bottom feeders and gravel type

[brookline45]

I just finished a successful cycle (used bio-spira) with my first tank. The tank is a 45 that currently contains 6 Danios and 6 Platys. The tank looks great and all water parameters are excellent (0 ammonio, 0 nitrite, 10 Nitrate. 7.2 pH). For gravel I used crushed pea stone from Lowes following the advice of some frugal aquarists. $3 for a 50lb bag. The gravel looks great, is very clean, and does not alter pH. This gravel is not tumbled and is a bit rough compared to the river gravel from Estes. I am looking to add some bottom feeders (catfish or loaches) and am concerned that this substrate may be a bit rough for them. From my research it seems that Corys can be sensitive to this.

Does anyone have experience with catfish or loaches which would do well with a rougher substrate?

In the worst case I probably could do without them as the Platys seem to do a pretty good job of keeping the tank clean.


Thanks,
Peter

[Matak]

I have Oto's, SAE's and a CAE with sucker mouths. My gravel sounds like yours, a roughened pea gravel. In 18 months I have seen no problem with the gravel.

[aquariumfishguy]

I would not add Corydora Catfish to this tank because they happen to be very sensitive to rough gravel. They need to have smooth rounded gravel.