Clown Loach Compatibiliy

[blaggers]

Hi y'all,
new here and a new aquarist (is that the right word?)
120L tank
2 fluval plus2 filters
gravel substrate
placcy plants (gonna get silk ones)
water temp 26C (78/79F)
3 male guppies
2 (mad as fish) albino corys
2 platys
1 clown loach (other died this morning, ) gonna get 2 more next couple of days

my tank has only been running for about 6 weeks, so i realise it's not really matured yet. tetra safestart and aquasafe have been added as needed. i do a 10-15% water change weekly.i inherited the clowns off someone who is getting a bigger tank. now, my dilemma is because 1 died after a week, should i get the remaining 1 a tank mate or 2 or just leave him all alone? i'm asking because i've been led to believe the tank needs to be 6 months old before adding clown loach..
also, is there ANY kind of snail or other algae eater (that does not strictly require algae-ie will scavenge anything/clean up)that i can add without my clowns eating them?
thanks.

 

[Carlovel1]

First of all a 120L tank is WAY too small for Clown Loaches and they need special care, otherwise you will see them die slowly 1 by 1. I would rehome these/ or exchange the clown for a group of 5 Zebra Loaches, much more suitable for your tank

A good algae eater would be an Oto, actually 4 of them. But these need a matured tank
Carl

 

[blaggers]

First of all a 120L tank is WAY too small for Clown Loaches and they need special care, otherwise you will see them die slowly 1 by 1. I would rehome these/ or exchange the clown for a group of 5 Zebra Loaches, much more suitable for your tank

A good algae eater would be an Oto, actually 4 of them. But these need a matured tank
Carl

thanks for that. will have to see if the lfs will take him off me. or, get a BIGGER tank!

 

[Carlovel1]

First of all a 120L tank is WAY too small for Clown Loaches and they need special care, otherwise you will see them die slowly 1 by 1. I would rehome these/ or exchange the clown for a group of 5 Zebra Loaches, much more suitable for your tank

A good algae eater would be an Oto, actually 4 of them. But these need a matured tank
Carl

thanks for that. will have to see if the lfs will take him off me. or, get a BIGGER tank!

If you do get a bigger tank, Id recommend 400litre the smallest size for these fish