Please someone help....new to loaches

[sully]

try to make sure that there is good aeration/water flow in the 55.

and, it might be a good idea to get a 10-gallon qt tank. when you get new fish they really need to go to a qt environment. It helps avoid the issue of introducing pathogens into an established community that could wipe the tank out and it permits a fish to get sickand recover in relative peace.

The fish farms are tough on the little guys. Shipping and handling is difficult. They arrive to an lfs or other retailers in weakened states--susceptible to many diseases.

When you get them home a qt tank will allow you to also treat just "sick fish" if required. You will be able to tailor a "hospital" environment to the specific needs of the fish. Without damaging existing fish or tanks.

It sounds like it was definitely a bacteria problem. They can be resolved even when it looks grim.