New to Forum - starting a 75 Gallon Clown Loach Tank

krazykat · Post by **krazykat** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:45 am

Hello Everyone! I have visited this site before but only to look up articles on the clown loaches by Martin Thoene. I have finally signed up - it's great to find other people who are also fans of clown loaches! I have 8 juvenile clown loaches in a 10 gallon quarantine tank right now. Have had them in there for about two months. No signs of ich and they have fattened up quite nicely. I was originally going to put them in the 90 gallon tank with the discus but decided that they might bother my discus with their nocturnal nature. Plus, they just might like sucking the slime off of the discus. Anyway, I have a 75 gallon tank waiting for them.

Equipment in the 75 will be:

(2) 150 watt Theo hydor heaters, keep temp at 79-81 F
48 - 60 lbs of Flora Base for substrate
1 nice big piece of driftwood for decoration and a place for the clowns to hide and swim around in
1 single strip 48" flourescent lamp fixture - keep the lighting subdued
I can add a powerhead for flow if the Rena is not enough
Rena XP3(?) with small spraybar (it has three media baskets)
- will only use those blue bonded filter pads in the media basket
- and some foam filters for biological filtration

For tankmates, I have:

5 corydoras sterbai in breeding condition
1 3" bristlenose pleco
12 plump neon tetras
17 lemon tetras
all these fish have been quarantined and are in a separate tank from the clown loaches at the moment

For Plants:

anubias nana - which I would like to cover the driftwood eventually
anubias barteri
java moss on driftwood(s)
some dwarf chain swords - see how they do with the loaches

I currently do at least 25% water changes at least once a week on the loach tank, and willl keep the same program on the 75 gallon. I will use the foam filters from the HOB filters in use in the two tanks now when I transfer the fish over. Transfering the fish will be done in stages so as not to overload the biological filter.

The tank stand and canopy is black, background is black - am really excited and think that this tank will really show off the clown loaches' color! What do you guys think? Should I change the substrate from the dark brown Flora Base into natural color river sand? I'm using it partly as a buffer to keep the ph low, partly to help my plants (I will also be dosing liquid fertilizer weekly), and as a good contrast for the clown loaches.

Any suggestions for changes/improvements on my plans? TIA for your input!

krazykat · Post by **krazykat** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:51 am

I also have a 3 year old clown loach in the 90 gallon tank with the discus. I call him(?) Shamu because he looks like a beached whale when he sleeps on his side. He is fat and happy, and he is about 5 inches long ATM. He had a bout of ich right when I first got him. There were two others with him but they did not make it though the ich, so he has been the sole loach in the tank all these years. I am planning on having him join the loach community once all those youngsters have all settled in. Thoughts, anyone? I will be wary of the subocular spines that could get caught in the net, BTW....

Diana · Post by **Diana** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:32 am

Could you swap Loaches into the 90 and the Discus into the 75? Clown Loaches are a lot more active than Discus.

Clown Loaches are not sucking fish, will not suck the slime coat off the Discus. Mostly it is Loricariads, and the Chinese Algae eater that has been seen doing this.

However, Clowns do prefer a lot more water movement than Discus can handle. I had them together for about a year before setting up the Clowns in a 125 and the Discus in a 72 gallon bowfront.

I would go with the darker substrate. I have my Clowns over Soil Master Select and they really show up. I had pool filter sand in the 72 gallon with them. That was OK, too.

krazykat · Post by **krazykat** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:02 am

The 90 gallon is a show tank and so is taller rather than wider, and is perfect for the discus who prefer to have more room to move up and down. The 75 IMO is more suited for the loaches because it is deeper and would give them more areas to explore, these being bottom dwelling fish. I would also have more options on aquascaping to give them places to hide. I did think about keeping the loaches and the discus in the same tank, - this would have freed up my 75 for a bigger saltwater tank for my hawkfish.

However, these two species have very different habits, the loaches being more nocturnal and the discus being diurnal, plus, as you stated, these two species have very different flow requirements.

The loaches start searching for food around 6 in the morning. I could hear them clicking, which is actually a nice way to wake up

. The discus are more like college students who would rather sleep in

!

Thanks for your input on the substrate! My loaches have beautiful markings, they are fat and active, and I would really love to show them off! What color is your substrate? I am not familiar with the brand you mentioned.

Sea Sprite · Post by **Sea Sprite** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:46 pm

Hi krazykat & welcome! I just joined on the 10/8 so am also new.
I've very happy to see your thread on starting a new clown loach tank.
While buying fish for my 55 gal I saw some clown loach for the 1st time(about 2 mo's ago).
It was love at 1st site! At Least on my end. So, now I am looking for a good used 75 gal tank to start a clown loach tank.

Looks like you have a good set up & some real good suggestions for me to follow. I will be looking for assistance here when the time comes.

Everyone here seems very knowledgeable....and nice.

krazykat · Post by **krazykat** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 10:42 pm

Well, the 75 gallon tank is still waiting for me. Have been reconsidering the substrate idea - maybe go with some kind of black substrate. BUT will go with the river tank manifold design. Will go to the hardware store and get the parts and put one together. Looks very easy to put together! Should I go with three or four of the longer lengths of PVC? Am planning on using (2) 400 watt Maxi-Jet powerheads in addition to the canister and HOB filters. Thoughts, suggestions to improve the basic manifold design found in the articles here on LOL?

Sea Sprite · Post by **Sea Sprite** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:59 pm

Hey krazy kat,
I've so enjoyed hearing about your 75 gal project.
Just an update on mine, since we seem to be on the same wavelength & close to being on the same schedule...

I found a 75 gal tank with matching base cabinet & canopy with light, 2 power heads (somewhat anemic). 3 air pumps, a lg ship/oriental pagoda/gravel/etc...all 3 of which I discarded. An UG filter & 8 fish, most (which I will add to the 55 gal with a non-aggressive community soon since they've been in Q for over 2 wks, helping me to get the 75 G cycled) ... all for $200.

Just today I bought all that I needed for the manifold design. I decided to go with the design that uses 3 of the longer lengths of PVC. All that I needed of course, except the right glue that melts & melds the PVC together & is safe after a certain period of time. I'll need to find hat at a diff place than I was at today.

I will continue looking for posts & updates from you on the progression of your 75. Good Luck!

krazykat · Post by **krazykat** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:53 am

Manifold is in the process of getting put together! Minor adjustments tomorrow, another dry fit, and then - PVC GLUE!!

The layer of Flora Base will then go in after a rinse and then the driftwood will be placed into position. I will charge up the camera so I can post pics before anything goes in the tank, and pics of the manifold too. I will also post the cut list for the manifold for anyone who may wish to replicate what I am putting together! I still need to find the foam filters for the manifold intake though... Can someone please help? I have looked online and at pond supplies but I still can't find anything. Help!!!!!! Oilhands, are you there?!!!!!!

Sea Sprite · Post by **Sea Sprite** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:12 am

Here's where I am.

Still need to shave some off the length. And cannot find the "Osmaweld" cement anywhere!

I was wondering if it wouldn't be better to NOT glue the sections together, for cleaning purposes...?[/img]

krazykat · Post by **krazykat** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:07 pm

Looks very nice Sea Sprite! Where did you get your foam filters? I will be using PVC glue only and then only to attach the PVC pieces together. The PH will only sit snugly on the connectors, not glued on. Watch out for pics later tonight!

Sea Sprite · Post by **Sea Sprite** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:57 pm

Thanks Kat,
I found the foam filters in the gardening section of Home Depot. These were the only type & size they had. Notice the top has a hole in it? So, it will slide all the way down on the hole drilled pipe & I will have to use PVC plugs on top of the PVC. I really think I will look for the kind that have no opening on top.

The 3/4" PVC fits very tightly into the 1" pieces.
I'm wondering if the benefits are greater to not glue them together :
~ No risk of poisoning the fish
~ Can take it apart once a yr to clean

Does anyone know why the pieces would need to be glued if they fit together very tight?

Looking forward to your pics Kat!

mickthefish · Post by **mickthefish** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:27 pm

it's easy to make your own sponges by buying the blocks they use in the pond section, the way you do it is fill a plastic bag with water put the sponge in and freeze it once frozen drill the desired hole to the depth and width of hole you want.

mick

plaalye · Post by **plaalye** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:28 pm

Hey krazykat where are you? I'm in Bellingham. I also used the foam filters from home depot, though I've seen other options at my LFS and I think PETSMART. I didn't glue my pipes together and I haven't had any problems yet. One thing I have noticed is that after it's all installed and working, and you want to take the foam off to clean it, it's real easy to pull the manifold up through the sand, and very difficult to get it back down! So weigh it down good with some rocks and be careful when pulling on the foams or powerhead.

plaalye · Post by **plaalye** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:29 pm

That's a neat trick Mick! Will have to remember that one.

Sea Sprite · Post by **Sea Sprite** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:22 pm

plaalye wrote:I didn't glue my pipes together and I haven't had any problems yet. One thing I have noticed is that after it's all installed and working, and you want to take the foam off to clean it, it's real easy to pull the manifold up through the sand, and very difficult to get it back down! So weigh it down good with some rocks and be careful when pulling on the foams or powerhead.

Good to make note of, Plaalye. As it is I will be either struggling to get it positioned with water in the the tank...or I will need to drain 1/2 into buckets (along with the 5 fish)...drain the rest & consider it a substantial water change, to get the manifold in place.

Mick, THANKS! How very ingenious!

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New to Forum - starting a 75 Gallon Clown Loach Tank

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