Up to a point, I agree, but if you keep Corydoras with sand, you get them doing much more with the substrate. Mine will stick their heads _right into_ the sand, and then spew the sand out through their gills. It's incredibly cute.
But, as
bloo says, so long as the gravel isn't harming their whiskers, use whatever works in the rest of the tank.
The only fish for which I consider sand
mandatory are the various
spiny eels. They damage themselves on gravel, allowing bacterial skin infections to set in, and there are no reliable cures that I am aware of. Keeping spiny eels, particularly small species, in tanks with gravel is very close to a death sentence. The larger species (like fire eels) may be sturdier because they burrow less, but the popular little peacock eels and their kin are very sensitive.
Sand is also extremely desireable in tanks with: horseface loaches, elephant noses, and flatfish, for similar reasons.
Cheers,
Neale
Don't agree with that, sorry.
Cories are just as happy on fine pea gravel.
) I am removing the gravel to get rid of the colony of worms that has decided to live there....another story...bad fish store!) Once I remove the gravel and let them scarf up the worms (doing the gravel removal slowly so I don't hurt the bacteria levels) I will put them in divided Q tank, redo existing tank with new/more decor and plants and then reintroduce them to a new home. Alot of plants/decor helps their aggression with each other, but adds to crap being able to hide!
many many people use play sand - and love it. You have to say exactly why you think it's "garbage".
At least with gravel if sifts down and remains nicely there until you gravel vac it up. Oh and when cleaning the sand, you have to be ultra careful not to hoover up a bucket load of sand - even when you use the "gently wave 1" above the sand method".
