Loaches Online Forum

Hello to all.
On saturday i'm going to get my new tank(160x50x50)
I still don't decide about the sustrate.
I have loaches now in a 180lt tank with fine gravel. 3 yo-yo, 3 clowns, 3 kubs(3 to 6 cm.) The yo-yos burrows all day.
In other tank, 160x30x60, i have river-sand. In this tank, I've had problems with parameters, nitrate and nitrite. I've lost about 6 discus frys.
I'm not sure if this was because of the sand and the melanoides snails(trumpets?). So, when you vaccum, only the surface, you don't remove the sand? Is better the pool filter sand? It is difficult to have snails with loaches?
About lights, how many watts/liter should i have, an d how many hours per day?
Thank you

loaches will eat snails
not sure that loaches and discus are the best combo
both do need REALLY clean water!
loaches need water movement
discus don't need water movement (as much) i am not a discus expert!!!
cross tank water movement will allow all the crap to flow to one side of the tank to get sucked into the filter intake
no need to vaccum with enough flow

I use pool filter sand in a few tanks. It's heavier & can be vacuumed down an inch or so with a small gravel vac. With a larger vac I sort of swirl over the surface. I never lose more than a spoon full of sand if I'm not careful.

For lights, it depends on what plants you want to grow & that the loaches won't eat. Java fern & anubias can be tied to wood or rocks & only need ~1-2 watts of fluorescent tube lighting per gallon. That's around 120-240 watts total over your tank (if my metric conversion is right)

Hello,

I have pool filter sand in my tanks. When I vacuum, I do like Nancy does and just hover the vacuum an inch or so above the sand to suck up any debris. Most of the debris has already been sucked into the filter, so there is not that much to do.
You'll have to post pictures of your new tank when it is ready.

I won't put together loaches with discus.
This new tank, is only for loaches. Maybe then I'll add some rasboras or similar.

okay great
design your tank to have flow from one side to the other
filter intake at one end and outtake at the other
better at keeping the sand clean (less work) and better for the loaches!!!

For filtration, I have 3 canisters eheim(2 classic 1 ecco) about 700L/H each
A penguin HOB 1700L/H, eheim HOB 400L/H.
I'm thinking of adding 2 power-heads, just to move the lower part.
What about UVC, does anyone uses? Is it good to prevent from Ich or others?
Thanks