Suggestions for clown loach tank

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blacksnow

Gambusia
MFK Member
Apr 8, 2009
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Had the itch for a new tank ever since I sold my 125g. I've always wanted a clown loach tank. Something with 20-30 clown loaches, and my fire eel of course...

I was thinking of going with a 75 gallon tank, but now I'm leaning more towards a 120 (48x24x24).

Will have plenty of rocks, and lots of plants.


Think that will hold 20-30 clown loaches?
 
A 6 ft tank might be a better option than a 4 ft tank, if you can swing that. A large shoal of 20-30 would have more room and would last longer in it. I don't think a 4 ft tank would be proper once the loaches hit 3 inches.

If you wanted a smaller shoal, say 12, then a 4 ft tank would probably be ok.
 
Chromobotia;4365645; said:
A 6 ft tank might be a better option than a 4 ft tank, if you can swing that. A large shoal of 20-30 would have more room and would last longer in it. I don't think a 4 ft tank would be proper once the loaches hit 3 inches.

If you wanted a smaller shoal, say 12, then a 4 ft tank would probably be ok.



Hrmm..I just figured the 120 with the 24" wide would give them more room. But clown loaches are very active.

Decisions decisions...not sure what to do here...id prefer a 4' tank, as I just pulled a 6' tank out of my room...

sigh dunno what to do
 
blacksnow;4365668; said:
Hrmm..I just figured the 120 with the 24" wide would give them more room. But clown loaches are very active.

Decisions decisions...not sure what to do here...id prefer a 4' tank, as I just pulled a 6' tank out of my room...

sigh dunno what to do


Width is good but these fish tend to have large busts of speed and my thinking was that length would be more important than width. I have 10 Clowns in a 150 that is 6 ft long and approx 17.5 inches wide. My largest is around 5 inches big and I couldn't imagine having another 20 in the tank.

Perhaps a 5 ft tank would be a good compromise. Based on how my 10 look and act in my 150, I couldn't imagine having 20-30 in essentiall a 55 gallon or 75 gallon tank.
 
Chromobotia;4365688; said:
Width is good but these fish tend to have large busts of speed and my thinking was that length would be more important than width. I have 10 Clowns in a 150 that is 6 ft long and approx 17.5 inches wide. My largest is around 5 inches big and I couldn't imagine having another 20 in the tank.

Perhaps a 5 ft tank would be a good compromise. Based on how my 10 look and act in my 150, I couldn't imagine having 20-30 in essentiall a 55 gallon or 75 gallon tank.

Good call

They will all be 2" to start. Will prob get 20-30 to begin. When they start growing will trade/sell some to even out the load in the tank.

I gotta goto the fish store today I'll speak with the owner see what he can give me a deal on

THanks for your input

<3
 
20 CL's at 2in each would be fine in a 120 for a few years easy. They grow SOOOO slow its unbelievable. On top of that, if you go by the old "inch of fish per gallon" rule (with no other stock), they would be fine until all 20 were 6"... Considering the further drop in growth rate at 4", that tank could last 5 or 6 years! If you plan to sell or trade grown-out CL's, you will probably never end up with twenty 6" individuals anyway.

As far as the tank shape, more bottom area is always best for loaches, but a shoal of 20 will use the vertical space too--they'll be everywhere if you get the right combination of shade, cave & light.

As far as
 
Sounds like you are wanting what i have haha! I traded my 125 for my 120gal that i have now. I got 30-35 of just clown loaches. I also have some oddballs like a fire eel, geo, big BGK, flagtail, roseline sharks and some 10 other species of loaches.

check it out
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=339560

ive had alot of fish in my 7-8 years of fish keeping and i always went back to the loaches. I finally started my collection about 2.5 years ago and i wouldnt have anything else. Anybody that enters my house loves it. I just cant wait to upgrade the tank
 
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