Don't feel discouraged. Many of us here made the same mistake when we first started out!
Unfortunately clown loaches are not a good long term choice for your tank, and those who led you down that road were wrong in doing so.
Luckly there are a number of smaller loach species that would do just fine in your tank long term.
Botia striata are lovely little characters and also very pretty, I have 11 of these in a 37g and they are always up to badness

Your tank would also make a wonderful setup for some of the
Pangio species, have a look through the species index for some species that you like the look of. There are members on LOL from all over the place so if theres a specific species your after, theres usually someone that can recomend where to find them in and around your area
Ashleigh