What sand should I get for my Corydoras?

Hello, my problem is that I don’t know what sand to get. I know what fish and plants I’m getting along with a couple of accessories. This is all for a 100L. I have had it running for 2 years but want to change it because my corys in another tank can’t be in that tank. I have a quarantine tank but can’t use it at the moment (it’s complicated) I have been in prior forums and so I have settled on the

my final fish stocking should be (unless there are objections)

6 Bronze Corydoras
4 Otocinclus Catfish
2 Kribensis
4 Endler Guppies (4 males)
13 Rummny Nose Tetras
1 Zebra Nerite Snail
3 Amano Shrimp
1 Bamboo Shrimp

my final plant stock should be (plus more i find along the way)

Frog bit
Bucephalandra kedagang
Cryptocoryne wendtii
Dwarf hydrophilic polysperma
sagittaria subulata


my final accesorys (plus more if they are suggested)

smooth aquarium pebbles
manzanita wood
seachem's flourish root tabs
custom made feeding ring (although im not sure if i should keep the frog bit in it or keep it as a feeding ring? any suggestions)

any other suggestions? thanks for all your help

I’ve done some reasearch and found seachem flourite lack sand 15 LB (I would like black sand) (would this be good for growing plants?) (I will be using root tabs) anyway from reviews I’ve seen it looks like the sand is very dirty and so I’m jot sure if I get it. Are there any better ones?

 

I would get black blasting sand (I was going to say pool filter sand but I don't think they have it black). It is usually very clean and you can buy 50 lbs for $12 US compared to the standard petsmart bag of sand for $8.99.
I also wanted to add that sand is inert. All plants can feed to some degree from the water column though. some people grow swords in sand (some with or without root tabs.) but if you really feel like root tabs benefit you, go for it but I don't use them anymore. Only liquid ferts for me.

 

I would get black blasting sand (I was going to say pool filter sand but I don't think they have it black). It is usually very clean and you can buy 50 lbs for $12 US compared to the standard petsmart bag of sand for $8.99.
I also wanted to add that sand is inert. All plants can feed to some degree from the water column though. some people grow swords in sand (some with or without root tabs.) but if you really feel like root tabs benefit you, go for it but I don't use them anymore. Only liquid ferts for me.

People said I don’t need liquid fertiliser but I needed root tabs. This is my first time going only sand and so I am not sure on what to do. Thanks for your help, is blasting sand very fine and will it be easy to suck up with my gravel vac?

 

My corys and loachs do quite well with Black Diamond Blasting Sand Med grit.

 

People said I don’t need liquid fertiliser but I needed root tabs. This is my first time going only sand and so I am not sure on what to do. Thanks for your help, is blasting sand very fine and will it be easy to suck up with my gravel vac?

They really secure themselves into the substrate which is why you could/should go with root tabs as there is little to no circulation within the sand since it is so compact and it is so they can really flourish. Liquid ferts work fine for my swords. I don't think people go about dosing root tabs for amazon swords in the wild lol.

You shouldn't have too much trouble doing maintenance and is should be easy to suck up. You'll see when you apply it to your tank.

 

Thank you this was very helpful

They really secure themselves into the substrate which is why you could/should go with root tabs as there is little to no circulation within the sand since it is so compact and it is so they can really flourish. Liquid ferts work fine for my swords. I don't think people go about dosing root tabs for amazon swords in the wild lol.

You shouldn't have too much trouble doing maintenance and is should be easy to suck up. You'll see when you apply it to your tank.

But is blasting sand very fine or is it quite big? Just so when I use the gravel vac I don’t suck up any sand

 

So i want to remodel my 100L tank. ive had lots of discussions about sand (fascinating i know) but still dont know what sand to get. i would like a sand i can get on UK amazon, i would like one that is quite fine for my corys but not too fine to be sucked up by my gravel vac. can i have some suggestions?

I would get black blasting sand (I was going to say pool filter sand but I don't think they have it black). It is usually very clean and you can buy 50 lbs for $12 US compared to the standard petsmart bag of sand for $8.99.
I also wanted to add that sand is inert. All plants can feed to some degree from the water column though. some people grow swords in sand (some with or without root tabs.) but if you really feel like root tabs benefit you, go for it but I don't use them anymore. Only liquid ferts for me.

im in the UK and so would like the sand to be on UK amazon. what sand (any colour) should i get. i want it to be fine for the corys and also good for plants while still being inert. i dont want it too fine just because i want to vaccum it up easily. any suggestions?

 

If you want a dark sand then Unipac Limpopo is good for corys, it’s not jet black but a browny black which I think looks nicer than a solid black. The corys in my avatar are on the Limpopo.

 

I have this sand in both my 29 gallon and my 53 gallon...both have Cories (Rusties in the 53 and Pandas in the 29). They love it, they are constantly sifting or sat in hollows that they dig in it

https://www.pro-shrimp.co.uk/sand/1933-unipac-kivu-sand-20kg-5027174581734.html

I believe that Pro-Shrimp do also operate via Amazon and eBay too if you don't want to go via their own website. I use the firm alot for all of my aquatic equipment etc. Very very good firm, always helpful and delivery is very quick too.

 

I have this sand in both my 29 gallon and my 53 gallon...both have Cories (Rusties in the 53 and Pandas in the 29). They love it, they are constantly sifting or sat in hollows that they dig in it

https://www.pro-shrimp.co.uk/sand/1933-unipac-kivu-sand-20kg-5027174581734.html

I believe that Pro-Shrimp do also operate via Amazon and eBay too if you don't want to go via their own website. I use the firm alot for all of my aquatic equipment etc. Very very good firm, always helpful and delivery is very quick too.

looks great! i think ill go for it, do i have to clean it alot?
i only need 8kg, is there a cheaper sand with similar colouration?

 

looks great! i think ill go for it, do i have to clean it alot?

I puff mine with a turkey baster once a month to prevent pockets of nasty mess forming and use the baster to spot pick anything unwanted.

 

I puff mine with a turkey baster once a month to prevent pockets of nasty mess forming and use the baster to spot pick anything unwanted.

smart
i meant like when i first buy and open the bag will it be a pain to clean, like will i have to wash it, wash it and then wash it again?

 

smart
i meant like when i first buy and open the bag will it be a pain to clean, like will i have to wash it, wash it and then wash it again?

I am very naughty with sand.

I don't wash it beforehand. I am very very very careful with my initial aquarium fill though and so far (and after numerous aquariums with it) I have not had any issues of cloudy water or anything bad happen.

I also tend to funnel the sand too........using an old 2 litre plastic drink bottle. Cut the bottom off, wash it really really well, turn the bottle upside down, then very slowly pour the sand through the bottle...keeping the neck of the bottle no more than an inch from the bottom of the aquarium (you can use the same bottle for making a sandy beach in an existing gravel substrate too.....use the neck of the bottle to move the gravel around and then pour the sand through the bottle very slowly to form a beach for the Cories)