Stocking advice

[Ashleigh]

Hey, Ive been looking about here for a while, but havn't had the need to post-great site btw! I was just wondering if you could give me a hand on stocking...
After a lot of consideration and thinking, it is finally time to upgrade the loaches to a larger tank
I started off with a few (6 of each) Botia almorhae and Botia kubotai last year in a 75g, which has now increased to a 120g. This year when picking up fish food I came across Botia dario unfortunatly there was only one in the tank and pity ended up getting her'him and was assured that there would be more in the following weeks.. there wasn't, the same happened with Botia striata. Basically I have now found a store that has these fish in stock and want to have numbers up to at leasst 6 of each species. We were thinking a tank 6x2x2 (with a 30-45g slump) but I just wanted to make sure if this left enough room for teritories and such like although all the loaches get on very well or would it be possible to have more than 6 of each species?

Oh and heres some pictures of a few of the loaches











Ashleigh

[brett_fishman]

6 yoyos, kubotai, dario and stratia would make 24 - 4-6" loaches in a 120g.

the 120 has a 12 sq. foot footprint..so 2 loaches per sq. foot....not bad

i dont think thats over stocking really...what other fish were you planning on getting or that you already have?

-brett.

[Ashleigh]

I was thinking stocking for the 6x2x2 or would I need a larger footprint of tank?
They have no tank mates at the moment apart from a loan syno catfish, waiting until I get the big upgrade, and get a few denison barbs possible about 8 and maybe a few rummy nose tetras (20 or so), nothing to heavy.

Thanks for the quick response.

Ashleigh

[brett_fishman]

a 6x2x2' tank has a 12 sqft. foot print..its 6' long x 2' deep = 12' sq.

anywho: danios, barbs, rasboras and tetras make great tankmates for loaches..if you just want to get some schools of those, that'd be great...

maybe 2-3 schools of 12 of whatever you want...rummynose tetras and denison barbs (red-line torpedo barbs) sounds great!

red-lines get around 6" tops, and the tetras get around 2"

-brett.

[Emma Turner]

Hi Ashleigh, and welcome to Loaches Online!

Thank you for posting pics of your beautiful loaches. It is great to hear that you are planning a decent sized tank for your loaches and that you plan to keep fairly large groups.

If you provide the loaches with masses of hiding places (bogwood, rocky caves etc etc) then they should be fine territory-wise. I personally found that Botia dario was very aggressive when kept in high numbers, yet not many others have observed similar behaviour. I don't say this to put you off, only that I'd advise a little bit of caution and for you to keep a close eye on them.

Stocking densities can be affected by many factors, including filtration. One advantage of using a sump is that you will then have that extra volume and in theory can stock the main tank slightly higher. Were you planning on any other filtration in addition to the sump? If not, what sort of media were you going to go for? Also what sort of turnover rate will you be aiming for, and will you be creating any additional circulation in the main tank for the loaches?

Sorry for all the questions!

Emma

[Ashleigh]

Hi Emma, Ive found the Botia dario quite agressive when I initially got him/her but things seemed to have calmed down over the past few months except with the cucumber-it loves it, no one else is allowed near . If I do have any problems, it will be no problem to set up another tank, just an excuse to get more
Im not 100% what way Im going to go about the slump, Ive been looking around and talking to a few people and I still havn't decided what way to go about it-it will be my first slump, Ive only used eheim externals for the clown tank so this is a new venture! I eventually want to get a slump on all the larger tanks but since this one will be the first to do up, I may as well start here.
Turnover rate between 4-5x the tank volume so I was wanting about 700-900 g/h (us).
Main cicrulation I was thinking a few aqua clear power heads-2/3 as I already have those on the other tank at present.

Thanks again,

Ashleigh

[chris1932]

Nice fish! Good pictures. And the fish in the fourth picture made me laugh. It looks like its sitting on an egg. Is the tank you are getting drilled? If so back or bottom? Real or artificial plants? I have a 150 that is 6x2x2 size and they make a nice current tank.

I dont think your stocking ideas are out of line for the size tank you are going to be working with.

BTW Welcome to Loaches Online.

[Ashleigh]

I hadn't noticed that until now!
I have no idea, open to suggestions. The tank is being ordered from England and the company are able to set me up with a slump ect if I want but Im open to ideas; some people just come up with the biggest pile of nonsence at times just to make money so suggest away! Id rather have people who know what they are talking about help to suggest something efficient.
Im not sure about planted-Id really love to have this one planted but I don't really have much luck with plants, never have but we shall see.

Ashleigh

[chris1932]

The reason I ask is because a sump will make it hard to keep Co2 in the system. On my 150 wide I run three Fluval 405s, two HOBs and a 2400gph mag drive pump. I would rather have multiple systems than one, that way should anything go wrong I have multiple back ups. I will say that this is a hillstream only tank. Flow rates this high may exhaust some Botia. I will say that if I had purchased this tank new I would have had at least another set of 1" bulkheads installed in the bottom for a total of 4x1' and 2x 1/2" If you put valves on all of the bulkheads instead of pluging them you then have unlimited future expansion.

Just a thought.