substrate for cory cats?
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Sand, they can damage themselves on gravel as the root through it.
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They do best with sand. My concern with the river rock is it may be hard for them to get to their food if it falls between the rocks. I used to have cories in one of my tanks with a smooth gravel but their barbels still wore down. Now I have mine on sand and they are doing great.
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i think i'll do sand or fine gravel then. probably sand, but i have a question about sand- i read somewhere that it can store toxins that can release and kill everything in their path. do i need to stir sand on a regular basis? or would my corys take care of that?
i am thinking panda or pepper or the albino corys. i think steurbai are gorgeous but they get big, and i'd worry they'd get cramped up in my 18x12x30 tank
i am thinking panda or pepper or the albino corys. i think steurbai are gorgeous but they get big, and i'd worry they'd get cramped up in my 18x12x30 tank
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I'm not sure about storing toxins, but most sands, you'll want to rinse it first to get rid of the toxins. I have heard of someone (can't remember who) using sandbox sand and saying it didn't need rinsing? You probably won't want to stir sand as it will cloud up your water really badly. Most sands, you have to wait about 48hrs for it to settle.
As for the ammonia problem, I have not heard of that before. I would research that first.
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Cories emit too much ammonia for bettas to handle??? LOL...No, that's not true. If it was a tank that was still cycling then adding more fish (of any kind) will cause an ammonia spike. That may have been what happened.
I have play sand in 4 of my tanks. Make sure you rinse it very well. Don't make it too deep and you won't have any problem with anerobic pockets. About 1-2" is fine unless you have rooted live plants, then you may need it a little deeper so the plants can take hold. At water change time turn your filter off and run your fingers through it if you want to stir it. It will settle quickly.
I have play sand in 4 of my tanks. Make sure you rinse it very well. Don't make it too deep and you won't have any problem with anerobic pockets. About 1-2" is fine unless you have rooted live plants, then you may need it a little deeper so the plants can take hold. At water change time turn your filter off and run your fingers through it if you want to stir it. It will settle quickly.
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That is false. I suspect your tank was simply too small to cope with the bioload of two fish.
I loved peppered! So pretty.
My albino is super cute, too. You do indeed need to stir the sand - the cories will disturb the surface but will not get deep enough. It's not really difficult, though. Just rifle your fingers through it once a week with your water change and you won't have any problems.
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awesome i'm more and more excited for this tank everyday. and sand is pretty! even play sand will be neat.
what is the best way to rinse sand? i feel like i'd end up losing a lot of sand xD should i buy cheesecloth or something? or could i swish it around a bowl of water?
i'm more and more excited for this tank everyday. and sand is pretty! even play sand will be neat.what is the best way to rinse sand? i feel like i'd end up losing a lot of sand xD should i buy cheesecloth or something? or could i swish it around a bowl of water?
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I just swished mine in a big bowl. Most of the crud just floats to the top and you can gently tip the water away without losing much sand.
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