Corys: PFS vs aquarium sand

I have a 23 gallon L tank that has 2/3 gravel, 1/3 Caribsea Moonlight sand. I have a new batch of Black Sail corys in a 10G QT with pool filter sand on the bottom.


I plan to enlarge the sanded portion of the display tank for when I add the corys, but I now have concerns about both sands.


The PFS, Lighthouse brand from US Silica, is quite coarse; my concern is that is that it might be jagged enough to harm the corys' barbels. Conversely, I'm concerned that the Carisea sand is too fine, and might compact enough to create anoxic conditions (it's so fine, it almost feels more like flour than sand between my fingers).

I'd just bought another bag of it for the display tank, and I'm thinking of returning it and buying a coarser sand to mix in with the existing stuff and spread it out... or would the Caribsea fill in the gaps in coarser sand, making it anoxic as well? And should I be replacing the PFS? I know that others here use PFS, but (a) I didn't know if that was with corys and their barbel issues, and (b) if the sand I bought is coarser than average.


Here are the two compared: Caribsea at left, PFS at right:

 

Keeping more than half of my Corys on PFS. The grains are rounded / polished and "designed" to prevent anaerobic gaspockets.
Perfect stuff.

 

PFS is perfect, IMO. Not too fine and doesn't get sucked into my filters or siphon as easily as the finer sands might. Barbels on my corys are still in great condition too.

 

It just occurred to me to have a size reference:

 

Keeping more than half of my Corys on PFS. The grains are rounded / polished and "designed" to prevent anaerobic gaspockets.
Perfect stuff.

Wow, that's PFS?! Without a description I'd have thought it was small gravel!

 

3 sizes are sold overhere. This is the middlesized one which I love the most.

 

I've changed over more of my gravel for sand, and replaced a goodly part of the Caribsea sand, too:




FWIW, this is an enlargement of the PFS (same stuff as above):

 

Keeping more than half of my Corys on PFS. The grains are rounded / polished and "designed" to prevent anaerobic gaspockets.
Perfect stuff.

When I set my tank up I believe it was done with PFS can you verify from this picture I've had great success with my Cories.

 

When I set my tank up I believe it was done with PFS can you verify from this picture I've had great success with my Cories.

Hard to say, but I'd say it is a smaller grained gravel. Nothing wrong with that btw !!!