Stocking My 400 Litre Tank

[BobGreen]

Hi guys,
 
I have a 400 litre planted tank with a sand substrate. It is well filtered running 2 Fluval 305's.
 
My fish at present are:
 
5 Harlequins
4 male Guppies
3 dwarf Chain Loach
2 Bristlenose Pleco's
2 blue Dwarf Gouramis
1 red Dwarf Gourami
 
I want to add more fish over the next month or two and my aim is for a colourful, peaceful community.
I quite like Clown Loach, pearl Gouramis and Adolfois Corys.
 
So guys, I am looking for advice on what to get and any help would be appreciated.
 
Thanks,
Bob.

 

[Lorne]

I had 15 clown loaches and other fish in a 400 litre tank, it was too small and I had other clowns scattered around the house, the tank was too small, so now I have 27 clown loaches, 8 Hoplosternums, 5 Red line torpedo barbs, 3 whiptails, 2 flying foxes, several lampeyes/harlequins/ancistrus/lemon tetras/and other smal fish, all being fltered by 3 Eheim 2076e filters, all in a 8x2x2

 

[BobGreen]

Hi Lorne,
 
That's a lot of clowns.
My tank is 5ft. long and I need room for other fish too.
I would like to get about 5 if I decide on them.
Also, I would like 2 or 3  different species for variety.
 
Cheers,
Bob.

 

[Lorne]

Hi Bob, It's a lot of Clowns, but it's a lot of tank and filters LOL
 
Clowns only really come out at night and need hiding spaces, they spend most of the day in pots or under wood, venturing out now and again for a forage, you would really need a MINIMUM of 6 though, and remember, they can get to a foot in length, 16 inches in the wild!
 
Here is my tank thread, take a look mate
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/406203-long-winded-8-ft-tank-thread/

 

[Lunar Jetman]

They're prone to white spot initially though aren't they? Some time ago i had two beautiful Sliver Sharks that I'd got at 2 inches in size and they'd grown to 7-8 inches. I decided to add a pair of Clown loaches to my tank but they developed white spot after a few days which spread to the sharks. They all died off despite my best attempts to cure them....  
 
I nearly gave up fish keeping at that point as I was so gutted over losing my sharks....

 

[Lorne]

Yes, but that is where good fish husbandry comes into effect, quaranteen fish before adding them to your main tank
 
White spot isn't that hard to cure on Clown Loaches

 

[NeonSagaris]

You should definetly get about 7 more Harlequins, and maybe a few more Chain Loaches.

 

[Lorne]

?| I agree with what he said, again, Dwarf Chain loaches like to be groups of at lease 6, we have 6 upstairs here

 

[BobGreen]

Hi Guys,
 
Firstly, thanks to everyone for answering my post.
I agree with NeonSagaris and was going to increase the number of harlequins and chain loaches.
@ Lorne, I read your tank thread and I think you have great setup. If only I could persuade 'er indoors that we need an 8' tank. Lol.
Also, I don't want to overstock with clowns because I think my tank won't take more than 5.
Thanks again guys.
regards.
Bob.

 

[NeonSagaris]

You could also have a few more Gouramis (Red and Blue) and maybe you could introduce a school of Lambchop Rasboras. They school well, and if you have Harlequins, they school with them as well.