Have I Overstocked

[haleem8777]

Hi
i have decided to keep loach with barbs. i have sorted what barbs but i am thinking of keeping 2/3 loach species, Pakistani, Bengal maybe Polka dot loach.
is this selection ok and would group of 4s be ok  so 12 loaches in total

 

[Noahsfish]

What size tank

Is it planted? Gravel? Sand?

 

[Baccus]

As well as the size of the tanks " footprint " (the actual size of the tanks base) you need to have a suitable substrate such as sand which is better or a loaches near smooth skin. I would probably select one species of loach and just have a nice sized group of them. The species that you are looking at are social and want company it will also encourage them to be braver.
Plants are also important but some loaches will have a field day pulling plants out or just dislodging them by digging around their bases.

 

[haleem8777]

my tank is 3ft by 1ft so is 110ish litres, and i have dorset pea gravel with a sand paths, clown loaches have been in the tank and they were fine

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

my tank is 3ft by 1ft so is 110ish litres, and i have dorset pea gravel with a sand paths, clown loaches have been in the tank and they were fine

Your tank is not suitable long term for any of the loach species you listed originally (Polka Dot; Bengal; Paskistani), each of them needs at least a 4-foot tank.
 
You ought to be looking at the adult size of species when considering your tank and its total stocking capacity, 12 of those loaches you mentioned would be in excess of 150cm of adult fish in a ~110l, that is a stocking in line with a tank ~3x the volume of your one before we even talk about the barbs.
 
The best "general" loach I can suggest for your tank would be Dwarf Chain Loaches, they enjoy some current but do not need the specialist "hillstream" setup. A group of 8 (loaches need bigger groups than 6 to form their social hierachy) would be a vast majority of your 110l stocking.
 
What barbs have you got or have in mind?

 

[haleem8777]

golden, tiger, green tiger barbs

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

golden, tiger, green tiger barbs

A suitable group (12+ because of their nippiness with each other and tankmates) of any Tiger Barb variants would stock this tank alone IMO.

 

[haleem8777]

ok thanks

 

[haleem8777]

currently i have the following fish in a 100 liter
 
5 tiger barbs
5 green tiger barb
5 red eye tetra
5 golden barb
5 phantom tetra
5 Serpae tetra
 
about 12 loach 
 
so is it over stocked and will the fish die or something

 

[Reaney24]

What size tank is it?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

It would help to know the size of the tank, and what loaches?

 

[haleem8777]

sorry i forgot i will add it , 100l

 

[eaglesaquarium]

And the loaches are...?

 

[Reaney24]

What are the loaches?

 

[KirkyArcher]

Yep overstocked!