clown loaches in low current tank?

Question
Hello

My question is about Clown Loaches.  From reading about them, they seem to be a sort of fragile species and that they have a preference towards high current tanks.

My question is can they thrive and adapt to a large pond type environment?  I have a 2000 gallon aquarium that is massively understocked, with a 200gallon sump and a pump that turns over around 2500gph.  I realize that is not much turnover, but with less than 2 lbs of fish all together, it has plenty of filteration for its bioload, but there is very little current in the tank. So its probably closer to a pond system than an aquarium.  I keep bubblers going in various spots to prevent deadzones, like in corners and whatnot.

Would Clown Loaches be okay in a tank like this?  My worry is them catching something and spreading it to the rest of the tank because they stress due to lack of current.

Water parameters will always be kept way above average.. the tank has an autodrip system.

Answer
Hi Rob,

Wow! You've got a huge tank! I'm guessing you got it custom-made, because I've never seen an aquarium that size in my area.

Is your tank a tropical tank, or a cold-water tank? If it is a freshwater tropical tank, with the water temperature above 73F all the time, Clown Loaches would do wonderfully in your aquarium. Clown Loaches will get all the space they need in you aquarium! Often Clown Loaches are kept by people in small aquariums, and that is probably why you've read that they are fragile. Clown Loaches will grow to at least 10", needing at least a 70 gallon aquarium. (With your aquarium size, you might be thinking, "What a joke, hey?")

You don't need current in the WHOLE tank to make them feel happy. I recommend that you buy a powerhead for your aquarium, to provide a current in an area of your choice. You may find that the Loaches will like congregating in that area. My powerhead recommendation would be the AquaClear 70 Powerhead, by Hagen. It's very reliable, and pumps a current of 400 gallons per hour.

So in summary, as long as you have the right temperature (74-82F), and you buy a powerhead (not entirely necessary, but I would recommend it), you can keep Clown Loaches.

Once again, you've got an exceptionally nice tank! Keep it up!