Substrate Help

[190MPH]

First, thanks to those who helped me out on my previous questions . Being that I'm considering some cories for the tank, I was wondering what your feelings were on substrate. I am not using live plants so I was going to use gravel for the bottom. But I'm afraid that it may damage their barbs. I know sand may be an option, but I don't have enough experience with this to worry about harming the filter and the gases under the sand. What do you think of this.....http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+10741+12134&pcatid=12134

It seems to have more rounded corners, but the size is hard to tell from the pictures. Thanks in advance.

 

[drobbyb]

I think the best substrate for corys is sand. That being said, I kept cories over grav el fine. Granted it was the epoxy coated type that you find in most fish stores.

 

[doresy]

Hi, yes sand is great for cory. I kept cory over smooth gravel for a while before changing over to sand. You would not believe they were the same fish! Their behaviour completely changed and you could just sense they were much happier.

Sand at vaccing time is a little more tricky than gravel. Common sense should show you the way, just be a little more careful that's all there is to it. If you have a good shoal of cory (and you should) then you will find that they have turned the surface of the sand over by the morning and it looks great.
As for the gas thing, all you need to do once a week is to very gently stir the sand right to the bottom with a long wooden stick and if there is any gas you will see the bubbles rise to the surface.
If you use sand (Argos playsand is both good and cheap) just be sure to well rinse a bit at a time with running water to get rid of the dust otherwise your tank will be murky for weeks.

Remember- the more rinsing the clearer the tank 'right off the bat'

 

[Schmill]

grumble mumble moan & whine...

I've always used gravel, and so bought a load of bags of it for my 300L. I've also always kept cory's and they seemed fine. However I'm now wondering if I should change to sand if they would be happier...
I'm a little concerned about planting, but I see others have done it, and also about cleaning it, but it seems corys do this fine...
Only other consideration is cost... not so much about the sand, but explaining to the other half why all those bags of expensive gravel that I washed and placed in the tanks is now at risk of being replaced...

I might have to just leave it for now... I'm presuming replacing the gravel with sand at a later date, (ie. when I have fish and plants), will be a bigger job, having to remove them all, but I think thats the way it will have to be for now until I get bored...

 

[190MPH]

I have read alot about the 3m color quartz. It seems real nice in black. I'm researching that a little more.

 

[rdd1952]

As far as black substrate is concerned, you can check out the Tahitian Moon Sand. It is black and looks great in the tank. I use it in all my tanks. It's a little expensive though. Black substrate eems to really bring the color of the fish out more than lighter color sand/gravel.