Too many clowns?
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:53 am
I found a new LFS today and he has 5 really nice 2.5"-3" clowns, two of which have unusual stripes (my favorite). I know I'm going to buy the two unusually stripped ones but I kind of feel bad for the other three for a couple of reasons. One, there is no telling what kind of fish keeper will end up buying them. Two, they will be seperated from their buddies 
.
Is there such a problem as too many clown loaches in a system? Here is the information on my setup.
Aquarium: 60"L x 18"H x13"W
Filration: Magnum 350 canister with blue DLS and chemi-pure. An Eheim 2215 with an assortment of biological media and floss. There is also a Maxi Jet 500 powerhead (with prefilter sponge) for additional water movement. There is an 8 watt Gamma UV sterilizer connected to the return of the Eheim.
Plants: Lots of Java Moss, many Anubias Nana and many Java Fern.
Misc. Decor: A few artificial plants and quite a bit of driftwood.
Substrate: 65lbs of Seachem Fluorite gravel
Fish:
1 - 5.5" Clown Loach ("Big Girl")
3 - 3" Clown Loaches
2 - 2.5" Clown Loaches
1 - 2" Clown Loach
1 - 1.5" Clown Loach ("Little Bit" who is a very, very slow grower)
1 - 4.5" Australian Rainbow
2 - 3" Australian Rainbow
1 - 2.5" Bosemani Rainbow
2 - 2" Turquoise Rainbow
2 - 3" Rubber Lip Plecos
1 - 2" Black Skirt Tetra
I do a 25 gallon water change every two weeks and clean the Magnum filter every two weeks (between water changes). The Eheim floss is changed every month and the bio media is rinsed with aquarium water about every three months.
I have additional canister filters, power heads and even UV sterilizers I can add if needed (amazing how much stuff you end up with after keeping fish for a few decades).
I do plan on upsizing to a 135 gallon or larger within the next year.
As it is, my 8 clowns are out and about most of the day and I get to see "the loach dance" a couple of times a week. But the thought of having 5 more loaches (meaning more loach dancing and more of that wonderful "click click, clickity click"
) is actually keeping me awake with indecision. I want to do what is best for the Clown Loaches.
Almost forgot (I know internal alarms are going off for some of you reading this
) I do have an established 10 gallon quarantine and I will quarantine my new acquisitions.
Any and all advice, thoughts, ideas and previous experiece tales will be greatly appreciated.
Linda
.Is there such a problem as too many clown loaches in a system? Here is the information on my setup.
Aquarium: 60"L x 18"H x13"W
Filration: Magnum 350 canister with blue DLS and chemi-pure. An Eheim 2215 with an assortment of biological media and floss. There is also a Maxi Jet 500 powerhead (with prefilter sponge) for additional water movement. There is an 8 watt Gamma UV sterilizer connected to the return of the Eheim.
Plants: Lots of Java Moss, many Anubias Nana and many Java Fern.
Misc. Decor: A few artificial plants and quite a bit of driftwood.
Substrate: 65lbs of Seachem Fluorite gravel
Fish:
1 - 5.5" Clown Loach ("Big Girl")
3 - 3" Clown Loaches
2 - 2.5" Clown Loaches
1 - 2" Clown Loach
1 - 1.5" Clown Loach ("Little Bit" who is a very, very slow grower)
1 - 4.5" Australian Rainbow
2 - 3" Australian Rainbow
1 - 2.5" Bosemani Rainbow
2 - 2" Turquoise Rainbow
2 - 3" Rubber Lip Plecos
1 - 2" Black Skirt Tetra
I do a 25 gallon water change every two weeks and clean the Magnum filter every two weeks (between water changes). The Eheim floss is changed every month and the bio media is rinsed with aquarium water about every three months.
I have additional canister filters, power heads and even UV sterilizers I can add if needed (amazing how much stuff you end up with after keeping fish for a few decades).
I do plan on upsizing to a 135 gallon or larger within the next year.
As it is, my 8 clowns are out and about most of the day and I get to see "the loach dance" a couple of times a week. But the thought of having 5 more loaches (meaning more loach dancing and more of that wonderful "click click, clickity click"
) is actually keeping me awake with indecision. I want to do what is best for the Clown Loaches.Almost forgot (I know internal alarms are going off for some of you reading this
) I do have an established 10 gallon quarantine and I will quarantine my new acquisitions.Any and all advice, thoughts, ideas and previous experiece tales will be greatly appreciated.
Linda