Hi All,
I'm getting a new tank next week and I am wondering how many clown loaches can it comfortably support down the line when its been fully cycled and stable.
72"L x 24"W x 30"H Approx 200 Gal - (800 Litres)
It will be a semi planted tank and I hope to have some of the following fish. Please let me know if you think that there will be some compatability issues.
Clown Loaches
YoYo Loaches
Upside down zebra catfish
Hatchet fish
Thanks in advance
Glenn
How many loaches for this tank size
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Gary Herring
- Posts: 189
- Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:53 am
- Location: Swindon, England
G'day sport! 
800 litres! Nice
I can but dream of having a tank that size (and I do, often)
I'd rather let someone else answer your question really, but 800 litres gives you masses of choice. As always though, It really depends on other issues such as filteration, etc. Emma, who posts here often, has got around 40 clowns in a 1000 litre and some of them are huge (11" plus), but then again she's also got 3 monster external filters with a capacity of around 75 litres between them.
What are your filteration plans?
Also, as you probably are already aware, the slower you stock the better - months rather than weeks is advisable and its best to add the clowns in groups of 5.
800 litres! Nice
I can but dream of having a tank that size (and I do, often)
I'd rather let someone else answer your question really, but 800 litres gives you masses of choice. As always though, It really depends on other issues such as filteration, etc. Emma, who posts here often, has got around 40 clowns in a 1000 litre and some of them are huge (11" plus), but then again she's also got 3 monster external filters with a capacity of around 75 litres between them.
What are your filteration plans?
Also, as you probably are already aware, the slower you stock the better - months rather than weeks is advisable and its best to add the clowns in groups of 5.
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Emma Turner
- Posts: 8901
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:07 pm
- Location: Peterborough, UK
- Contact:
Hi Glenn, and welcome to Loaches Online. 
Your proposed tank is a very nice size, but to keep Botiine loaches sucessfully, you'll need to 'up' the filtration you plan for it.
The ratings that the manufacturers state for their filters are the maximum amount of water they are able to handle and this would be for a very lightly stocked aquarium. The more fish you have, the lower that rating would become. In our shop, as a general rule, we tend to recommend half-rating what the maunfacturers claim. I believe the Eheim Professionel II 2028 is rated for a 600 litre aquarium - this is already not enough filtration for your 800 litre tank, especially when you consider proposed stocking levels, and the fact that Botiine loaches like very clean water and a lot of flow. I'd suggest using two of these models at the very least.
There are additional benefits of having more than one filter on the tank too. Firstly, you are able to carry out maintenance on one filter at a time, to minimise disturbing all the filter bacteria in one go. You've also got the peace of mind that if one should fail for some reason (although not likely with Eheim models) you have some kind of back up with the other one.
The loaches will certainly appreciate the flow produced by these filters, and you'll also want to consider adding a powerhead (or two) to increase circulation even further - you will see the obvious enjoyment on their part.
As Gary mentioned earlier, my Clown tank is 1000 litres, and it is filtered by 3 Eheims externals, which have a combined total rating of 3000 litres (2 Professionel 3's rated at 1200 litres each, and one 600 litre filter). In addition to this we have two large Aquaclear 4000 powerheads on the tank, one at either end. The water is visibly churning with all the current, and the loaches (being river fish) absolutely love it.
With regards to your proposed fish stock list, personally I would pass on the Yo-yos. Many people do keep them quite successfully with clowns, but they can be quite fiesty, and I wouldn't like to see them harrassing my clowns. It is up to you of course, I am just saying what I think. Because it is quite a large tank you do have to think very carefully about what you put in there, as it would be a total nightmare to then have to try and remove any fish that are not 'getting on'. We had this scenario with a group of Botia dario that we added to our tank a couple of years ago. There were 13 of them, and they created utter havoc with the clowns. Eventually, we had to remove them, and it took the best part of a day, removing all the decor (not easy with a huge amount of XL bogwood) and plants, draining the tank down to an acceptable level (to make it easier to catch them), and then the actual catching process which did upset the clowns. Anyway, this is just to illustrate how difficult it can be if you put the 'wrong' fish into a tank of that size - it is a lot more difficult to catch them out, and causes a huge amount of stress on the fish, no matter how careful you are.
With regards to the other fish, hatchets would be fine, although can jump very easily (make sure you have a tight fitting hood). They will occupy the very upper level of the tank, and so the mid-water and upper levels may look a little 'empty'. I'd suggest having a look at some Asian fish such as barbs and danios.
Good luck,
Emma
Your proposed tank is a very nice size, but to keep Botiine loaches sucessfully, you'll need to 'up' the filtration you plan for it.
The ratings that the manufacturers state for their filters are the maximum amount of water they are able to handle and this would be for a very lightly stocked aquarium. The more fish you have, the lower that rating would become. In our shop, as a general rule, we tend to recommend half-rating what the maunfacturers claim. I believe the Eheim Professionel II 2028 is rated for a 600 litre aquarium - this is already not enough filtration for your 800 litre tank, especially when you consider proposed stocking levels, and the fact that Botiine loaches like very clean water and a lot of flow. I'd suggest using two of these models at the very least.
There are additional benefits of having more than one filter on the tank too. Firstly, you are able to carry out maintenance on one filter at a time, to minimise disturbing all the filter bacteria in one go. You've also got the peace of mind that if one should fail for some reason (although not likely with Eheim models) you have some kind of back up with the other one.
The loaches will certainly appreciate the flow produced by these filters, and you'll also want to consider adding a powerhead (or two) to increase circulation even further - you will see the obvious enjoyment on their part.
As Gary mentioned earlier, my Clown tank is 1000 litres, and it is filtered by 3 Eheims externals, which have a combined total rating of 3000 litres (2 Professionel 3's rated at 1200 litres each, and one 600 litre filter). In addition to this we have two large Aquaclear 4000 powerheads on the tank, one at either end. The water is visibly churning with all the current, and the loaches (being river fish) absolutely love it.
With regards to your proposed fish stock list, personally I would pass on the Yo-yos. Many people do keep them quite successfully with clowns, but they can be quite fiesty, and I wouldn't like to see them harrassing my clowns. It is up to you of course, I am just saying what I think. Because it is quite a large tank you do have to think very carefully about what you put in there, as it would be a total nightmare to then have to try and remove any fish that are not 'getting on'. We had this scenario with a group of Botia dario that we added to our tank a couple of years ago. There were 13 of them, and they created utter havoc with the clowns. Eventually, we had to remove them, and it took the best part of a day, removing all the decor (not easy with a huge amount of XL bogwood) and plants, draining the tank down to an acceptable level (to make it easier to catch them), and then the actual catching process which did upset the clowns. Anyway, this is just to illustrate how difficult it can be if you put the 'wrong' fish into a tank of that size - it is a lot more difficult to catch them out, and causes a huge amount of stress on the fish, no matter how careful you are.
With regards to the other fish, hatchets would be fine, although can jump very easily (make sure you have a tight fitting hood). They will occupy the very upper level of the tank, and so the mid-water and upper levels may look a little 'empty'. I'd suggest having a look at some Asian fish such as barbs and danios.
Good luck,
Emma
East of the Sun, West of the Moon.
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