Like sand through an hourglass

[remark]

Maybe a "newbie" question, but I'm a newbie!

Background: 20L tank with 9 dojo loaches between 3 - 6 inches each (and 2 rosy red minnows). No heater in the tank, room tempature between 70-75 always. Three medium sized river rocks for cave/hiding areas. screen over the tank, whisper in-tank filter. They have been with me for 3 months now.

Here is the question: Half the tank is covered with smooth aquarium gravel and the other half is fine sand. Viewing these guys is a kick in the pants. They play tag, head stand, hide-n-seek, and dog-pile. BUT...when they play in the sand (always) the water becomes VERY cloudy. Am I using the wrong kind of sand? Playground/Garden sand is what I am using (no silica). I have washed and washed and washed. All aquarium sand I find is salt water.

Any advise is welcome (yes I know tank is probably over crowded, but they are rescue/adoption loaches and I'm trying to make up for it by doing 30% water change every two weeks.)

[Tinman]

Welcome and Hello
I use sand from a pool supply store. Inert pool filter sand. Your current sand particles are probably too small.

[Felhad]

Well, not on the topic, but your tank is way overstocked. My 55g only has 4 dojos and about 8 other dithers.

[KLKelly]

I cant tell if this post is for real or not.

I wouldnt have one loach in your tank. And you should be doing daily large water changes.

[Diana]

30% every 2 weeks? I would be doing 50% every couple of days! This tank is WAY overstocked. Great to rescue fish, but lets keep them in a way that they do not need more rescuing soon.

Pool filter sand, or sand blasting sand is graded so all the particles are the same size. I use 30 mesh pool filter sand. Still needs to be rinse. Try a pillow case and a garden hose.

[bslindgren]

I hope that you mean 20 gallon, not 20L? Even so, the tank is too small for those fish.

[Mark in Vancouver]

Consensus: The described tank is alarmingly small for these fish. Is remark a troll?

Hopefully just someone who needs a sudden learning curve.

[Martin Thoene]

No, don't jump on remark's case too much. Maybe certain people are reading 20 litre when I think remark meant 20 long....a North American designation for a 30" tank.

remark, please read these sources of info because you'll see that you absolutely HAVE to give that number of fish a lot more room.....and increase the water-changes now.

http://www.loaches.com/articles/weather-report

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/we ... licaudatus

Martin.

[remark]

Thanks for the "advise" ( aka 'tongue lashing'). I'll try the pool filter sand.

FYI: Three smallest are moved to a 10 gallon tank, leaving six in the 30 gallon tank.

Tinman & Martin, thank you.

Mark in Vancouver my 'sudden learning curve' has been obtained about my loaches and other areas as well. Later days.

[Rocco]

Because I don't like people having disagreements or whatever negative feelings towards each other.

Remark, please understand that we are passionate about Loaches. Some reactions, particularly to new people on the forums who haven't done research before getting their fish.

I'll remind you that you are welcome here, and we are here to guide you should you need help.

I do think that some of the reactions were harsh towards you and could have been better, but you must not forget that the folks on LOL do know a lot about loaches and are telling you the right things, no matter how harsh in form they may be.

I hope you'll take their advice despite and get a bigger tank (75gal)