.

As for the powerheads, I constructed a system similar to this one:
http://www.loaches.com/articles/river-t ... old-design
I used a pair of 300 gph power heads. I mounted one 12" above the gravel and the other at 18" (my tank is 24" tall, so I have a bit of vertical leeway). You might want to mount both heads (if you go with a similar system) near the water surface if you are concerned with your substrate staying in place.
Another option is to use circulation pumps instead of a river manifold/powerhead system. Both methods have pros and cons.

I can't help you with the plants, as all plants hate me and commit suicide in my tanks. I can say that the loaches will be perfectly happy with rock caves, PVC, and fake plants, as those are precisely what you will find decorating my loach tank.

[phantomlink]

Thanks for the info, I know how large Clowns can potentionally get even if they do 70% of their growing in the first year or so, and I dont want to have to rehome a fish so large so do you think 4 clowns would be ok with yoyo friends?

[DainBramage1991]

I wouldn't go with less than 5 clowns, as that is really considered the best minimum for their happiness and well being. They should do just fine in your 125 gallon tank, 6 feet is plenty of space for them to swim in.

As for them getting along with the yoyos, I wouldn't expect any trouble between the two species at all, especially if there are hiding places enough for everyone. Your loaches may get along like best friends or they may ignore each other completely, but I truly doubt that there will be any real conflict between the two species. I have 5 different species of loach in my tank and the worst I ever see are some occasional tussles to establish pecking order. I've never seen anything that resulted in damage to any of my fish, though I have seen them go away sulking.

I admire you're ability to play it smart and plan for the future. I have a tendency to buy a million fish that will outgrow my tank, which then puts me in the position of begging my wife to let me get a bigger tank.

[phantomlink]

Are you sure 18 inches is wide enough? I wanted to have the loach tank in my living room beside my other 125 gallon, but if I have to go 2 feet wide then it will have to move to the hallway room where my livebearer tank is currently setup. My choice is either 72x18x21 or 60x24x21 ( if they make 125's that large at the store I get all my stuff from )

[DainBramage1991]

That's a question you'll find different answers to. Some people say that clowns won't fit in anything smaller than 72x24x24. Others will tell you that a 90 gallon tank is sufficient (48x18x25) for a small group. I tend to fall into the latter school, keeping in mind that the clowns will possibly outgrow it eventually.

The 72" tank will be plenty big enough for a number of years if you get your clowns as babies (1.5" - 2" is typical), but the 60x24x21 has the advantages of both being wider and having a larger footprint. Is that a custom tank size?
Given a choice between the two, and keeping the long-term needs of the clowns in mind, I would suggest the wider tank as the better choice. However, I think either tank would work.

[phantomlink]

I dont think it will be custom, I just dont remember all the tank sizes in the 125 gallon category at the fish store since its so far out of my town. The next time I go maybe on their boxing day sale I'll see what they got for sizes

[Loachloach]

In relation to the clown loaches eating plants, I had the same problem when I first got them. They made a mesh out of my nice plants, especially the swords, aponogeton and other soft bright green plants in particular. The poor plants couldn't grow a new leaf without it being half eaten or thorn. Then I researched a bit and read somewhere that when they lack vegetable food in their diet they take it from plants if there are some available. I've been putting since 50/50 algae/normal wafers and a couple of times a week the tank gets veg and fruit anyway because of my pleco as well. They adore cucumber and melon and click away happily. This completely stopped them from eating the plants. I am totally suprised so it's worth trying feeding them algae and protein/meaty stuff 50/50 and regularly veggies too if you can. From what I understand that's better for their health too.

[phantomlink]

I do feed my pleco veggies and I plant on possibly trying the home made frozen food ideas I found on the main articles of this site. I might try 1-2 amazon swords as the tank is starting out, it will be very large to them since they will all be small babies but I know they will grow in time to the tank. I'm slowly edging myself off of Clowns, I know how large they should get, and how large they CAN get to be. I might just stick to common Zebras and Yoyos since when they get older, I'll have to remodel the inside of the tank for new, larger hiding spots and clowns will take up probably too much space

[Loachloach]

It's a good point. Although slow, they'll grow large eventually and even a 125G will just about be minimum enough for a school. But they are worth the effort and commitment in my opinion, funny characters and seem to be great community fish too, compared to more aggessive loaches like yoyos.

[phantomlink]

From what I've read the yoyos arent too aggressive, and they're more active then clowns from time to time as well. Unless the Fish store has a giant boxing day sale on most of the equipment I need, I wont be starting to piece this tank together for 2-3 months anyways.

Still trying to find a decent stock list for either YoYo and Zebra, or Clown/Yoyo or Clown/Yoyo/Zebra