Wanted To Get A Shoal Of Cories.....

[MattM1124]

I wanted to add about 5 or 6 Peppered Cories or Albino Cories into my community tank but right now I have what seems to be a larger type of gravel. I was reading that it's best to have a substrate or smaller gravel but it would be tough for me to change all of the gravel. What does everyone recommend? Can I still get a shoal of them?

I have a 20 gallon tank with 6 danio's, 4 glow light tetra's, and a swordtail in there right now. My tank is fully cycled and I vacuum the gravel once a week while doing a 20% water change. I've included a pic of my current gravel.

Thanks in advance!
Matt

 

[Truck]

its too sharp by the looks of it, their barbels will be damaged

 

[MattM1124]

its too sharp by the looks of it, their barbels will be damaged

So can you recommend any other peaceful bottom dwellers I could get or is there an easy way to maybe change all of the gravel out and put in a more rounded type of gravel? And if I did change all of the gravel, could that cause a mini cycle?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi MattM1124

There are two problems with bottom feeders like corys and coarse gravel. One is that debris and uneaten food can accumulate in the spaces between them and promote the growth of bacteria that could be harmful to them. The second is that if it's rough or sharp, it could damage their delicate barbels.

It's not all that hard to change the gravel to something finer, or even go to sand. As long as you have the new substrate washed and ready, just move your fish and some of the water into a clean plastic storage container or big bucket and empty the tank. Be sure to keep the filter running, or at least under some water taken from it while you are making the switch. Once the tank is ready and the temperature has adjusted, add the fish back in. Don't rinse the media at this time.

You shouldn't have a mini cycle, but I'd wait a week or two before adding any new fish, just to be sure.

 

[MattM1124]

Hi MattM1124

There are two problems with bottom feeders like corys and coarse gravel. One is that debris and uneaten food can accumulate in the spaces between them and promote the growth of bacteria that could be harmful to them. The second is that if it's rough or sharp, it could damage their delicate barbels.

It's not all that hard to change the gravel to something finer, or even go to sand. As long as you have the new substrate washed and ready, just move your fish and some of the water into a clean plastic storage container or big bucket and empty the tank. Be sure to keep the filter running, or at least under some water taken from it while you are making the switch. Once the tank is ready and the temperature has adjusted, add the fish back in. Don't rinse the media at this time.

You shouldn't have a mini cycle, but I'd wait a week or two before adding any new fish, just to be sure.

Thanks for the advice! So then would a polished pebbles type of gravel be ok for the Cories? Would food probably still fall between and the cories not be able to get to it all? I really don't want to go to a sand type. I do vacuum the gravel once a week though so not too worried about the uneaten food.