Dwarf corys and plants?

[Kimm87]

I will probably get dwarf corys at some point so i planed to do sand in the tank but i also plan to plant the tank so which substright should i use?
I know corys prefer sand but sand isn't necessarily good for plants. I hate the look of the painted gravel so i dont want that. Are corys ok with a soil substright? Or should i do a layer of soil or natural gravel and sand over it? I also have some drift wood and rocks for things like the anubius to cling to so they wont be planted.

 

[Byron]

You want sand, nothing else. The dwarf species of cory need sand even more than the larger species. Plants will grow very well in sand, better than most any other substrate; it is after all natural.

I would not use any type of soil or plant-enriched substrate material even under the sand. Cories have a habit of digging, and these substances can cause issues. And with soil, there is the problem of additional ammonia for several months which can easily poison cories.

I have had play sand in all my tanks for several years now, and all are planted.

 

[Kimm87]

Thank you i really wasnt sure because the seeds i got are for some carpeting plant idk what it is but it looks like grass right now

 

[Kimm87]

Shoukd i use flourish tabs or the liqiuid? Will the tabs get dug up and estten by the corys?

 

[Byron]

Shoukd i use flourish tabs or the liqiuid? Will the tabs get dug up and estten by the corys?

I use both, depending upon the plant species. The tabs are best for large plants, like the larger swords, aponogeton, lotus/lilies, etc. One tab inserted deep into the substrate close to the plant crown will last 3-4 months. The liquid is fine for non-substrate rooted plants, floating plants, and fast-growing rooted plants. In some tanks this is all I use, but sparingly.

I have never noticed my cories or loaches digging up the tabs, but I do stick them well down in the sand. I never use tabs in the tank with the pygmy cories, not because of them but there are no large plants in this 10g, just pygmy chain sword and lots of moss on the wood, and obviously floating plants.

 

[Kimm87]

Ill get the liquid then i guess since alot if the plants wont be rooted in the sand but wil be attached to the wood and rocks

 

[Byron]

Ill get the liquid then i guess since alot if the plants wont be rooted in the sand but wil be attached to the wood and rocks

Right. Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium is a good complete-nutrient liquid fertilizer. I use this. Brightwell Aquatics FlorinMulti is another much the same.