Substrate For Corys

[ukteacherman]

I'm setting up a new planted tank, and intend to have small corys. The problem is, what substrate do I use? I know there are going to be many opinions as there are members. I don't want to use ordinary gravel and want a dark substrate. Sechem Onyx or black sand? I wanted to use Eco complete, but someone told me it was too rough and large for Corys to rummage in, (which they love to do). One thing I don't want to do is layer it with something else.
really would appreciate any advice or suggestions. It was all so much easier when I first started out as a teeanger!!

 

[emmag21]

I had gravel and converted to sand recently and the corys love it, id defo go with the black sand x

 

[debbie888]

I agree with Emma...sand for cory's...I had some cory's in with some gravel, but had to remove them as it was too rough for them, and was damaging their barbles...I love watching mine digging in the sand!

Debbie

 

[Barracuda518]

I have two tanks with Eco-Complete substrate and no problems so far.

 

[susankat]

A smooth sand is what I prefer, but any substrate that is small and contains no sharp edges will work just fine.

 

[jollysue]

Try Black Sand Flourite. It is Flourite and suitable for planting, unlike most sands. But it is sand and not the other rougher Layerite type courseness. I have just planted 3 tanks with 3 kinds of Flourite, and I definately prefer the black sand for the Corys and other bottom dwellers.

I have Eco Complete for Plants in 2 tanks (as well as the Cichlid Eco in 2 tanks.) It is a very good substrate for plants, but I would still go for the sand for your Corys, Plecs, Loaches, etc. I have Synos, Corys, Loaches, Plecs on Eco Comlete and they do fine, but the Corys don't nose dive into it.

 

[blodhi74]

A friend of mine created a sand pool in his 55Gl tank.
The corys congregate there often.

 

[Orodreth]

In my tank I have smooth gravel one side and sand the other. Although my Corydoras do happily explore the gravel side they spend 80% of their time up the sand end so I guess that tells me which they prefer.

 

[Cory_Dad]

I've been using mostly tiny pea sized gravel but in the last tank I set up I used white silica sand and my atropersonatus seem to love it. The suck it up and dispel it through their gills. Looking down into the tank I can see a lot of 'dimples' in the sand. I'm thinking of slowly replacing the gravel in my other tanks with the smooth silica sand. The sand also seems to stay cleaner than the gravel. I have to be careful vacuuming the tank though; the sand is really light and gets sucked up quite easily.

Cheers.