loach tank size

[smooththg69]

hello all im new to the forums and im about to get a bigger tank for my loaches 3 clowns 2 yoyos.but after reading i see most of you have huge tanks i really cant afford a huge tank nor do i have room . my question is could my 5 loaches live their lives happley in a 90 gallon 4 foot tank this is what i have been looking at and the price and size is good for the space that i have. i will also add a 30 gallon sump using my current tank. any suggestions and no im not giving them up.

[chefkeith]

90 gallons is a decent size tank for a small group of loaches. Just give it lots of water flow with powerheads and keep the water well aerated. Keep up with water changes also.

[smooththg69]

i guess thats one thing that i do right for my loaches i do water changes about twice a week. thanks for the info

[Emma Turner]

Hi smooththg69, welcome to Loaches Online.

Unfortunately, a 4ft long tank is not lengthy enough for clown loaches long-term. Even with good water quality and maintenance regime, the tank cannot provide the adults with enough swimming length. If you don't want to give them up, you really need to be looking at a tank 6ft long+ for them. 4ft is ok for juveniles for a few years, but no way can that be their final home if you wish to look after them properly. There is a real risk of stunting if the clowns are kept in a tank that size for too long. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news - I hope you manage to sort something out for them.

Emma

[smooththg69]

well i went looking at tanks again and they have a 6ft tank 150 gallon for about the same as the 90 would this make a good final home for 4 clowns and 3 yoyo loaches? i might add 4 more clown though its about a foot and a half maby a lil bit more taller

[Pilze]

I think the 150 would be better. A six foot tank with excellent water circulation and filtration and due respect to water changes can hold a large school of clowns for their entire lifespan.