just got clown loaches

[qumqats]

I'm trying to get a school of oddball clowns. I've got 5 small normals and am trying to source some crazy patterned oners.

I like to go into all the LFS's as I drive past them and look at what CLs they might have. I also am looking for the oddball patterened ones. I rarely find any. Only 2 of my 6 are odd. One is a 'saddle' and the other is kinda of a spot.

Your best bet is to just hang out at the LFSs and keep looking for one. When you see it grab it.

 

[qumqats]

I realize this is the best way to do it, but it seems like that would take a week to do, not to mention tons of buckets. I only have 2 55gal and a 29, I have often wondered how people with big tanks do this.

I normally throw in a couple of buckets of hot water (from the tap) to balance it out. I know there is a lot of sediment in the hot water tank but I never knew if it was really that bad for the fish.

I guess I'm simplifying the problem since I'm only doing water changes on smaller tanks. I've got two bigger tanks under construction, but those tanks have an automated water change system in place for them.

in the meanwhile:

) lots of buckets?
) larger buckets?
) frequent smaller changes?

 

[Scottfree]

I realize this is the best way to do it, but it seems like that would take a week to do, not to mention tons of buckets. I only have 2 55gal and a 29, I have often wondered how people with big tanks do this.

I normally throw in a couple of buckets of hot water (from the tap) to balance it out. I know there is a lot of sediment in the hot water tank but I never knew if it was really that bad for the fish.

Wow, you throw in hot water for balance, ouch....I have some larger tanks and I do use a mix of hot/cold as close to the original tank water temp and haven't had a problem.....I would never put cold directly to the tank, then douse it with hot, that might be one of the worst things you could do....Live and learn....

 

[tothna]

Wow, you throw in hot water for balance, ouch....I have some larger tanks and I do use a mix of hot/cold as close to the original tank water temp and haven't had a problem.....I would never put cold directly to the tank, then douse it with hot, that might be one of the worst things you could do....Live and learn....

That's not what killed them, this was the one time I didn't throw in the hot water to balance it out. This is a bad thing to do though? Is it just adding to the temp fluctuations?

 

[qumqats]

Any water parameter change is bad.

temp
ph
amonia/nitrite/nitrate
hardness
etc.

You're giving them a double wammie with a (dump cold)(dump hot).

 

[TankBuster]

I do it the easy way. I have 2 55 gallon plastic barrels and I have them plumbed together and add my water from the hose, fill the barrels, add my dechlor, kick on my power heads turn on heaters, and this is all on one switch. The when I fill my tank after I vaccuum, I just hit a switch and my mag drive 2400 pumps water into my tank via a pvc spray bar I made. There all done, so easy, 5 tanks done in 20 minutes.

 

[shookONES]

So, I'm getting a bit impatient waiting for oddballs, so I decided to upgrade my school in the meantime. I went from 5 to 11 loaches in a day. These guys are in a 10g lmao, but they're tiny @ 1-1.5" max. I'm gonna setup my old 75g and upgrade to 40-50 clowns. A RTGG will top it off for me.

 

[JD_MAN]

So, I'm getting a bit impatient waiting for oddballs, so I decided to upgrade my school in the meantime. I went from 5 to 11 loaches in a day. These guys are in a 10g lmao, but they're tiny @ 1-1.5" max. I'm gonna setup my old 75g and upgrade to 40-50 clowns. A RTGG will top it off for me.

That will be cool. I love watching all of my clown loaches. I have been looking for any oddballs every chance I get. I must have got lucky on a couple of mine a long time ago, cause I haven't found any lately.

 

[shookONES]

Well, I spent about 2 hours today checking out local shops in the area and came home with something. I picked up what I think is a short body, one loach with a broken bar, and a few saddle-varieties. Not bad, but not exactly what I was looking for either, except for the short body.

 

[ewurm]

Are loaches with broken bars rare? I just got one last week, thought it was "Special". Just like Corky from "Life goes on". I didn't ask for corky, they just threw him in the bag.