Help planning a community loach tank, please!

[blacksnow]

I'm relocating in a few weeks, and have an empty 75g (48"x18"x21"). I was planning a community loach tank and would like some suggestions/opinions/etc on my plans so far...

BTW I will be planting the tank VERY HEAVILY! I mean I'm going to fill this thing with plants! I'll have a few rock caves as well though..


I was thinking something like

12 - dwarf loaches (Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki)
4 - zebra loaches (botia striata)
4 - marble loaches (Botia kubotai)

And was also planning on a large school of checker barbs, and also of some type of danio. this way something would be occupy the mid and top level of the tank also...



Please let me know how you think this will work out. I haven't much experience with loaches, and I'm only going by what I'm reading online.

I will have a eheim 2028 running on this thing, so plenty of bio filtration, not too mention all the help the plants will provide.

If you have any other suggestions for different fish that would mix well with these I'm open as well.

<3

Almost forgot!

Was going to put some A+ Grade Crystal Red Shrimp. I'd also like to put a few Cambarellus Patzcuarensis orange crayfish. THey only got to 1-1/2" max, but I'm still concerned they might kill the dwarf loaches, or injure other fish. any opinions on this matter be greatly appreciated!

 

[Lupin]

Please don't put any inverts with those loaches you want. Any of the three is capable of pecking invertebrates to death and eat them up. Your stocklist and plans are fine without the crayfish.

 

[blacksnow]

Please don't put any inverts with those loaches you want. Any of the three is capable of pecking invertebrates to death and eat them up. Your stocklist and plans are fine without the crayfish.

No no cherry shrimp? =O

My last tank I had a few clwon loaches, and they wouldnt even touch ghost shrimp..hmm

 

[messerchmidt]

I have mine setup in a planted tank. I recc it actually, looks nicer and the loaches seem to love it. I keep them with giant danios, some cory cats, afew bush nose plecoes, and some yellow/blue gouramis.

Give them some stacked driftwood to hide in.

 

[JakeH]

I would try them with cheaper plants first. They like to chew holes in my java fern leaves & I've heard they will eat whole leaves from Vals & Crypts.

 

[Muske]

My clowns eat ALL plants. This is not the same for every body, but I have tried all types of plants w/no success. The Vals and crypts are there favorites. Swords do OK, But no new growth is allowed to grow, they get nipped as soon as they sprout. I have a few Anubias nana that they eat the new growth from. I have a large leaved Anubia barteri that was bought big, but they also eat the new growth from it as well.

My Yo-Yo's don't seem to bother any plants.

Tankmates are an assortment of Rainbows, Arulius Barbs, dwarf plecos. and some Tang. chiclids. All get along fine and I think the loaches enjoy the company. They never hide and love to beg for food.

Your loach list sounds great, minus the inverts. Look into Rainbows as a substitute for the Danios. They will love your set-up and probally spawn. The Barbs will likely spawn in that set-up as well. Plenty of caviar for the loaches.

 

[JakeH]

Yup. They love fry. I was feeding mine brackish Molly fry for a while. They went ballistic for the salty little babies! The fry never had time to be shocked by the salinity change...