No of Clowns in a 6x2x2?

[Trollboy]

If you were setting up a clown loach tank how many would you say would be ideal for a 6'x2'x2' tank? There will be other stock but just some dithers and a couple of plecs.

[Trollboy]

If you were setting up a clown loach tank how many would you say would be ideal for a 6'x2'x2' tank? There will be other stock but just some dithers and a couple of plecs.

Of course clearly size/age is an issue. The one I have are 4-7" so how many at this stage and then max no at adult size?

[Emma Turner]

Could you provide some detailed info about the filtration system and the maintenance regime you plan to carry out, as this will greatly affect how many loaches you could keep in that tank.

Emma

[newshound]

I think that your plan (if your tank is suitable) should be adding a school of them and then after a couple of years adding two more.
That way you have a range of clowns in age and can enjoy the variation of behaviors as they mature.

[Trollboy]

Could you provide some detailed info about the filtration system and the maintenance regime you plan to carry out, as this will greatly affect how many loaches you could keep in that tank.

Emma

Hi Emma

The tank will be maintained well; I usually do (min) 50% change per week on all my tanks. I'm not worried about stats at all but social interaction and living space.

(BTW you ask about filtration.... I willhave a fluval FX5, a large eheim wet/dry (2329?) and some hydor koralias for flow along the lower levels.

[helen nightingale]

Trollboy, what do you mean by you are not worried about stats?

Emma was asking because a 6x2x2 tank is only one of many variables. if you have MASSES of water flow and airation, you can keep more loaches than you could with just standard water flow and filtration. lots of loaches can mean lots of waste, so lots of water changes. if you cant or are not prepared to do this, then you can keep less loaches in the same size tank. the more information you have, the better answer you will get, and then you can be prepared and should see better social interaction

[Trollboy]

Trollboy, what do you mean by you are not worried about stats?

I mean that I will be able to maintain the tank to a high standard. When I say I am 'not worried' about it clearly I mean it will all be looked after using whatever regime necessary.

[Emma Turner]

Trollboy,
We are not mind-readers and ask the questions because they are highly important. It would be irresponsible of us to answer your question without finding out how you plan to maintain the tank. Large clown loaches produce a lot of waste and have a high oxygen requirement, hence the need for powerful filtration and a good regular maintenance regime.
I take it that you know that a 50% water change on a clown loach tank in one go is not ideal. Of course you may be changing smaller amounts several times in one week that amounts to this, which would be preferable.
I have over 35 clown loaches in my 1000 litre tank which is 7ft x 28" x 27" and which is filtered by 3 Eheims (2 big Prof 3s, and one Prof 2 2028). Additional water movement is provided by 4 powerheads (2 x Tunze Turbelle Stream 6100 and 2 Aquaclear 4000s). We change approx 150 litres every 2 or 3 days and nitrates are kept below 20ppm. I could not keep this many without such powerful filtration and the frequency of water changes which we are dedicated in providing for them.
Your filtration for the 6ft x 2ft x 2ft is good, and I would say that you could keep around 20 clowns in there for a time along with a shoal of smallish dither fish. Mine are together with 20 Puntius narayani. The clowns are going to be housed in a larger tank within the next couple of years too.

Emma

[Trollboy]

Cool. Thanks for the info. I have 13 at the moment in different tanks which are all gonna be housed together in the new tank. Sorry if I sounded snappy, I realise you weren't to know that I wasn't some noob trying to stuff a hundred loaches into a tank along with nemo and dory.

[newshound]

Sorry if I sounded snappy, I realise you weren't to know that I wasn't some noob trying to stuff a hundred loaches into a tank along with nemo and dory.

we get this all the time...
not only with nemo and dory but also with koi and pleco...

[Trollboy]

Trollboy,
I take it that you know that a 50% water change on a clown loach tank in one go is not ideal.

May I ask why.....

[Trollboy]

and pleco...

would you not keep loaches with a plec then?

[Emma Turner]

May I ask why.....

Of course.

Although water changes are obviously beneficial, they will still disturb the aquarium environment. Whilst a large water change can trigger spawning in certain species, generally, too much water being changed at once can harm sensitive fish. For example, if you were to remove around 50% of the aquarium water and replace it in one go, the resulting fluctuations caused by the difference in water parameters and temperature between the remaining tank water and the new water, could be severe enough to cause serious harm. Such a large change, and resultant large fluctuations, can shock the fish, damage the filter bacteria resulting in water quality problems, and even harm delicate plants. So it is far better to change smaller amounts (e.g. 10-25%), but on a more frequent basis.

Hope this helps,

Emma

[Eyrie]

I agree with that, but in this case Trollboy is doing 50% changes weekly so the tap and tank water will be very similar in their parameters. I'd assume that he's equalising the temperature prior to adding the fresh water.

[Emma Turner]

I agree with that, but in this case Trollboy is doing 50% changes weekly so the tap and tank water will be very similar in their parameters. I'd assume that he's equalising the temperature prior to adding the fresh water.

A 6ft x 2ft x 2ft tank (like Trollboy's) contains over 600 litres (approx 160 US gallons) so to do a 50% water change, you'd have to get over 300 litres (80 US gals) up to temperature, which isn't always practical. If a week is skipped for whatever reason, and the tank is well stocked, levels will change in the tank, and the new water could be very different. It's obviously up to you to do your water changes how you please, but I personally would not recommend changing 50% in one go every week. Far better to space it out every few days and change a smaller amount.

Emma