Loaches Online Forum

I recently got a new tank. Its a 36 gallon maple bow. Filter I have is Ehiem Professional II. I know this tank is small to keep clowns so you don't have to tell me twice, but I really want to keep them in this new tank. I have 2inches deep of sand bottom. One 17 watt lighting. Currently no fish because of nitrate.

I was thinking of buying 6 1.5inches one from the local pet store and figure they'll grow to 5-6 inches quickly. So 6 inches x 6 is 36 and 36 inches for 36 gallon. The local fish store say their grow will be stunt around 6 inches in my tank.

Is this true? Also, if their grow is stunt at 6 inches how does it affect them? (shorten lifespan or other stuff?)

My second question is I want to use moonlight that will be left on all night so I can see them at night, but I don't want to disturb them. Local fish store said they can't see red and I should use red moonlight. If this is not accurate what color should I used?

Thanks a lot I know this is a lot, but I would really like to get started right away when my nitrate is gone.

Hi there,

Wait for the experts, but I am pretty sure 36 gallons is way too small for 6 clowns. I would start with a 55 for small clowns and be prepared to upgrade within a year. You also have to keep in mind that if you have loaches, they need dither fish to give them the all clear that it is safe to come out. The filtration and water movement is super important for clowns, and remember that clowns can grow to 10+ inches and are bulky fish. These aren't wispy fish.

The inch rule doesn't really apply to loaches, because they are big , hefty fish. Without dithers you won't see the clowns.

There are smaller loaches that would make a much better addition to this tank.

ALso the clowns will die if this is a new tank. They need a well seasoned tank. Well cycled tank. Do you have it cycled? It will need to be cycled for several months before I would even consider adding clowns.

How did you cycle the tank?

what is dither?
the tank is cycling right now, that is y there is no fish in there
cycling for over a month now, just need to wait for nitrate to go down as i said already
i use good start bacteria and microbe-lift

also i'm planning to have only clowns

still need my two questions to be answer anyone?
wat color lighting and how growth stunt affect them

With all due respect, 143, how would you like to grow up in a 12X12 room with a 4' ceiling?

That is what you will be doing the the clowns.

Dither fish are schooling, mid-water swimming fish that are used to bring hiding fishes out into the open.

Without dithers your clowns will never come out of hiding, or will wither away from stress. Clowns use dithers as look out fish. To let them know the coast is clear.

Have you done fishless cycling before? What are you adding to the water to bring the cycling along? Lots of products that claim to cycle a tank don't live up to the hype.

My 55 is too small for my 4 clowns. As soon as the smallest is 4" I will move them to my 75, and plan on a larger tank.

The growth stunting will kill them. I am unconcerned about the lighting. The fish won't survive the unseasoned tank. After a tank is cycled, I wouldn't put clowns in until 6 months later. They are very sensitive.

Sids or Striata would make a better addition to such a small tank.

Not sure about the light but that size tank, in my opinion, is WAY to small for even 2 clowns. And since they school, as I'm sure you know, you'll want 5 or more.

Sorry, but no one here is going to suggest you do the wrong thing by putting clowns in that tank. If that is the biggest tank you have room for, why not consider smaller loaches? We "only" have a 120 gallon, so no clowns, but we LOVE our Kubotai, Striata, Rostrata... and for more color our Sumo loach is very active and "personable" (fishionable???)

No No No!!! I'm afraid your tank is far too small for clown loaches.

You want to be able to enjoy your fish, right? You wouldn't get a big dog and keep it in a small kennel all the time, right? Because you would want to play with it, and watch it run, as well as because it would be animal cruelty.

The same for your fish -- if they don't have room to swim and play, and if they don't have the dithers they need to feel comfortable coming out, not only is it animal cruelty and they will live very shortened lives, but you also won't get any fun out of watching them behave like loaches. They need room to play too!

ok i can get a bigger tank now can anyone answer the lighting question
blue or red.

Most moonlights are blue. Have never seen red lights use for a aquarium.'

This is the moonlight I use on my 125 gallon tank.

http://www.r2moonlights.com/

Firstly, forget about that inch per gallon rule. It doesn't work. It's mostly about keeping excellent water quality and giving them enough space to swim. For Clowns you'll want a tank with a large foot print, so they'll have plenty of space to explore and to get swimming at full speed. The height of the tank doesn't matter much, they don't swim much vertically. A 36 gallon tank could be fine for quite awhile, if it's 5ft long x 1 ft wide x 1 ft high, and you do daily water changes. The eheim filter you got will be fine also, but you'll want to get a powerhead pump to add more water current. Clowns like to swim against strong water flow.

You can stunt the fish if it's too cramped and/or if the water quality is poor.

Are you confusing Nitrate with Nitrite? You'll most likely always have nitrates in the water. It's the nitrites you want to avoid.

I have tried both red and blue lights. IMO, the red simulates the sun-rise and sunset somewhat. The blue simulates the moonlight somewhat. Results may vary.

Most of my loaches don't like any kind of light shining directly in their water, whether it's red, blue, or white. If the light is indirect or shaded extremely well, then they'll tolerate it much better. With my other fish, it's a different story, they don't have the attitude that my clowns have. My older clowns are like adolescents and get annoyed and
spooked rather easily. Changing the light color isn't going fool them, they'll still think it's an invasion of their privacy if someone is spying on them at night. Younger clowns will be more receptive though.

BTW, when I got myself into clown loaches I started off with a 6 gallon tank, then built a 33 gallon tank after about a week, then built a 90 gallon tank after a few months. Then I started using water-bridges to connect the tanks together and I kept upgrading until I got all the fish I wanted and the water parameters fully under control. After some years I now have a multi-tank 500 gallon set-up, with about 100 fish, that has a continuous water change system.

I have 4 clowns in a 90g along with some rainbows and various other loaches. I have had no problems with them hiding in fact they are always out and about i have 130 watts of light over this tank. But i do have ample hiding spots available. I also have night lights on them at night and they are still out and about seldom do i see them hiding. All my loaches are like this though i think because i have so many hiding spots available for them.


I agree with what the others are trying to say. A 36g is by far to small for a small group of clowns. Unless yor planning on a upgrade in a short amount of time.