nma6

I finally purchased my tank this weekend and now it's time to get down to business. I had originally planned to get a 29G but ended up with a 55G haha. I intend to have a partially planted community tank including Corys and I am not sure if small gravel or sand is appropriate. Cory articles seem to point to sand as their preferred substrate while plants do better with gravel/flourite combo. Are Malaysian trumpet snails a must if I choose sand? I don't really want to have snails if I don't have to. I have also heard about sand compacting the plant roots and stories of anaerobic pockets in sand producing nasty gas pockets.

Thanks,
Nate

btate617

Corys would prefer the sand. I am not into plants but I know some people who keep plants in I believe just sand.
Don't worry about gas pockets. When you gravel vac your tank, once you are done and the siphon of water has stopped stick your vac back into the tank and use it to stir your sand or simply use your hand.

Brian

Also welcome!

MizRamzi

I have 2 well planted tanks. 1 I use sand with corys, the other I use a very fine gravel. I do have to say that my plants seem to be fairing better in the tank with the finer gravel. Not saying that the ones in the sand aren't doing well but just not as well.
IMO corys do better with sand, only because it's easier on their mouths since they are a scavenger and spend most of their time on the bottom of the tank, sifting for food. I believe that's why the one's in my sand bottomed tank are doing better then the one's in my larger graveled tank, where most of the food particals will fall through the larger gravel. (I have 6 tanks) This is why I'll be moving those into another tank.
As for stirring sand I agree with doing it, I use Amano Shrimp! I have smaller fishes in that tank so there's no worry of them being eaten and their a very neat invert to watch. Their constant sand sifters.