Gravel

[nicnak]

I'm currently cycling a 96l tank and have what i think is the usual gravel in it.
Ive been researching what fish i like and really want some cory's but read that they like rounded gravel or sand.... do you think i shoild change my gravel for rounder gravel now

 

[OldMan47]

Corydoras are best kept with the rounder gravel or even better with sand as you said. They have those barbels, like little feelers, around their mouth and can be injured on sharper or rougher substrates.
Since part of the bacteria ends up established on the gravel, it would be better to start with the right substrate that way it will establish on the substrate that stays. Another consideration is how to go about changing the substrate after the tank is established. It can be a real pain to try to remove some gravel and put some sand in and then have to repeat it over again to finally change it all. Right now, with no fish in the tank, you could just drain most of the water, scoop out the gravel and put back whatever you will be using.

 

[f1sh]

If i were you id change it but if you havent got many bottom feeders then id go for rounder gravel.. i had quite sharp gravel and wanted to change it to sand so had a looong talk with my LFS about how to change to sand and he said that i havent got enough corys to clean it.. he then showed me a tank with not many cories in and the sand was really dirty. apparently it is very hard to keep clean and you need loads of bottom feeders to keep it looking nice. Buuut if youre planning on gettin quite a few then sand sounds good!

 

[nicnak]

thanks f1sh
i dont really fancy sand at all... been having a rethink and at the mo im cycling a 96l tank but already wishing i had bought a bigger one so i think i will get a bigger tank and keep this one as well.... and put rounded gravel in the bigger tank sdo that i can have some corys