so doing a google search for the best snail eating loach (other than a clown) brought me to another thread on here that mentioned yoyo loaches but spoke of them requiring a large tank. Instead of bringing the dead to life and creating a zombie thread and confusion from people responding to the OP instead of me i chose to start my own. I already know that the bare minimum number of loaches that can be kept is 3 and recommended minimum is 5. I know the full length is a possible 6 inches. I know that they love to swim and play and will jump up the outflow from a filter in to the filter and occasionally out of the tank from there (i learned this the hard way, but there were many mistakes involved in that situation). i now know that they eat snails as readily as a clown loach will. If i missed basic info on them that i cant think of at the moment please feel free to inform me of it 
. Now to the next set of info I think you will need. With in the next 3 weeks I will be purchasing a 55 gallon tank for my striped Raphael cat. He's about 3 inches now give or take an 8th of an inch either way and has out grown the 10 gal he has lived in since i purchased him (dont freak please when i purchased him he was only 3/4 as long as an oto and i have proof im not lying http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=221586 ). When i got him I already owned a 100 gal tank I plan on him living in for the rest of forever and still own it but have been having some problems with getting it set up due to location, transportation, and structural issues with the tank. So until I get the kinks worked out with the 100 i am purchasing a 55 minimum to house him just in case something horrible goes wrong with the 100 gal my Raphael will be set for life but i wouldn't be able to house the entire stock list i have planned for that tank sadly... so i hope i get it all worked out because its my dream tank! Now that all the background info i think you need is listed (if not just ask) on to my actual questions. Once i acquire the 55 and have it running and cycled could i purchase a group of Yoyo's ( I feel you will all say 5 min, but i think i only want 3 but will follow the judgment and knowledge of the forum and more experienced and knowledgeable members than myself that reply to this) as small juveniles (1-1.5 inches max) and use them to clean up the total overpopulation of pest snails in two of my tanks that contain snails (two 10 gallon tanks, one of which the Raphael is in now (would be removed before introduction of the yoyos).... in which the snail problem isn't nearly as bad as it could be... maybe rapheal eats em hmm....,anyways i know this because the other 10 is LOADED with snails! like hundreds in a 10gal. Both tanks are planted heavily which is where the snails come from). this set up wouldn't be permanent or even long term they would be moved to the 55 either when they become to large or the population is under control or eradicated which ever comes first. another plan is to do this is two week stages as in buy one place him in a tank for two weeks them move him to the 55 and buy another place him in the tank then move in two weeks so on and so forth till the snails are taken care of or i reach the number of yoyos i want. Could i do either one of these ideas or are both horrible plans? what would you recommend? i have tried reducing food and trapping with zucchini but it doesnt seem to help in the long run and i absolutely love bottom dwellers and loaches especially khulis!! they are my favorite of what I own thus far till I eventually get my ropefish and poly sens (i cant wait! 2 of both of those are slated to live in the 100 gal) but back on topic lol i would appreciate any thoughts, ideas, or concerns involved with what i have stated. thank you in advance!!
. Now to the next set of info I think you will need. With in the next 3 weeks I will be purchasing a 55 gallon tank for my striped Raphael cat. He's about 3 inches now give or take an 8th of an inch either way and has out grown the 10 gal he has lived in since i purchased him (dont freak please when i purchased him he was only 3/4 as long as an oto and i have proof im not lying http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=221586 ). When i got him I already owned a 100 gal tank I plan on him living in for the rest of forever and still own it but have been having some problems with getting it set up due to location, transportation, and structural issues with the tank. So until I get the kinks worked out with the 100 i am purchasing a 55 minimum to house him just in case something horrible goes wrong with the 100 gal my Raphael will be set for life but i wouldn't be able to house the entire stock list i have planned for that tank sadly... so i hope i get it all worked out because its my dream tank! Now that all the background info i think you need is listed (if not just ask) on to my actual questions. Once i acquire the 55 and have it running and cycled could i purchase a group of Yoyo's ( I feel you will all say 5 min, but i think i only want 3 but will follow the judgment and knowledge of the forum and more experienced and knowledgeable members than myself that reply to this) as small juveniles (1-1.5 inches max) and use them to clean up the total overpopulation of pest snails in two of my tanks that contain snails (two 10 gallon tanks, one of which the Raphael is in now (would be removed before introduction of the yoyos).... in which the snail problem isn't nearly as bad as it could be... maybe rapheal eats em hmm....,anyways i know this because the other 10 is LOADED with snails! like hundreds in a 10gal. Both tanks are planted heavily which is where the snails come from). this set up wouldn't be permanent or even long term they would be moved to the 55 either when they become to large or the population is under control or eradicated which ever comes first. another plan is to do this is two week stages as in buy one place him in a tank for two weeks them move him to the 55 and buy another place him in the tank then move in two weeks so on and so forth till the snails are taken care of or i reach the number of yoyos i want. Could i do either one of these ideas or are both horrible plans? what would you recommend? i have tried reducing food and trapping with zucchini but it doesnt seem to help in the long run and i absolutely love bottom dwellers and loaches especially khulis!! they are my favorite of what I own thus far till I eventually get my ropefish and poly sens (i cant wait! 2 of both of those are slated to live in the 100 gal) but back on topic lol i would appreciate any thoughts, ideas, or concerns involved with what i have stated. thank you in advance!! 
