Substrate and Corydoras

[Mike U]

looking for recomendations on the best gravel to provide for Cory's in a 20 gallon tank?

[elcue]

looking for recomendations on the best gravel to provide for Cory's in a 20 gallon tank?

Don't know if it would be considered the best, but I've been using Estes' Natural Aggregates for decades. It comes in different colors/sizes, "Bits of Walnut" is pretty small. I know many use sand, but I barrel the substrate w/ a Python, so sand is out.

[Mike U]

Thank you elcue... just trying to get a handle on what people are using - If you are using Estes' Natural Aggregates and have been happy with it for years... that works for me.... Thank you for taking a minute for me...

[elcue]

You're welcome.

People are using everything it seems. Turns out gravel vs sand is a hot topic; the sand being more in line w/ their natural habitat (a place my fish have never seen), and then w/in the sand camp there’s debate on grit size… So many choices, pool sand , playground sand etc … Most are concerned w/ the fish rooting around in the substrate for food and the subsequent barbel erosion. I’m in the camp that feels barbel erosion is more the result of poor water quality /dirty substrate/ bacterial infection, than substrate. But I only use gravel, I'm sure sand can be pretty abrasive, like the old glass gravels. In the past I’ve had corys and kuhli loaches in tanks w/ pea gravel from the lumber yard, without any issues (other than water hardness, due to the pea gravel). The only time I’ve seen erosion was w/ a group of pygmies I received from a club member, who had kept them in a bare bottom tank. I notice that some were having trouble eating, and upon closer inspection saw that they had gaping holes where the snout should have been. A couple of weeks in clean water and antibiotics and they recovered, but it was pretty disgusting. Now I take a close look at everything before it goes into the tanks…

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=40457

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=41437

[dsuperman]

I only have paleatus at the moment, my colony is on sand, very thin {1/4 inch} don't remember what kind of sand. Like its been said, as long as its clean and isn't sharp they seem to do fine.