Corydoras - Is My Substrate Okay?

[fishkeeper35]

looks good

just wondering...

what do you plan to stock it with and how big is the tank?

could give me ideas for my new tank

 

[OldMan47]

The picture of your gravel makes all concerns I might have fade away Fighter Fish. It is nicely rounded and should pose no problem for your cories.

 

[Rynofasho]

Agreed. My only tip that I've learned from experience, ESPECIALLY if you aren't going to be heavily planted, is to honestly keep the gravel level to AT MOST 1" in height, and maybe even a bit lower. I got mixed opinions when I started my tank and ended up with 1.5" to 2" of gravel. I then ended up (even though I clean and vacuum the cr@p out of the tank on a weekly basis) with high nitrates because of food waste getting away that I couldn't see easily or vac easily, and then Ich which took out a few of my fish. So, if you are going to use gravel, don't use too much of it.

 

[-FighterFishh]

looks good

just wondering...

what do you plan to stock it with and how big is the tank?

could give me ideas for my new tank

I have a 64L tank and plan to put 5 platies, a shoal of endlers, 4-5 pygmy cories and a male fighter fish in

The picture of your gravel makes all concerns I might have fade away Fighter Fish. It is nicely rounded and should pose no problem for your cories.

Brilliant Thank you!

Agreed. My only tip that I've learned from experience, ESPECIALLY if you aren't going to be heavily planted, is to honestly keep the gravel level to AT MOST 1" in height, and maybe even a bit lower. I got mixed opinions when I started my tank and ended up with 1.5" to 2" of gravel. I then ended up (even though I clean and vacuum the cr@p out of the tank on a weekly basis) with high nitrates because of food waste getting away that I couldn't see easily or vac easily, and then Ich which took out a few of my fish. So, if you are going to use gravel, don't use too much of it.

Okay. My gravel is only about 1" in height so I'm okay there I've got plants too, anyway, so hopefully all should be well!

 

[fishkeeper35]

looks good

just wondering...

what do you plan to stock it with and how big is the tank?

could give me ideas for my new tank

I have a 64L tank and plan to put 5 platies, a shoal of endlers, 4-5 pygmy cories and a male fighter fish in

The picture of your gravel makes all concerns I might have fade away Fighter Fish. It is nicely rounded and should pose no problem for your cories.

Brilliant Thank you!

Agreed. My only tip that I've learned from experience, ESPECIALLY if you aren't going to be heavily planted, is to honestly keep the gravel level to AT MOST 1" in height, and maybe even a bit lower. I got mixed opinions when I started my tank and ended up with 1.5" to 2" of gravel. I then ended up (even though I clean and vacuum the cr@p out of the tank on a weekly basis) with high nitrates because of food waste getting away that I couldn't see easily or vac easily, and then Ich which took out a few of my fish. So, if you are going to use gravel, don't use too much of it.

Okay. My gravel is only about 1" in height so I'm okay there I've got plants too, anyway, so hopefully all should be well!

good luck

 

[Tizer]

As a relatively new Cory owner, like you i had rounded gravel in the tank but after a few days i decided it wasnt right for my Cory's. So i took the fish out and scooped out all the gravel with a dust pan, which took 2 minutes, then put in my pre washed fine silica sand which is about an inch deep. It was the best choice i made before the aquarium got established fully. The Corys love digging under the bogwood and the base of the tank never stays the same longer than 24 hours. Had i stuck with the rounded gravel, there would be no self dug hiding places. Also the gravel is a lot harder to clean requiring a more forceful hand, with the sand you can just skim over the top easily sucking out all the mess. Reconsider sand as an option and you wont be disapointed and neither will your fishies

 

[-FighterFishh]

As a relatively new Cory owner, like you i had rounded gravel in the tank but after a few days i decided it wasnt right for my Cory's. So i took the fish out and scooped out all the gravel with a dust pan, which took 2 minutes, then put in my pre washed fine silica sand which is about an inch deep. It was the best choice i made before the aquarium got established fully. The Corys love digging under the bogwood and the base of the tank never stays the same longer than 24 hours. Had i stuck with the rounded gravel, there would be no self dug hiding places. Also the gravel is a lot harder to clean requiring a more forceful hand, with the sand you can just skim over the top easily sucking out all the mess. Reconsider sand as an option and you wont be disapointed and neither will your fishies

I wanted to put in sand but my mum didn't let me, as the shop assistant said it made the aquarium tricky to clean when you cleaned the glass. For now I have the gravel, but if the corydoras seem unhappy with it then I certainly won't hesitate in getting sand!