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After reading many post it seems that keeping cory cats in bare bottom is not safe or something? What brand or where to buy cory cats safe sand. Any advice would be of great help.

Thanks
JC

Hi JC,

Many people here (in the UK) use children's play sand, the type you would put in a sand pit, its easily available and cheaper than aquarium specific sand. My Cories seem happy in Unipac Limpopo sand, it has large grains, up to 1mm in size however they are rounded. I also see plenty of shops keeping them in bare bottomed tanks, but they aren't able to dig around without sand.

I think the key is smooth substrate, and keeping it clean, just make sure you wash any sand you buy repeatedly until the water runs clear, its a very dull task but worth doing.

Pool filter sand is another option. As Marc said, avoid sharp edges and rinse thoroughly.

You can find play sand at Home Depot or Lowe's and pool filter sand at a pool supply store. In any case, it should be under $10 for a 50 lb bag.

Blaise

I was looking for less then 50lb bag. Maybe 10-15lb at most just want to cover the bottom barely so I can keep it clean because I do feed then 3x daily. I don't mind buying known aquarium brand or online just as long they are cory and pleco safe.

Thanks
JC

For the price you pay, 50lb of play sand can't normally be beaten. I always find I lose a bit of sand when doing water changes and cleaning the bottom of the tank, having some spare is useful. If you don't have the room to store it, any fine sand from an aquatics store should be fine. I'm not familiar with brands available in your area though, maybe someone from the US could help out.

I see good point on losing sand qhen doing water change. Anyone over in Usa recommends and brand of aquarium sand that they have been using for their cories?
Thanks
Jc

I use ADA La plata and colorado sands (small grain size) and my plecos, whiptails and banjos have no trouble burying or foraging. I'm actually debating getting a group of cories for either of those tanks.

I use this stuff: CaribSea Instant Aquarium Tahitian Moon Reef & Marine Substrate, it's available at Drs Foster and Smith. It's 22.65 for 20 lbs, comes with pack of beneficial bacteria ( I don't rely on It so I don't know if it's good stuff) I use about only about 1/2- 3/4 of an inch. Corys are always rooting around in it with no detectable barbell erosion and it looks very nice, like a layer of black silk. It's so fine grained you have to be careful when vacuuming the tank, that's why I use so little. uneaten food never really builds up. it's ph neutral as far as I can tell

Thanks, hmm I never thought about using ADA products for fish

hmm, still don't know what to get, might just stay with bare bottom.

I found something in www.aquariumplants.com called soft belly soil. Anyone one has tried or used this before?

Cant find that product on the web link

Hi all,

jczz1232 wrote:hmm, still don't know what to get, might just stay with bare bottom.

Ian Fuller ("Coryman") suggests sand, and he is a good enough source for me.

By far the best substrate in my opinion is fine well washed sand many LFS's now stock it, alternatively Childrens Play sand (B&Q) It is totaly inert and smooth grained..."

<http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... nd+coryman>.

cheers Darrel