New clown loach owner, got some questions! :)

[supermegalords]

Hello everyone,

Long time lurker and have gotten a lot of information from here thus far but I just wanted to clear some things up.

Long story short, about a month ago all I had was 2ft tank with only guppies and some neons with a snail problem that was starting to bug me. I went down to the LFS shop and after speaking to the lady working there she sold me a couple baby clown loaches (atm theyre about 2" to 3") which I thought were adorable. I had them in my tank for a few days and was really impressed with their nature and playful character (compared to guppies and neons).

That brought me online to do more research about them where I learnt that the 2ft tank was undersized for them. Rather than taking them back to the LFS I went out and got myself a 5ft, 360L (100Gal), planted set-up with sand substrate, lots of driftwood and plants for them to hide in. Filtering is done by a 1200L/Hr Aqua One. The tank cycled quickly as I re-used about 50% of the water and the substrate was not removed during moving of the tank.

Since I set up the new tank I've gotten another couple clown loaches to bump up the numbers, so thats 4 now. In addition I have, 2 peppered corys, 6 danios, 15 guppies (moved from old tank), 6 rummyhead tetras, 5 serpae tetras and 3 yoyo loaches.

What im wondering is:
1. I was thinking of getting another 2 of the clown loaches bringing to a total of 6. Will this crowd the tank/bioload too much?

2. The clown loaches are still quite shy to come out when there are people are around however I do see them foraging and playing when I either stay very still near the tank or stand at a distance. Is this normal until they get used to their new home? This is also why I was thinking of getting another 2 to increase the numbers so they are more comfortable.

2. Im feeding the clown loaches Hikari Sinking wafers and freeze dried bloodworms, I dont see them eating when I put the feed, but the food does disappear in the morning, will they usually eat when the lights are out? I put a piece of cucumber in and they destroyed it within a day so at least they are eating something. How often should I be feeding them?

3. I am thinking of getting an internal filter to create some extra current and to help with the filtering, is this a good idea or should I look at getting another canister filter?

Thanks!

[DainBramage1991]

Question 1: Too much of a bio-load? Maybe, it depends on how much effort you feel like putting in to maintaining water quality. If you are willing to do frequent water changes and keep a close eye on water chemistry, 2 more shouldn't be a problem. Ultimately, how many fish can be kept in a tank has a lot more to do with maintenance than tank volume, even though it's obvious that the two are related.

Question 2: You have plenty of dither fish in the tank with the clowns, so something else may be bothering them. Are the lights too bright? Clowns and other loaches prefer subdued lighting. For example, I use a single 32 watt T8 fluorescent bulb to light my 90 gallon tank and my loaches are active all day. Are there enough hiding places? Loaches need places to hide, such as caves and tubes. I use a combination of slate, driftwood, terra-cotta pots, and PVC pipe to provide plenty of nooks and crannies that my fish can hide in. Also, adding those other 2 clowns might help, as loaches are more comfortable in large groups.

Other Question 2: Hikari Sinking Wafers are among the best foods available for loaches, in my opinion. Consider adding OSI Shrimp Pellets to their diet as well, as a varied diet is essential - and I know from experience that loaches LOVE these foods. Don't worry about them eating exactly at feeding time, they will learn to do so eventually. When I first got my clowns, only 2 of them would eat the food I provided, the other 6 just picked at the filter inlet sponges. It took several weeks before they started eating the fish food. They just need time to get used to their situation and figure things out. Once they figure out the pattern, they might even TELL YOU when it's time to eat. Mine do, about an hour before their feeding times (I feed them twice a day) they all gather into the corner of the tank closest to me, dance up and down, and stare at me. It's very cute and slightly obnoxious.
Try frozen bloodworms instead of freeze-dried. The frozen ones will actually sink, ending up where your loaches prefer to feed. I always thaw the worms for an hour before feeding, but some people drop them right in frozen.

Quiestion 3: More filtration is always better, within reason. I use an Ehiem 2215 canister, a Whisper 60 HOB power filter, and a pair of Marineland Maxi-Jet 1200 power heads pulling through large inlet sponges to provide filtration and water movement in my tank. Overkill? Maybe, but the tank is crystal clear and the fish are happy. I would suggest at the very least add a large HOB and a circulation pump. Canister filters are fantastic for supporting biological filtration, but you need good mechanical filtration as well. The circulation pump is a quick and easy way to provide water movement in the tank, which loaches love. Don't go overboard here, moderate water flow is sufficient.