Loaches and pressurized co2?

[Manda99]

I got two zebra loaches last night (for snail control, I hope). I'd also started with pressurized co2 this weekend. Now that I've got these loaches, I've read in a couple places that pressurized co2 with loaches can be problematic??? I was already in a panic that I was going to accidentally gas my fish and now I read this! Is that a valid concern? Do I need to run out and get an airstone and timer? The co2 is on a timer with the lights and when I looked in the tank this morning, the fish didn't seem to be obviously bothered - they definitely weren't gasping at the surface. It was still a good 6 hours before the lights came back on though (my photoperiod is 1 to 9).

I'm sitting here at work worrying about gasping fish, LOL.

[mistergreen]

I have a few loaches in a CO2 tank.. Overall, I don't think it's that great for them. They won't die or get sick but I've noticed a behavioral change. They're more reclusive. In an ideal condition, they need a big 55+G river type tank with no CO2.
They'll behave more naturally.

[MedRed]

I have hill stream loaches, zodaic loaches, kuhli loaches, dwarf chain loaches, and zebra loaches all in one tank that's under pressuriezed co2. No issues. My Co2 does shut off at night, and an airstone runs at night as well.

[cah925]

I have kept loaches in tanks ranging from 35 gal to 75 gal with pressurized CO2. The only time I noticed a problem was in a tank that did not have very many plants for O2 (rescaping at the time). That particular tank I needed to add an airstone until all the plants were put back in.

[newshound]

Originally Posted by MedRed

I have hill stream loaches, zodaic loaches, kuhli loaches, dwarf chain loaches, and zebra loaches all in one tank that's under pressuriezed co2. No issues. My Co2 does shut off at night, and an airstone runs at night as well.

o man
this is just wrong
read up on what loaches need at
loaches online

[MedRed]

Originally Posted by newshound

o man
this is just wrong
read up on what loaches need at
loaches online

you don't find out what works unless you break the rules... Someone wrote something about the hobby in the 1950's and it becomes gospel. My loaches are happy, healthy, active and long lived.

[Manda99]

Originally Posted by newshound

o man
this is just wrong
read up on what loaches need at
loaches online

Originally Posted by MedRed

you don't find out what works unless you break the rules... Someone wrote something about the hobby in the 1950's and it becomes gospel. My loaches are happy, healthy, active and long lived.

I'm not really understanding the disagreement here. Does this have anything to do with whether or not co2 will bother my zebra loaches and whether or not I need an airstone?

So far, I've had the co2 since saturday and the loaches since sunday and I haven't noticed any gasping or odd behavior. Those loaches are certainly active little guys. I did go ahead and order a bubbler though.

[starsunmoon]

I think they would be fine, just watch them as you are, and my only issue would be the size of your tank, I know they are small now, but these loaches do get bigger , correct me if I am wrong, but dont they need at least a 55 gallon and lots of hiding spots .. But as far as the co2, I think you should be fine use a drop ck and make sure your not overdosing the tank and have lots and lots of plants to soak them nutrients up, and you should be fine Imho ~~~

[MedRed]

manda... you'll be fine. If you have enough plants, your plants use up co2 and make oxygen. For some reason... some people equate Co2 planted tanks with stagnation and oxygen deprivation.

starsunmoon: zebra loaches are fairly small. They are only slight larger than my dwarf chain loaches but they are deeper bodied.

[plaakapong]

^^I have a botia striata that would make up at least 6 of the biggest sids I've ever seen. She's a good 4 inch, fat!, and growing. They supposedly max at 4 inches but I'm guessing she'll top that.

[mavisky]

I keep a couple loaches in my 55g. I run a heavy mix of DIY co2 and an airstone for 4 hours a day along with HOB filters. The loaches are perfectly healthy and seem to really enjoy the plant cover that the co2 helps me to provide for them.

[ikuzo]

i'm not sure about hill stream loaches if your CO2 is high. they live in fast moving rivers so thet want high O2. mine died because of this.

[starsunmoon]

Originally Posted by MedRed

manda... you'll be fine. If you have enough plants, your plants use up co2 and make oxygen. For some reason... some people equate Co2 planted tanks with stagnation and oxygen deprivation.

starsunmoon: zebra loaches are fairly small. They are only slight larger than my dwarf chain loaches but they are deeper bodied.

well thank you , as I metioned I wasent really sure, I know some of them need bigger space, and I have read that all of them like caves, and hide under driftwood for comfort. I would love to get 2, what are other fish that will so well with these?? i HAVE A 45 HEAVILY planted, and a 29 with loads of community fish . I wonder what fish they live with the best , I will look it up ofcorse but would love to know what you guys have with them .... esp
Manda99 what other fish are in there>?? thanxs !! and as everyone has said you are doing fine, they should be great !! they have a loving parent who is watching out for them and most fish could only hope for as much !! good job !!

[MedRed]

besides the other loaches... mine are in with apistos, hatchets, cardinals, rummy noses, sundadanio axelrodi red form, and badis badis.

[Lupin]

Perhaps this should break disagreements.
http://www.loaches.com/articles/oxygen-in-the-aquarium