Pygmy Cory Substrate

[montyII]

Will Pygmy Cories be happy on a Seachem Flourite or Onyx Sand (or maybe Eco-Complete substrate? Or should I put a layer of sand over the top?

Thanks.

 

[jollysue]

If you are going to plant the tank well, then of course you want a plant substrate. It will not work to put sand over the top. The sand will sink to the bottom and the rocks will come to the top. If it is well planted the fish will do well. But if it is a species tank of larger Corys, they would prefer a shallow sand substrate with some drift wood or bog wood covered in Java moss and Java sword. The pygmies and other dwarf Corys in actuallity spend more time mid level perched in the plants like little birds, though they do search the bottom too and I would imagine that they would rather sift through sand than heavy soil and rock. But I don't really know the answer to that.

 

[montyII]

Thanks for your reply. I might buy the substrate and see how fine and smooth it is, and only get the pygmy cories if it looks suitable.

Hmmm... maybe I should redo my 3ft planted with sand instead and get some cories....? They seem like such cool little fish.

Cheers.

 

[jollysue]

Montyll: I'm sorry, I didn't check the link on Onyx Sand. I had something else in mind. I saw your thread going unanswered so thought I would respond.

I think the Onyx sand might do. I will have to look for it myself. I have trouble keeping anything but drift wood and the Javas in Cory only tanks, because they dig loose anything in sand. I do have Corys in my large community planted tank with an EcoComplete substrate. But thrit barbells stay shorter than I would like foraging in the rough substrate. None have had any health issues from it, but I have been considering taking them out and making them a suitable Cory home. I have other bottom dwellers that would keep it busy.

Let me know how it goes.

 

[montyII]

OK, thanks jollysue. Maybe it'll be the Onyx Sand then... I'll just have to check out if it's OK from a pH point of view, as it buffers slightly.

Thanks again.

 

[jollysue]

OK, thanks jollysue. Maybe it'll be the Onyx Sand then... I'll just have to check out if it's OK from a pH point of view, as it buffers slightly.

Thanks again.

Have you checked in the planted forum, Tropical Chat, etc. who has used it with what fish? Like I said it sounds interesting. I saw the buffering effect. But it seems everything buffers a little.

 

[montyII]

Ta, I've got a thread running in planted tanks at the moment, and I'm still hunting around for info.

The amount of research that can go into a tiny fish tank is amazing!

 

[Glod]

I have my pygmies in a tank with sand over a plant substrate. It depends which plants you want to grow I suppose... I don't have any carpeting as the smaller carpet plants won't reach the nutrients as it's 2-3cm deeper. Stem plants and larger plants are fine. My pygmies do indeed spend a lot of time perched in the plants, mostly the java fern or hiding under the bogwood. My sand is not super smooth (perhaps 0.5mm across) but the cories seem to have no problems and their barbels are nice and long.

I've actually just bought a new tank with a view to relocating the existing fish to a larger home so am also curious about suitable one part substrates. I'll be interested to hear if Onyx sand is the way to go.