How long can my loaches live in my tank?

[BooshWacka]

I have
3 Clown Loaches 1.5in-2.5in
20 gallon long tank 30x12x12
40 gallon filter

wondering not how long can live in there but more

how big will they be when i need to move them to ensure they keep growing?

once they are 5in? move them to my 125g
----cant be in there now cause its over stocked with old big SA cichlids. Figured id get something i liked that grew slow.

also could i add 1 to the equation or am i safer with what i have in that sized tank


thanks for the help

 

[Angler]

How long can they live in that tank? Probably a pretty long time.

How long can they live happily in that tank? Not very long in my opinion.

Have you thought about just trying them in the 125 now? Just give them some hiding places. I've had Clown Loaches with some pretty aggressive cichlids in a 125, and they were completely ignored.

edit: I just read your post again, and didn't realize how small the clown loaches are. I think they should be ok in there until they are 3", then I would give it a shot in the 125.

 

[jclyde13]

You have a 40g filter for a 20g tank?

I'd say you probably have about 4-6 months (they grow very slowly).

 

[BooshWacka]

How long can they live in that tank? Probably a pretty long time.

How long can they live happily in that tank? Not very long in my opinion.

Have you thought about just trying them in the 125 now? Just give them some hiding places. I've had Clown Loaches with some pretty aggressive cichlids in a 125, and they were completely ignored.

they have been in there since 1in about 7 months

i have

2 jack dempseys 5in female and 10in male
1 Texas 8in
1 Firemouth 5in
2 African Peacock Cichlids 4in female and 7in Male
1 Channel Catfish 6in
2 Plecos 11in and 3in


i got a

1 Fluval Fx5 Bio-max
1 Fluval 405 Carbon and Ammonia remover
1 Hydor 850 GPH Powerhead
2 60 gallon Bubblers

Lots of Lava Rocks

 

[BooshWacka]

You have a 40g filter for a 20g tank?

I'd say you probably have about 4-6 months (they grow very slowly).

YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TO MUCH FILTRATION personal opinion

within reason

 

[jclyde13]

YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TO MUCH FILTRATION personal opinion

within reason

I would agree with that if we were talking flow rate, but for volume, it would make much more sense to have a filter that's 1/2 the size of the tank, than a tank that's 1/2 the size of its filter. But even if it was the 1st combo, I think that would still be overkill in most situations.

That's like buying this:

to go on this:

 

[BooshWacka]

after having fish for 11 years it hasnt failed me yet

thanks for the advice though

 

[jclyde13]

after having fish for 11 years it hasnt failed me yet

thanks for the advice though

Well after having fish for 12 years, I've always been fine with around 1/30 of the tank's volume for filtration, lol. Oh well, at least you must have very clean water!

 

[BooshWacka]

bump for more opinions

 

[geronimo69]

You're fine, stick with 3 loaches, for probably a year, then move them into the 125. They'll hide from the bigger fish...

As for the filtration debate, too much isn't an issue. As i said in other threads, the bacteria that colonizes our filters only grow proportionately to the Bioload in the tank. So, maybe 1/30 of tank total volume is fine, if you have non-messy eating fish. If you have, say puffers, double the volume is perfect.