substrate for cories

[nterry]

Hi,

I am planning on getting a tank for cories 55 gallons and I am looking for recommendations on a good substrate. It seems like my LFS choices are:

-colored gravel (I know color doesn't matter, but you know the course stuff that is at most LFS that comes in rainbow colors--seems a bit sharp)
-playsand
-some sort of aragonite sand (seems like it would negatively buffer the water and increase alkalinity too much
-other suggestions?

Thanks,

Nate

[noodles62]

I had mine in smooth gravel but now have pool filter sand in my new tank and they absolutely love it!! they dig around a little and seem much more content. On the old gravel they even seemed hesitant to "lay" on it and hovered alot. Now they are quite happy to lay around! LOL

[jpappy789]

I have mine with gravel and have had no problems with their barbels. Sand is definitely the smoothest and is probably the best choice out of all of those.

[Cory Keeper]

cories will love any sand you put in there, playsand, dirt, or even tahitan moon sand. anything that is small granules they will dig in and sift through, look for food.

[BoredAgain]

Sand is the best way to go.

[jm1212]

try AquaQuartz pool filter sand; my corydoras really like it much better than the gravel in my previous tank anyway.

[chesterthehero]

mine are thriving on fluorite (the regular stuff, not the fluorite sand)

[tanker]

If tank is just for corys and no plants you can go bare-bottom. :)

[Mgamer20o0]

i have reg pea gravel and they are fine but sand is the best in my eyes. though if you look on the moon sand it does say dont keep bottom dwellers with it.

[Cory Keeper]

oddd, I got two bags of the stuff, didn't say a word about bottom dwellers, and its been over a week since I've had the moon sand, corys are still doing fine.