Loaches Concept Tank

[FreshwaterJeff]

I'll begin with the caveat that this isn't a tank I'm planning on creating, although my tank may evolve this direction over time. I just thought it'd be fun to conceptualize a loach-centric tank and solicit feedback.

Here's my initial thoughts:

120 gallon Planted aquarium
Soft bottom such as eco-complete or sand.

5 Zebra Loaches
12 Sidthimunki Loaches
5 Yo Yo Loaches
5 Skunk Loaches
3 Blue Botias
5 Angelicus Loaches
5 Botia darios
4 Kuhli Loaches
5 Clown Loaches
3 Dojo Loaches
3 Horseface Loaches
1 Sumo Loach
1 Batik Loach
1 Hillstream Loach

Higher water column swimmers:

5 Boesemani Rainbowfish
15 Rummynose Tetras

Algae Patrol:
3 Rubberlip Plecos

Powerheads for good water flow and high oxygenation. Water temp in the mid-high 70's. Smooth rocks and structures.

It'd probably be a waste to put a 120 gallon tank to use just for loaches...but man, that'd be one fun tank.

Thoughts?

(And yeah, it's probably way overstocked. I just did numbers off the top of my head - adjust tank size as necessary)

 

[Fuzz16]

wooow thats so neat!
i would get maybe 3 clown loaches, they can get kinda big.

 

[IDunnoWhy]

Man I love loaches, and a tank like this would be so cool, neat concept, maybe I'll try something like this WAY down the road.

 

[TheFighterFish]

I would be worried about not having enough surface area for the loaches to roam around without hitting each other.

 

[Fuzz16]

hmm rocks jutting fro mthe bottom, maybe a shelf?

 

[Lotus]

I hope you do eventually do something like this!

If you do something like this, a long tank is a must. We have a "mostly loach" tank that's a lot longer than it is tall. We have a couple of poweheads, and some caves made of river rock and driftwood. It's basically a tank for our nine clown loaches, and has other assorted fish. As the loaches grow, we're removing other fish. We also have a batik loach in the tank, and may put one or both of our sumos in there.

As loaches tend to hide during certain parts of the day, it's nice to have some "always out" fish in there. The loaches also seem to appreciate some type of dither. We have swordtails and rainbows, but I'd eventually like some glowlight danios in there (not glofish).

We've found that sometimes too many types of loaches in the same tank is a bad thing. For example, kubotais and yoyos tend to fight a lot. There doesn't seem to be damage, but the stress is clear.

 

[Grumpy_Marine]

I love loaches and that is going to be my main focus for my 55 gallon tank jeff. I would go with four horseface at least so they can group together and such. I just got four more to match my solo and they hang out daily now.

I really like the variety you have imagined. I hope you don't call me a thief for planning a loach tank for 55 gallon now though...lol

i have found if you do more plants in the tank the loaches will stay above substrate and not bury as often. But i sometimes like watching them bury themselves in the tank. I would suggest trying to keep one side planted heavily with the other end tappering to lightly planted so they have varitey of conditions.

i would probably add more yo yo loaches and take away from other types as the yo yo is always active and about all parts of day which i like to watch all the time. Just my two cents.

 

[FreshwaterJeff]

Grumpy - I know this isn't exactly an original idea. I just wanted to talk about it.

FWIW, my Zebra loaches are active pretty much any time of day, similar to yo yos. Same with Skunks, I think, and Sidthimunkis.

Lotus - good to know. I'd probably pick kubotais or yo yos, but not have both. Any other combinations to avoid?

 

[Lotus]

Skunks and blue botias (B. modesta) are both known to be more aggressive than others. It may be a problem, it may not. I have a single skunk, and he seems to be a calm guy. My orange fins/blue (modesta) botias aren't as social as other loaches, in fact I rarely see them. They also have a reputation for aggressiveness.

Hillstreams and dojos are ideally kept at lower temps (low 70s) than most of the botias.

 

[Grumpy_Marine]

Hillstreams and dojos are ideally kept at lower temps (low 70s) than most of the botias.

Ooops i have a dojo that is in my community tank with all other fish... but he gets along fine, temps range from 76 up to 84 max it has ever been, he seems to adjust to all temps but i can tell he enjoys cooler more than hot, but i dont see stress or bad signs with him when it gets warm in there.

 

[FishLuvr]

yep i love the idea too, even mentioned it here a couple of times though i never planned out a list of species i would have and i also never got my lazy butt around to doing it either, maybe someday i will. i love loaches as well