How Long can I have clown loaches in a 125 with this setup

[Hmontoya93]

Hello guys, thanks for the great advice, I finally got my own place so I can set up all of the tanks I want, and as of right now the most I could afford is a 125 gallon , but my goal is 300+ in maybe 3 years, but knowing me maybe even earlier.

I have 3 blood parrots right now and 14 giant Danios all only a couple months.

The question is I want to know how many clown loaches to add right now, I know they grow slow so I want to buy as many as possible to grow out right now, without pushing the tank to the limits. I am not a daily water change type, but in my short 5 years in the hobby I always manage a 50% a week . I have a sponge filter, aqua clear 110, and fx4

 

[Gourami Swami]

Well, eventually they will outgrow the tank, but they take a very long time to do so. Since you already have 3 BP's and the 14 danio's, you don't want a huge number of the loaches. I would go for 6-8 small ones with the understanding that once the BP's are fully grown and the loaches start to get some size, you may have to increase that water change schedule.

 

[tlindsey]

Hello guys, thanks for the great advice, I finally got my own place so I can set up all of the tanks I want, and as of right now the most I could afford is a 125 gallon , but my goal is 300+ in maybe 3 years, but knowing me maybe even earlier.

I have 3 blood parrots right now and 14 giant Danios all only a couple months.

The question is I want to know how many clown loaches to add right now, I know they grow slow so I want to buy as many as possible to grow out right now, without pushing the tank to the limits. I am not a daily water change type, but in my short 5 years in the hobby I always manage a 50% a week . I have a sponge filter, aqua clear 110, and fx4

How often do you test your water parameters? Although you change 50% each week you need to know if that's enough to handle the bioload when you add the Clown Loaches with what you already have. Nitrates would need to maintained at a low level no higher than 20% if possible.

 

[Hmontoya93]

Well, eventually they will outgrow the tank, but they take a very long time to do so. Since you already have 3 BP's and the 14 danio's, you don't want a huge number of the loaches. I would go for 6-8 small ones with the understanding that once the BP's are fully grown and the loaches start to get some size, you may have to increase that water change schedule.

Ok I was thinking around 6, I was making sure I didn't over do it thank you for the advice

 

[Hmontoya93]

How often do you test your water parameters? Although you change 50% each week you need to know if that's enough to handle the bioload when you add the Clown Loaches with what you already have. Nitrates would need to maintained at a low level no higher than 20% if possible.

Right now I am testing a couple times a week because I have been slowly adding Danios from my quarantine, I was thinking of adding like 6 clown loaches but I don't ever want to rehome any of my fish because I overstocked... I will definitely have a 300 gallon in a year or 2, I am just trying to get moved in and slowly remodel the house before

 

[Gourami Swami]

Right now I am testing a couple times a week because I have been slowly adding Danios from my quarantine, I was thinking of adding like 6 clown loaches but I don't ever want to rehome any of my fish because I overstocked... I will definitely have a 300 gallon in a year or 2, I am just trying to get moved in and slowly remodel the house before

If you buy the clown loaches on the smaller side, it will take them more than a year or two to outgrow a 125 for sure. And, 3 blood parrots and the danios in the 125 should be fine after the loaches move out.