Loaches Online Forum

So somewhat new to fish keeping...started out with a 38 Gallon about two months ago and since then I have added two 55 Gallons tanks to it.

I have one 55 Gallon that is an African Mbuna setup, my 38 Gallon is a Tang Community tank and my other 55 Gallon I have turned into a planted SA Community Tank.

So my planted tank isn't very heavily planted, but going to change that this weekend. In the tank right now is two pair of Apisto's, two schools of tetra consisting of 8-10 each and 5 peppered cory cats...oh and 1 BN pleco.

I have never kept loaches before and originally wanted to keep clown loaches but they will out grow my tank so I'm looking at YoYo loaches. Would YoYo loaches fit into the planted SA community tank? I have hard water so for this tank I use combination of RO/Distilled/Tap Water for my water changes, using this method I have a consistent PH of 7.5...not the best but my tap water is 8.4 so it helps buffer and hold the PH of my SA tank consistently.

Yoyos will fit in a 55, but I am concerned about adding more bottom dwelling fish. Apistos can get quite feisty when they are breeding. Cories are playful, happy guys, and are compatible with the gentler Loaches (that is, most Loaches, including Yoyos). I have Brochis splendens with Yoyos and Clowns, and they ignore each other.

A well planted tank, with plenty of drift wood or rocks to make a few informal caves will help.

May I also suggest Kubotai Loaches... Slightly smaller than Yoyos, more color.

It's more up to what I can find in my area...I live out in the sticks/farm land of Minnesota and with fuel prices driving 1-2 hours to get to a nice fish store with a wide variety isn't very appealing to me. So for loaches I have a choice between the popular Clown or YoYo

I apologize if I didn't describe the tank better...on each end there are large rock caves made from river rock, in the middle are two large pieces of driftwood (20-22 inches each) and then I'm going to get more plants this weekend to make it a heavily planted tank.

And yeah, that was my concern...was the too many bottom dwellers in the tank with the 5 cory cats.

When you get a chance, post pictures. We always love to see fish. Sounds like you have nice tanks.

The trouble comes when the yoyos will attempt to uproot the plants and even damage them. Perhaps kuhli loaches?

Looking at online retailers for loaches to be shipped in as local available is limited

Not too keen on the looks of the Kuhli loach in all honesty, I do like the look of the clowns and yoyo so something along those lines if you know of one.

I'll take some before and after pictures of my planted community, tomorrow after I'm done it will look vastly different!

You'll be better off with the Botia striata, Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki or Botia kubotai.