New to Loaches.. not sure if my tank is a good home
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:48 pm
So, I'm fairly new to aquariums and fish tanks.. After having the 12g for a year, I bought my fiance a 34 gallon bow front (it says 34g on the top, not sure if that is accurate.. It came with no information! 
) The following are its measurements:
L = 36"
H = 20"
W = At the mid point 16.5"
W = At the far sides 14"
It is fully planted (somewhat messy..) and currently houses the following:
10 x Full grown platies of various varietys. Another 5-10 babies that are usually eaten on a weekly basis by the platies.
2 x Swordtail females
1 x Unknown fish of 5-5.5" size (Possible Flying fox / False Flying Fox)
And recently, a purchase of 3 Yoyo loaches, each measuring around 1.5-2" big. They are a touch smaller then the Platies which are fully grown at this time.
I had not read a huge amount about Loaches and was told they would be fine in this tank with regular water changes by the gentleman at the local fish store. I have a couple concerns, the first being that these fish will simply outgrow the tank, or become hostile to the other fish. My other concern is about my Amazon Sword. I've read that loaches will poke holes and kill these plants off just for the fun of it. My amazon sword started at a small 5" plant and now grows out of the water. I really like it and don't want it to get destroyed by these fun loaches.
I'd really like to keep them but simply do not have room for a larger tank in my house. I'd just like to know if people think they will be okay or not in this tank.
I'm no aquarium expert at all and have just been lucky so far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvIof-S1PJQ
The pictures were huge so I took them down and here is a video on youtube instead. Easier to watch.
) The following are its measurements: L = 36"
H = 20"
W = At the mid point 16.5"
W = At the far sides 14"
It is fully planted (somewhat messy..) and currently houses the following:
10 x Full grown platies of various varietys. Another 5-10 babies that are usually eaten on a weekly basis by the platies.
2 x Swordtail females
1 x Unknown fish of 5-5.5" size (Possible Flying fox / False Flying Fox)
And recently, a purchase of 3 Yoyo loaches, each measuring around 1.5-2" big. They are a touch smaller then the Platies which are fully grown at this time.
I had not read a huge amount about Loaches and was told they would be fine in this tank with regular water changes by the gentleman at the local fish store. I have a couple concerns, the first being that these fish will simply outgrow the tank, or become hostile to the other fish. My other concern is about my Amazon Sword. I've read that loaches will poke holes and kill these plants off just for the fun of it. My amazon sword started at a small 5" plant and now grows out of the water. I really like it and don't want it to get destroyed by these fun loaches.
I'd really like to keep them but simply do not have room for a larger tank in my house. I'd just like to know if people think they will be okay or not in this tank.
I'm no aquarium expert at all and have just been lucky so far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvIof-S1PJQ
The pictures were huge so I took them down and here is a video on youtube instead. Easier to watch.
