Advice on setting up a new tank......

[Calypso mermaid]

I've posted here sporadically before for various issues. I've been planning on upgrading our loach tank for quite some time as we bought a building and are moving, but didn't realize how long rehabbing would take!
Alas, I'm afraid my clown loaches are waaay too crowded now in a 30 gallon, I had 5, but took my mom's clown she's had for the past two years in a 10 gallon (the store lied to that her it was fine and he would grow slow, yet he's huge,) so 6 in a 30 gallon and they are growing, but lately I notice them sitting on the bottom a little more, so I'm getting frustrated at how long everything's taking-but now I'm close enough to start getting everything together.
I'm upgrading to a 75 gallon minimum or larger, but wanted to start picking up supplies like substrate......what's the best choice for their natural habitat? I've heard sand, but I'm wondering how hard it is to vacuum and keep clean? And does anyone have a good source to purchase some? And should it be red sand or would black do?
Also, I've seen a 6' "footprint" mentioned, but I'm wondering how big that tank would be and where do you even purchase a tank like that? I looked online and wasn't able to find a 6' tank.
Also, once I have the bigger tank, should I just leave the number at six (I would rather have less fish that are happy and well cared for,) or is it advisable that I get a few more loaches? I do already have some dither fish (a gourami, some rosy barbs and 2 rainbow fish-it's way crowded.)
Any suggestions people have will be great as I want to do as much research as possible for this big tank to avoid the mistakes I've done out of ignorance (and greedy petstores,) with this little 30 gallon.

[Rocco]

Hey Calypso,

I'm not as experienced as others here but I'll try to help

For clowns, I think the consensus is the larger the tank the better it is for the fish. 75 gallons is good for a group of juveniles but not for grown adults. I'd recommend getting something upwards of 120 gallons.

Have you seen and read the species profile for the clown loach of this site's species index?

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/cl ... cracanthus
http://www.loaches.com/articles/an-intr ... ping-botia
http://www.loaches.com/articles/my-clown-loach-aquarium

these links should help answer a lot of questions.

As for vacuuming, I let my river tank push all the gunk to one end of the aquarium where I keep my filter intakes that have foam prefilters. Thats where I find the majority of the fish waste produced. When I do vacuum the tank, I pay particular attention to potential dead spots around driftwood and caves.

My vacuum picks up a lot of my sand but when I pour out the dirty water, I pour it into a fine cloth and then wash the collected sand before putting it back.

[Calypso mermaid]

The info on vacuuming really helps!!!! So you let the [i]current[/i] push all the garbage to one end? I've seen all this info written before but some of it doesn't make sense.......what exactly creates the current? I read power head, but don't get it.....is it part of the filter? Or is it a seperate component? I currently have biowheel filters and airstones to move the water, because it's a small tank.......I just don't feel like I can trust my local fish stores to help me here and it's a big investment.

And as far as tank size, I don't mind going bigger, but would really like to find a 6' tank, but don't know where or how to compare prices? I just don't feel like I can trust the big pet chains OR the local "reputable" fish stores seeing as they are the ones who suggested things like a single clown loach in a 10 gallon tank?

I do already have driftwood in my tank and evicted my pleco to another tank to keep it cleaner and am pretty good about water changes, so I have a basic understanding and know my current tank is too small.....but I was hoping I could get some tips on where to compare prices, etc.

[bslindgren]

A lot of 120-130 gallon tanks are 6 foot. You want to maximize the footprint, i.e., don't get a tall tank. Check for a used tank - you can sometimes get a great deal with equipment and all. Craigslist (www.craigslist.com) is apparently a good place to search in the US.

I use Target pool filter sand. It has to be cleaned well before use, but once that has been done there is no problem vacuuming. I have a regular siphon with a wide vacuum tube - if you keep the tube at about a 45 deree angle you can shove it into the samd without sucking much sand up. I do turn off my filter when cleaning the sand because it can go into the impeller mechanism which si not good. The one problem I have with that tank at the moment is constantly cloudy water - I don't think it's the sand, but I can't figure out why it is doing this and I can't seem to filter it out. The fish (striata, kuhlis, black neons, SAE's and a few Otos) seem fine.

I have a tank with regular gravel as well, and the clowns I have there don't seem to mind that. Just make sure it's river gravel, i.e. no sharp edges.

[Martin Thoene]

Hi Calypso Mermaid, here's an article explaining the use of powerheads:

http://www.loaches.com/articles/water-m ... h-aquarium

Martin.

[newshound]

.......I just don't feel like I can trust my local fish stores to help me here and it's a big investment.

.

that is why the net rules!!!!!!
In your area you have a good fish store I am sure!!!!
A large footprint means actual "floor area"
I used riversand in my tank (nice and free
cheap sand can be had at those big box depots (do a search on this forum)
when cleaning the sand I suck up very little of it due to the fact that the crap on top of the sand is lighter than the sand. Unlike gravel stuff just sits on top of the sand.