Hi everyone so I just purchased a new 150g 5x2x2 yesterday and will be getting it all set up this week, ill be running an FX-6 for filtration. I'm looking into keeping some Clown loaches as my little 6mo old boy was captivated by a group of them (as was I lol) at the LFS. So my question Is whats a good size group I can keep? id be buying them small and growing them out myself. Im also looking into suggestions for tankmates as im scrapping my original plan of housing a lone Jardini in the tank, and going with a more active tank for my son. Im not sure if housing loaches with any type of bichir/eel would be good or if they'd outgrow the loaches and eat them. LFS said id be good with the loaches and a silver aro/GT/JD type of combo but I know the silver will need more than a 150 eventually and while I do plan on going bigger eventually im not sure when that will be. so any and all suggestions are welcome =] maybe datnoids??
New 150 gallon, need some advice
- Thread starter Iggypop
- Start date
Loaches are a very slow growing fish...I kept a group of about 20 in a 125 gallon (3-7"ers) and they were a happy healthy bunch. They will in years get very big but a group of say 10-12 would be great for a long time in your tank...clowns won't harass other fish and most fish ( at least any I've ever had housed with them) will not bother the loaches. Keep their diet diverse and water clean and you will have a great time with them
Thanks for the suggestion but I'm not too interested in the silvers.
Vr6fan- thanks for your input that's about the number I was thinking 10-15 loaches. do you also keep datnoids with your loaches? I'm giving that some thought but it'd like to know your experience.
Also what year vr6 lol, I drive a gti
Vr6fan- thanks for your input that's about the number I was thinking 10-15 loaches. do you also keep datnoids with your loaches? I'm giving that some thought but it'd like to know your experience.
Also what year vr6 lol, I drive a gti
I have a 92 gti with supercharged vr6 conversion 
....and I've kept dats with loaches with zero problems...never had any data over 7" though but I don't think you'd have any difficulties.
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
....and I've kept dats with loaches with zero problems...never had any data over 7" though but I don't think you'd have any difficulties.Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Just want to mention how jealous I am of the tank size you got. I had a 5 foot section of wall free, and I could only find a 120 to fit the space (5x1.5x2). I would have loved to have another 2' deep tank.
In regards to your stock, good call on ditching the idea of Aro's. I was just considering turning my 180 into a Jardini tank, but I went another route, and I'm pretty pleased with the result.
When you say active tank, are you looking for a lot of movement and color in addition to the group of loaches, or would you prefer more of a centerpiece fish (like the aro) with the loaches providing some activity?
In regards to your stock, good call on ditching the idea of Aro's. I was just considering turning my 180 into a Jardini tank, but I went another route, and I'm pretty pleased with the result.
When you say active tank, are you looking for a lot of movement and color in addition to the group of loaches, or would you prefer more of a centerpiece fish (like the aro) with the loaches providing some activity?
It depends on what you can get in your area, and what you consider cool. I love the clown loach idea. Id probably add an L number pleco something something that gets some decent size and neat colors. and then I'd go with a few severums maybe a couple super reds and some rotkeils. You may run into problems if a pair forms but I've kept larger groups together growing out in much smaller tanks for a while now with no issues. One of the groups is about 4-5" and there is 6 in a 40 B no issues with aggression at all.
bichir may not work but most the smaller species of spiny eels should be fine tank-mates for your loaches. My daughter LOVES her roseline barb tank. atm I keep a school of them, glo-tetras, a pair of blue rams and a juvi fire eel ( he's going in the 1k pool when he gets big enough to play with the big boys) But I also had clown loaches and a starry night eel ( I just lost to a very nasty columnaris outbreak) that all lived very well and where colorful, active and kept my daughters interest. a Nice semi-agg tank I would call it.
Communuity tanks don't have to always be angel fish and neon tetras
this is MFK... You can do some really amazing fish you just have to find/learn them.
The pair of rams are actually going to go into their own tank in the near future in my daughters room as she loves them so much.
Communuity tanks don't have to always be angel fish and neon tetras
this is MFK... You can do some really amazing fish you just have to find/learn them. The pair of rams are actually going to go into their own tank in the near future in my daughters room as she loves them so much.