6x2x2 stocking

fishboy3 · Post by **fishboy3** » Fri May 16, 2008 6:02 am

I am looking at setting up a large 6x2x2 clown loach tank. It will measure 6x2x2 and contain 648L. It will be filtered by 2 external filters and 2 internal powerfilters. I will be using playsand for the substrate. I plan on having lots of wood and rocks in the tank with PVC pipe mase at the back. I will also be planting the tank out with vallis, crypts, java moss, java ferns, wisteria and hydrophila.
This is my stocking list.

20 tiger barbs
20 harliquins
3 pearl gouramis
3 SAE
1 red tailed black shark
8 clown loaches
2 yo yo loaches
4 botia kubotia
8 dwarf loaches

I only have 2 yo yo loaches listed beacuse these will be moved up from a smaller aquarium.

How does my stocking list sound? Would I be able to add 2 more yo yo loaches to this or would this overstock the tank.

Also is the generall idea alright?

thank-you in advance for any help.

mickthefish · Post by **mickthefish** » Fri May 16, 2008 6:19 am

i think your stocking looks alright as long as it's done gradually,
although your choice of barbs is not a fish i would pick, but in your tank they might be different.
anothere two almorhae should'nt overload your system.
look foreward to seeing some pics of your tank and fish.

mick

OH and welcome to LOL, hope you enjoy the site

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Fri May 16, 2008 6:36 am

Looks ok to me , I would definitely add the extra Almorhae.
The only problem I do see is the Gouramis , with the filtration you have and the amount of flow in the tank your Loaches and Cyprinids will be fine however the Gourami will probably suffer. They come from very slow moving or still waters and although they will put up with some flow they will not appreciate a torrent in the longterm.

fishboy3 · Post by **fishboy3** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:08 am

Thanks for the quick replies. Okay I will add the extra yo yo loaches. With the gouramis I was looking at getting power filters that wouild only produce a current 50%-75% of the length of the tank so that they would have a area down the end of the tank with little-no flow.
It will be a while until I have any pics of the tank because I still have to save up the money to buy it.

Thank-you for welcoming me to the site. This is one of my favourite sites because it is the best loach site I have come across. Like most of you I am also a loach aholic

helen nightingale · Post by **helen nightingale** » Fri May 16, 2008 8:35 am

welcome along

its good to have another loachaholic around. i was pleased to see you are planning ahead. your tank sounds like it will be wonderfull.i am envious. the 20 harlequins will look really nice. i would also add a few more yoyos. they can be a bit grumpy if there is too few of them

newshound · Post by **newshound** » Fri May 16, 2008 2:22 pm

nice and large tank
large clowns and planted tanks are not the easiest.
the only prob I see is that rts hate sae!!!!
Sure the tank is large but anytime the RTS sees the SAE it will chase it/them.
your going to have plenty of hiding spots/caves and objects to divide up the tank right?
A large school of fish is way better than a couple of smaller ones.
I am not a fan of tiger barbs...i found they picked on my plants and ate everything before it hit the floor even during large feedings. I'd have to feed the loaches at night to get food by the sleeping barbs. Not good if you want to watch your shy loaches...plus having feeding times in the dark means that your only time to feed is reduced.

helen nightingale · Post by **helen nightingale** » Fri May 16, 2008 4:26 pm

how about more rasboras or other barbs? tiger barbs to have a bit of a reputation. most rasboras and trigonostigma species will be good in a tank that size.

Emma Turner · Post by **Emma Turner** » Fri May 16, 2008 5:23 pm

Hi fishboy3, welcome to Loaches Online.

I know you already mentioned that you already have the 2 Botia almorhae, but do you currently also have all the other proposed loaches? The reason I ask is that you would see much more natural behaviour if you stuck to a lower number of different species and upped the number of specimens in each group.

I also wouldn't advise mixing the gouramis, not only from the point of view that they do not appreciate high flow, but their pelvic fins (feelers) could also become a target for the slightly more boisterous loach species such as the B. almorhae (or B. kubotai, if you get them).

Also bear in mind, that as the loaches grow, they may destroy your plants. This is certainly the case with clown loaches.

Looking forward to seeing some pics at some point.

Emma

fishboy3 · Post by **fishboy3** » Fri May 16, 2008 5:44 pm

At the moment I only have 2 yo yo loaches and 4 clown loaches. With the gouramis is there any other species of fish like them that would live with the loaches. I want to keep all the fish species asian. Would a larger species of barb or danio be good. I will see how the plants go with the loaches.

Instead of tiger barbs how about black ruby barbs. I will have alot of wood and rocks in the tank. There will be one big bit in the middle covered in java fern as the centerpiece. If the RTBS and the SAE don't get along I hae other tanks that they can go into.

mickthefish · Post by **mickthefish** » Fri May 16, 2008 6:00 pm

black rudy's would be great, as an alternative to the gourami's what about rainbows not technically asian but they look good especially in a tank that size.
i love big barbs but your plants would'nt be safe even the fern.

mick

fishboy3 · Post by **fishboy3** » Sat May 17, 2008 1:53 am

The black ruby barbs were as an alternative to the tiger barbs. Okay I will forget about the big barbs and have a look at the rainbowfish maybe the neon dwarf rainbow. Or instead of that I might increase the numbers of yo yo and botia kubotia loaches.

One other question would a 10 gallon aquarium be large enough as a quarantine tank?

mickthefish · Post by **mickthefish** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:25 am

yes a 10 gall would be fine as long as you don't over buy like i do sometimes,

the praecox would look really good in a your tank and don't grow as big as most rainbows.

enjoy setting your tank up mate, i always do.

mick

fishboy3 · Post by **fishboy3** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:48 am

Thanks. I will be building the stock up gradually.

this is my stocking list now how does it sound.

20 black ruby barbs
20 harliquins
6 neon dwarf rainbows
3 SAE
8 clown loaches
4 yo yo loaches
4 botia kubotia
8 dwarf chain loaches
1 RTBS

mickthefish · Post by **mickthefish** » Sat May 17, 2008 6:01 am

that should give you a cracking display of colour, go for it.
youve heard the reservations with the rtbs but as you say you have other tanks to move it to.
ive kept them and while they were small they were fine but when they reached the 4 inch mark they became out and out B's

mick

fishboy3 · Post by **fishboy3** » Sat May 17, 2008 6:32 am

Thanks everyone for your help. If anythings happens I shall keep you posted and if I have any more queries aswell. When I save up all the money and buy the tank I will take lots of pics and post them here.

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