5 vs 10 clown loaches

[squid]

I currently have 10 pcs clown loaches ranging from 5-8 inches. Would it have negative effect on them if I were to separate the group into 5 pcs each? All are currently in one of my 300 gallon tank. But I'm a little worried about the bio load of that tank. Planning to move 5 to my other tank. Any worries with the move?

[DainBramage1991]

300 gallons is more than adequate for 10 clown loaches, I suggest not separating them.

If you do have to separate them, they should be okay as two groups of 5, but they would definitely be better off if they can be left as one large group.

What is causing you to think your tank is overloaded?

[squid]

300 gallons is more than adequate for 10 clown loaches, I suggest not separating them.

If you do have to separate them, they should be okay as two groups of 5, but they would definitely be better off if they can be left as one large group.

What is causing you to think your tank is overloaded?

thanks current tank has 3 22 inch Asian aros , an 8 inch Datnoid, 8 inch Pleco and 4 black barred red hooks.
its filter is a sump. But i feel i have to add or upgrade the filter media.
the other tank also has same inhabitants, I moved the 10 from the other tank as I had to treat my arowanas in the other tank.
Was thinking if it'll be better for them to be split into 2 groups
But i'll just maintain them in a group of 10

[DainBramage1991]

Sounds like an incredible setup, but that is decent fish load, even for such a large tank.

However, if your water chemistry is good and your fish are getting along with each other, they should be fine.

Ph and nitrates are the two things I tend to watch the most when I'm concerned about excessive bioload, which is not to imply that I ignore other factors of course.

If you do find that you can't keep the chemistry under control, I recommend keeping the loaches as one group if at all possible. They are highly social fish, and are more likely to thrive in a larger group. Also, they probably already have a well established social hierarchy and splitting them up could be disruptive and stressful. I don't know what other size tanks you have available, but a group of 10 clowns can live quite happily in a tank as small as 125g. The footprint is more important than the volume, as they are bottom dwelling fish.

[squid]

Sounds like an incredible setup, but that is decent fish load, even for such a large tank.

However, if your water chemistry is good and your fish are getting along with each other, they should be fine.

Ph and nitrates are the two things I tend to watch the most when I'm concerned about excessive bioload, which is not to imply that I ignore other factors of course.

If you do find that you can't keep the chemistry under control, I recommend keeping the loaches as one group if at all possible. They are highly social fish, and are more likely to thrive in a larger group. Also, they probably already have a well established social hierarchy and splitting them up could be disruptive and stressful. I don't know what other size tanks you have available, but a group of 10 clowns can live quite happily in a tank as small as 125g. The footprint is more important than the volume, as they are bottom dwelling fish.

thanks yup I removed some crushed corals from all my tanks.
We have really softwater here and I experienced ph crashes with my tanks before due to bio load. So i'm a little worried as i removed some crashed corals because my tanks were at ph of 8. but its hard to balance how much crushed corals is needed.
my nitrates are at 40 and i do weekly 30% water changest o my tanks