Updating this thread for the sake of comparison to some of Loaches Online's setups.
I don't think I had realized up until this point how similar the general stocking and theme is to a number of said setups. Not even to Martin Thoene's setup, which was the very inspiration for making this documentation thread.
Even if the numbers and species of fish are not always the same (and even then, there are some number and species matches), the shared general theme seems to be. Substantially sized tank, several species of loach all in large groups, assorted dither fish, and a generous stocking level (presumably to give all those schooling species maximum company, as I aim to do with my generous stocking levels).
First, Emma Turner's display tank at work. 2.44m x 47cm x 76cm, 852 liters.
Clown loaches, Burmese loaches, Bengal loaches, zebra loaches, and golden zebra loaches for loaches, all in large (15 clown loaches as mentioned in the link, 5+ for the rest as mentioned by Emma elsewhere) groups. Also L007 and some corys.
Dither fish are tetras, panda garra, and angelfish.
Next, Bookpage/Rayburn Taylor's tanks of 1.83m x 47cm x 55cm (the same size as mine) to 2.44m x 61cm x 61 cm and 473-908 liters.
As their signature says: Clowns(15), Polka-Dot(6), Sids(57), Zebra(12), Burmese(5), Red-fin(4), YoYo(5), Sumo(2), Skunk(4), Peckoltia sabaji(1), L144 Black Eye Bristlenose Pleco(3), Odessa Barb(9), Roseline Sharks(6).
Finally, Martin Thoene's setup. 1.83m x 47cm x 55cm (same size as mine, once again), 473 liters.
It's gone through various ups and downs throughout its history due to things like equipment clogging, but at its peaks it has had the following:
-10 clown loaches, 3 Burmese loaches, 4 golden zebra loaches, and a lone Bengal loach, all within the 10-15 cm size range. This is one of several things I most admire about his setup, as this means he has had the exact same number of Botia as I plan to, in the exact same size tank, and even with some species overlap (Burmese loach).
-20 tiger barbs, 13 bronze corys, 12-15 Danio kyathit, and a lone filament barb. No species overlap here, but we both share a substantial amount of dither fish.
-His is a river tank setup. While mine is nowhere near extensive as his (one large powerhead/water pump vs a number of powerheads and an entire manifold), the concept is the same, and unsurprisingly so given the fish (although mine will have calm areas to suit the non-riverine striped kuhli loaches).
I feel his setup and mine have the greatest overall similarity due to the matching tank size, matching number of Botia, some species match, and even not too dissimilar backstories. This is quite fitting, since as stated before his setup was the inspiration for this writeup (even though it wasn't inspiration for the stocking and such).
www.loaches.com
Although my clown loach tank with a lower amount of large fish will remain my favorite (but not by much), I very much enjoy the concept of large numbers of smaller loaches kept in large tanks, given the number and variety of loaches one can have in such a situation (together with all the various dithers). My enjoyment of that concept is definitely why my tank planning independently ended up so similar to Loaches Online's setups.
I don't think I had realized up until this point how similar the general stocking and theme is to a number of said setups. Not even to Martin Thoene's setup, which was the very inspiration for making this documentation thread.
Even if the numbers and species of fish are not always the same (and even then, there are some number and species matches), the shared general theme seems to be. Substantially sized tank, several species of loach all in large groups, assorted dither fish, and a generous stocking level (presumably to give all those schooling species maximum company, as I aim to do with my generous stocking levels).
First, Emma Turner's display tank at work. 2.44m x 47cm x 76cm, 852 liters.
Clown loaches, Burmese loaches, Bengal loaches, zebra loaches, and golden zebra loaches for loaches, all in large (15 clown loaches as mentioned in the link, 5+ for the rest as mentioned by Emma elsewhere) groups. Also L007 and some corys.
Dither fish are tetras, panda garra, and angelfish.
Next, Bookpage/Rayburn Taylor's tanks of 1.83m x 47cm x 55cm (the same size as mine) to 2.44m x 61cm x 61 cm and 473-908 liters.
As their signature says: Clowns(15), Polka-Dot(6), Sids(57), Zebra(12), Burmese(5), Red-fin(4), YoYo(5), Sumo(2), Skunk(4), Peckoltia sabaji(1), L144 Black Eye Bristlenose Pleco(3), Odessa Barb(9), Roseline Sharks(6).
Finally, Martin Thoene's setup. 1.83m x 47cm x 55cm (same size as mine, once again), 473 liters.
It's gone through various ups and downs throughout its history due to things like equipment clogging, but at its peaks it has had the following:
-10 clown loaches, 3 Burmese loaches, 4 golden zebra loaches, and a lone Bengal loach, all within the 10-15 cm size range. This is one of several things I most admire about his setup, as this means he has had the exact same number of Botia as I plan to, in the exact same size tank, and even with some species overlap (Burmese loach).
-20 tiger barbs, 13 bronze corys, 12-15 Danio kyathit, and a lone filament barb. No species overlap here, but we both share a substantial amount of dither fish.
-His is a river tank setup. While mine is nowhere near extensive as his (one large powerhead/water pump vs a number of powerheads and an entire manifold), the concept is the same, and unsurprisingly so given the fish (although mine will have calm areas to suit the non-riverine striped kuhli loaches).
I feel his setup and mine have the greatest overall similarity due to the matching tank size, matching number of Botia, some species match, and even not too dissimilar backstories. This is quite fitting, since as stated before his setup was the inspiration for this writeup (even though it wasn't inspiration for the stocking and such).
My Clown Loach Aquarium — Loaches Online
Personal account of setting up a tank for Clown Loaches.
Although my clown loach tank with a lower amount of large fish will remain my favorite (but not by much), I very much enjoy the concept of large numbers of smaller loaches kept in large tanks, given the number and variety of loaches one can have in such a situation (together with all the various dithers). My enjoyment of that concept is definitely why my tank planning independently ended up so similar to Loaches Online's setups.
