In all honesty Staxx ...
I preferred the black gravel but sat watching my cories going beserk has made the change worthwhile. It does make the tank the look a lot bigger - optical illusion obviously as it's not grown in size
Be prepared though before you do it. Get the sand well washed well before you strip the tank. Have somewhere safe for the fish to go - a storage box or something. Make sure it's got an airstone if you can't put your filter in with them like I couldn't and get a heater in with them. They could be in there a while and it will soon get cold.
I'm looking at my tank now and it's still really cloudy. I really washed the life out of the sand but it's obviously not as clean as I thought. The fish don't seem bothered by it though and I can do some water changes to clear it over the next few days.
There will be pictures to follow but I want to wait until it's looking better. I've not got all the plants back in yet and there's some stones to go in later (I may buy new)
It's taken me all day, I'm exhausted, my back is screaming and it's not a job I'd like to repeat in a hurry, fish are happy fishes though so I'm happy
As for your plants. A lot die back while they adjust to your water (PH, hardness etc) but they usually recover. You'll learn as you go on what works best with the water you have. My water is soft so Vallis just dies so I know to avoid that now
Had to look up E numbers. lol My albino cories should be here by Friday
I'm excited + 100!! I don't know if they are babies or full grown or anything. How old do you think yours are?
E numbers = the nasty additives they put in sweets that make kids go loopy and hyper active
My cories vary in ages. I've had 2 bronze and the high fin peppered about 7 or 8 months now so they're probably about a year old or so. The other vary from 7-8 months old to maybe 10 months. I think that's why the breeding is hit and miss. Some are old enough and some arn't quite there yet.
Good luck with those Albino's - I'll look forward to pictures
