losing panda corys

My substrate is basically just gravel. From what I've read, this probably isn't the best for corys, but this is my first attempt at keeping a fishtank, so am not all that keen to change the substrate already. I have fake plants, not real ones too. I do 20-25% water changes every week. The nitrate level before changes is somewhere between 20-40, and it's been that way consistently for over a month. That probably doesn't mean too much though.
 
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