Is this gravel ok for cory cats

[toaduck]

20 gallon long with hob filter



I have heard lots of conflicting info on gravel and cory cats. My gravel is not completely round but not real sharp. It's natural and looks kind of like river gravel. Will it be ok. I know it's not ideal but some say they will be fine in some gravel if it's not too sharp. I really don't want to switch to sand. Not because of the actual switching, but some say it is a pain to upkeep.



Sent from my SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[dragon14]

I would recommend sand... I think it's easier to upkeep personally, and a bit cleaner. Stuff gets buried in the gravel (fish waste, uneaten food, etc) and with sand it just sits on the top. As long as the edges aren't too bad, it may be okay, but, it can damage their barbels and affect their eating

We switched to sand so we could have catfish...

Let's let some other people chime in too though, but that is my feeling on the matter. I believe that catfish should have sand.

 

[toaduck]

I would recommend sand... I think it's easier to upkeep personally, and a bit cleaner. Stuff gets buried in the gravel (fish waste, uneaten food, etc) and with sand it just sits on the top. As long as the edges aren't too bad, it may be okay, but, it can damage their barbels and affect their eating

We switched to sand so we could have catfish...

Let's let some other people chime in too though, but that is my feeling on the matter. I believe that catfish should have sand.

Pool filter sand the best? I'm in the middle of cycling my tank. If I remove the gravel will it mess up my cycling. I've read about gas build up and having to sift it. Can you give me your experience on upkeep. Will it raise my ph. It's already as high as I want it.

Sent from my SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[dragon14]

I've read that that is ok We bought some aquarium sand.
CaribSea - Super Naturals?
We bought a 20# bag of that...

I don't know much about gas build up or sifting due to that... maybe I should read up on that...

We've only had it in the tank a month, our betta has been in there about 11 days or so since it finished cycling on Sept 20th... so not too much experience with upkeep yet honestly. But you can suck a little bit like you would gravel, and as long as you're careful, not too much sand will get sucked up, if any

 

[dragon14]

https://www.toofishy.com/images/T/821.jpg

There is good picture of what I bought.

Since you are cycling yes that could mess it up changing it now... I dunno about changing it after, some bb will be in your gravel, but most of it is in the filter I believe.

 

[Fishobsessed7]

Yes it's ok as long as it's not sharp, although sand would be best


Fishobsessed7

 

[Polkadots]

I agree, my corys love the sand.

As for the gas, the corys will help with sifting it so there's no build up (or so I hear), but I just run my hand through the sand when i clean my tank


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[dalto]

Pool filter sand is inexpensive and works very well. As long as you don't put a very deep sand bed you will be fine and won't have to worry about anaerobic gas which may or may not even be harmful to begin with.

A 1" sand bed is typically good for fish.

 

[dragon14]

Pool filter sand is inexpensive and works very well. As long as you don't put a very deep sand bed you will be fine and won't have to worry about anaerobic gas which may or may not even be harmful to begin with.

A 1" sand bed is typically good for fish.

Mines a little deep. We put the whole bag in. Eh.

 

[dalto]

Mines a little deep. We put the whole bag in. Eh.

Most of my fish would move it around and I would end up with giant sand dunes in the tank.

 

[Autumnsky]

White sand is a big pain to try and keep clean, especially if you want to do live plants.

You can add some sand right into your tank with the rocks or move the gravel away from a front corner area and add it in. I would go with the dark color. CaribSea Naturals and Instant Aquarium ones are both good. The Instant Aquarium one you don't have to rinse! YAY!!!!

I bet the Cories will hang out around the sand area a lot if you add it in.

 

[dragon14]

Most of my fish would move it around and I would end up with giant sand dunes in the tank.

I have dunes!

 

[emilygupps]

It never occurred to me to do an other color sand.... White said is a pain! I just stir it up real quick before I use the Python and try to get all the crud out in the water change. Malaysian trumpet snails will sift the sand, and my new cory cats dig tons of sand castles.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[absolutangel04]

It is totally fine if you want sand or gravel. I am going to throw in my opinions and experience here though to give you a bit of different perspective.
I have kept cories for years on both sand and gravel. I have never noticed any different in their behavior at all between the 2 substrates. I fully believe that warnings about gravel wearing down cory barbels to be a myth. Poor water quality and bacteria build build up will do this, but a substrate has to be crazy sharp for that to happen. The regular aquarium pea gravel does not fall under this category, I am talking pure glass edged gravel. That said, I know of several fluke type situations where people had cories lose barbels on super sharp edged sand. So, the main point is just to use a little common sense about it, and keep the substrate clean. Gravel has taken the rap for a lot of people's poor tank management over the years. Though, I am sure there are probably several fluke cases where some person found crazy sharp gravel and then this happened.
Personally, I don't like my one sand tank left. It looks cool, but I find it far more annoying to clean and move things around in and I won't likely set up another one anytime soon. That is just preference though. Many people like it a lot better.

 

[dragon14]

I think Pygmy catfish would be especially sensitive to gravel though.

 

[absolutangel04]

I think Pygmy catfish would be especially sensitive to gravel though.

I have kept them on gravel for years. I never lost a barbel, and my fish stayed healthy. In my opinion and experience, I do not believe that to be the case.

 

[dragon14]

Hmm. Well I'd rather be safe than sorry. Sand seems cleaner to me too. And they really like it

 

[absolutangel04]

If you like it, that is fine! To each their own. I have a much easier time keeping gravel clean than I do sand. I just don't agree that gravel is unsafe.
Of course, a little common sense in dealing with substrates is needed. Don't buy glass shards or anything.

 

[Fishobsessed7]

Don't buy glass shards or anything.

What that's my favorite


Fishobsessed7

 

[dragon14]

If you like it, that is fine! To each their own. I have a much easier time keeping gravel clean than I do sand. I just don't agree that gravel is unsafe.
Of course, a little common sense in dealing with substrates is needed. Don't buy glass shards or anything.

. To each their own