Best Substrate for a planted tank w cories?

[Wolframite_7SK]

So when I was setting up my 29g planted community tank, I made the mistake of getting gravel when I knew I was going to stock corydoras catfish. They're having difficulty eating because of the gravel, so I'm switching to a substrate that will be kinder to them. I've heard a lot of negative reviews for both cheap sand substrates like pool filter & play sand, and for the more expensive plant substrates like eco-complete. I'm kind of at a loss for what to get, because on one hand, I don't want to have a substrate that leaches ammonia, but on the other hand, I don't want a huge diatom bloom because of a cheap sand that contains silicates. I have always had some diatoms in my tank because of the tap water I use, so this is a big concern for me. Are there any good sands out there that don't have these issues?

 

[Crispii]

I used Caribsea sand without issues.

 

[Wolframite_7SK]

Thanks for your reply!
I looked up Caribsea, and it seems pretty good. Which variety would you recommend?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

It all depends on your budget...

For me, I use play sand, and so do a lot of other members. We use this because it is safe, affordable, and it looks great. (You can get a 50lb bag for just $5)

If you have a lot more to spend than most of us do on sand, I recommend Caribsea sand, as @Crispii said.

As for the variation? I say just get what suits your fancy. (If you like black sand, get he black stuff. If you like white sand, get the whole stuff. So on and so forth)

I do recommend getting brown sand, as it doesn’t show poop that well and it looks more natural.

 

[Crispii]

I prefer this color: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005QTETWK/?tag=ff0d01-20

 

[Byron]

Sand is absolutely essential for Corydoras because they are filter feeders. But sand is not all the same.

Avoid all so-called plant substrates. Eco-complete and Flourite are very sharp; I used Flourite some years ago, and in my hand I thought it was smooth, but within a week my cories had no barbels and one even had a third of its lower jaw scraped off; they recovered over play sand and I have all of them still, some 7-8 years after this tragedy.

Industrial sands should be avoided because they are rough/sharp. Play Sand is the exception, though I readily admit some aquarists will not use this either. But quality play sand is processed through machines that wear down the grains making them less rough/sharp and more smooth. Quikrete Play Sand is one brand and I use this in all my tanks, even with my pygmy cories and I have 7-8 fry that have grown up. This is sand that has beeen processed in a similar manner to river sand which is processed by water tumbling over hundreds of years. Which brings me to the next sand that is suitable...

Aquarium River Sand. The tumbling action of the grains in water is what the machine processing is intended to achieve with play sand. This is the sand that occurs in Corydoras habitats. Not all "aquarium sand" is the same, so look for aquarium river sand. Make sure it is inert, not intended for marine tanks or rift lake cichlid tanks, as these sands contain minerals to increas pH which is necessary for these set-ups, but never for Corydoras which are soft water fish.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I agree. I find that all of the “Planted” substrate are useless.

In the long run, they will run out of nutrients and then it will just be regular sand.