Substrate For Corys

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Gonna start a tank and am planning forward. Will this substrate be okay for corys. Thankss . It states natural river gravel

We have several corys in my daughters tank. We chose fine sand as we weren't prepared to risk any other substrate wearing their barbells down. Every morning when we look in the tank the sand looks as if it's been ploughed over. Another thing I've noticed is that these fish actually filter the sand through there mouth and it comes out of there gills.

My humble advice is use sand. I think if they could say thank you the corys would

AiYn'U

 

I think it's fine.

pun intended? hahah

Well in that case the aquarium will have to wait. You don't have the animals yet and so it doesn't really matter.

Yeap thanks for the advice! because I just wanted my tank to cycle during the time being. and I bought a few plants that are bagged. Java Fern and 2 Anubias. don't know how long they will last in the bag. any tips to grow them out first other than putting them into the tank?

Or should I just start my tank first with the soil substrate that I have bought? And let it cycle. So that when I am able to purchase the sand, I will take out the portion that I wanted it to be sand and change it.

 

oh! Thought you were still just planning!

I mean, neither Java Fern nor Anubias have to be planted in substrate, so you can just put them in the tank. And also cycle it.

 

I am going to be perfectly honest here and am going to go against what I see recommended time after time. I know I keep reading over and over that corys have to have sand. For many many years I had smooth gravel much like what you are showing us in my tanks. I never saw any signs of barbel erosion. A couple of years ago I switched over to pool filter sand. Since then I have seem some damage. Barbels a bit shorter than they were before. I am seriously considering removing the sand and going back to gravel for that very reason. I fear that my sand has sharp edges and it is wearing their barbels down.

Personally I would have no problem whatsoever using the gravel you are showing us. You do need to be conscientious about keeping the gravel clean though because food will fall through the cracks instead of setting on top.

Ahh, thank you for your advice and some tips based on your experience. I am just wondering if my gravel will be a tad too sharp. Maybe I will just leave the whole thing as a soil substrate for it to cycle. And when it does cycle finish, I will think about if i should change it out.

oh! Thought you were still just planning!

I mean, neither Java Fern nor Anubias have to be planted in substrate, so you can just put them in the tank. And also cycle it.

My bad... Just had to get the plants. So it will be okay if I just start with soil first and take it out later to replace with sand ?

 

My bad... Just had to get the plants. So it will be okay if I just start with soil first and take it out later to replace with sand ?

Now you got me, I was never in that situation. I'd even cycle without substrate.

 

Now you got me, I was never in that situation. I'd even cycle without substrate.

Ah, can you really cycle without substrate tho? Adding them all at once later, will it mess by the cycle?

I am thinking of a 3/4 soil and 1/4 sand. So I am just afraid that taking out the 1/4 and replacing it will be difficult.

 

It helps to have substrate, but in the end it's about cycling the filter. Do you mean the partitioning in the vertical or horizontal? If it's just adding a layer of sand on top later, just add less soil. Also you could just do a 100% waterchange when changing substrates. It's easier without water in the tank.

 

It helps to have substrate, but in the end it's about cycling the filter. Do you mean the partitioning in the vertical or horizontal? If it's just adding a layer of sand on top later, just add less soil. Also you could just do a 100% waterchange when changing substrates. It's easier without water in the tank.

Hmm for the partition wise, think at the side of the tank. If I add sand over the soil won't the sand particles fall below?

 

Oh, you got that kind of soil. Like those little spheres, right? I have no experience with that stuff. At all. That's not my niche. But logically the sand would fall between.

 

Oh, you got that kind of soil. Like those little spheres, right? I have now experience with that stuff. At all. That's not my niche. But logically the sand would fall between.

Hihi! Good news!! I managed to get a bag of Sansibar. And done up my scape for now... Ready to cycle. Thanks for the advice!

 

You're welcome! Keep us posted and some pics when you got the time!

 

Be careful using Sansibar. Doesn't that have a vulcanic glass origen? I remember some threads from some years ago in which issues with Cories occured.

 

Reptile sand. Buy it in the reptile decor section (obviously). It is very, very dusty and takes a LOT of washing, but it is perfect. Won't harm your cory's barbels and is fine enough that they can pull it in their mouth and out their gills, filtering out the food bits. Looks fantastic.

 

You're welcome! Keep us posted and some pics when you got the time!

Let me show you all a rough look. I am still soaking and treating the driftwood. But I have placed the plant temporary in the tank.

Two Anubias and one java fern.

Be careful using Sansibar. Doesn't that have a vulcanic glass origen? I remember some threads from some years ago in which issues with Cories occured.

I have read that it's mainly the black ones that have the problem. But I am not too sure. The sansibar was recommended by my LFS.

 

As long as the substrate isn't sharp (so rounded river gravel would be good) or too big. The size of your sand (not gravel, it's like 2 mm across based on the photo) is great, but it does look maybe too jagged.
The issue with finer sand is that it is smaller and therefore could FEEL fine, but be sharper to an animal's gills or mouth that is shifting it all day.

The tank can cycle just fine without anything but a source of ammonia. Filters or air stones speed it along, but there have been and still are people keeping very successful tanks without filters. On the other end of the spectrum, bare bottom tanks use a filter of some sort, but no substrate at all.

The tank looks great! If you ever need to switch it out for something else, the sand can be pulled out with a turkey baster...

 

Wanted to update on the progress of my tank... I have soaked the driftwood for awhile now and today it is finally in....

 

Looks like a good start. More plants and it's going to be fabulous!

 

Looks like a good start. More plants and it's going to be fabulous!

Thank you!

Yeap gonna get more plants to fill up the aquarium. Like more foreground and background plants.

The covid is a hindrance... Stay safe!