Substrate for catfish/bottom feeders?

[aquariumfishguy]

I am just wondering what kind of substrate you all use for your tank bottoms... especially for sensitive catfish like corydoras. Is there anything you’ve found that works best?

[bassholedrifter]

I have always used small gravel as a substrate, although I am going to be adding another tank soon and will be going with sand for the first time.

There is a site called corydorasworld, that in viewing most of the tanks the members have largely seem to be sand.

My cories and loachs dont seem to mind the small gravel as it is pretty well rounded with no sharp edges.

BASS

[Sabre]

I use sand. Cories NEED sand because of there easily damaged barbells.

[aquariumfishguy]

I have always used smaller rocks (1/4”) for my corydoras and they manage O.K.

[keleskadoo]

I don't use alot of substrate...just literally a few handfuls of the larger smooth gravel..my corys enjoy pushing them all around the tank.

[Tommy]

for cories any rocks are good and so are sand. i am saying this only if they are soft with no rough or sharp edges.

[aquariumfishguy]

Yeah I had some smaller gravel that I thought was smooth enough and my cories all lost their bristols... I was saddened! Went and got new gravel and they are growing back.

[Tommy]

All my cories are happy and healthy. there whiskers are huge!

[fish_doc]

It seems the small gravel is the easiest to buy because of its avaliblity. It is also the best thing to use if you have a UGF so its not all bad. Newbies tend to get what is there not understanding the theories behind what they get. So the small gravel and UGF at the store work out well together.