Laith, the hard experinance being the teacher, I have to agree.
My assumption that the clown would not make it through the night was indeed true. Total death toll: 6 clowns, one yoyo. Another yoyo and and Kuli are M.I.A. The tank is densly planted, and I have to go on a search mission.
I wish I did not treat with copper. I should have let nature take it's course.
When I googled clowns/loachs/copper, it was 50/50, especially on the loach sites. Many testified that coppersafe worked great with the their loachs. There were a few that stated NO.
I am here to state, don't do it. Not only that, but the copper started to melt a few of the plants also.
All that being said, Loach's are / were my favorite fish in the tank, and are missed. Worse, I don't feel like getting more due to my apparent inability to husband them in a planted tank.
Water Parameters:
KH:7
PH: 6.8-.9
Temp: Normal 78, upped to 80. May just leave it there.
GW ferts, flourish. Keep the NO3 at about 15, PO4 about 1.5
90 gallon/ 240 watt
When I do a water change I use a homemade python, and the (digital temp in tank) temp. does not change by much more than a degree. I add about 20 ml of Aquarium Pharmaceuticals 'super strentgh' Tap Water Conditioner. This should be more than enough to take care of the chlorine in the water by a double margin. We do not have Chlorimines here, and I just checked the water board web site to double check.
Alas, I think it was the stress of water changes that did them in. I did notice a spot of Ich on one of my rams, but they have since not been infected. The other fish are all doing fine, angels, bushy nose's, and (DAMN THEM!) the 6! CAE's that I mistakenly thought were otto's. If they just stacked themselves up in a corner and died, well, that'd be cool.
I lost the first three loach's the first night after H20 change and first dose of Coppersafe. Two of those three actualy jumped out of the tank, and that's with a full oak canopy. Came down in the morning, and the whole tank was gasping for air. I have an airpump w/stone that turned on twice a night to help suppliment the O2. The CO2 controller stays on 24/7, but oddly, I do not see a 'purging' of the CO2 when the airpump turns on. After that first night, I set up the air to turn continiously on when the lights went out. The lights are on an 11 hour photoperiod.
Peter
90 Gallon, eco, pressurized, controlled, 240 watts.