Alternative substrates for corydoras catfish

[labby]

I'm planning to upgrade the substrate in my 100-gallon planted tank. The current green substrate is pretty bad and I've been looking into flourite and carib-sea's options.

I've got a mix of plants, including some swords like my Zorchzon, Ozelot, and Radican - the Ozelot has some really nice mottled colors. I also have a Grandiphoulis, Anubis, and a couple of Crispus plants. Then there's the tiger vallesneria and some Java Fern. My Rotala indicia is doing alright, but it's a bit different since it doesn't have a traditional root system like the others.

I've been using root tabs, but now that I've got some time off work, I want to switch to a plant substrate that'll give my plants more nutrients. It's not that my plants are struggling or anything, I just think this will help take them to the next level. By the way, my tank isn't cloudy - the picture just looks that way because my pLione's camera is really bad and there's some glare from the lamp.

[boomer]

I've found that those enriched substrates aren't all they're cracked up to be for plant growth. More importantly, they can be hazardous for substrate fish. I've had firsthand experience with Flourite, and it was a disaster for my corys due to its sharpness - I had to rehome them. I've also handled Eco-Complete, and it's even more jagged.

For corys, sand is the only way to go. The rough texture of other substrates is a major issue, and since they sift through the substrate with their barbels, they'll always be more content with sand. I've switched to play sand in all my tanks, and it works beautifully with my plants. I still use substrate tabs for larger plants like swords, but I've found that I need to supplement with liquid ferts regardless of the substrate.

In my experience, the so-called benefits of enriched substrates like Flourite just aren't worth the cost. I spent a small fortune on Flourite for my 70g - $180, to be exact - only to replace it with $14 worth of play sand after two years. My corys, including one that lost half its mouth, made a full recovery once I switched to sand.

[goldminer]

I've had a terrible experience with CaribSea Eco-Complete - it's absolutely no good for substrate-dwelling fish. The sharpness is a major issue and I didn't notice any improvement in plant growth either. To make matters worse, the bag I got was infested with "pest snails".

[sSjey]

Considering your plant list, Java fern and Anubias are better off attached to decor rather than being planted in the substrate. The rhizomes on these plants tend to rot if buried. Are they currently attached or planted in the substrate?

[Avalon]

I'm a huge fan of using natural, organic dirt as a base for my tanks - I mean, think about it, it's where plants thrive in the wild. I sprinkle about 1/8 inch of the good stuff - I swear by Miracle Gro potting mix - then top it off with a half inch or so of regular sand or pool filter sand. This way, all the nutrients get trapped under the substrate where the roots can really dig in. I've ditched those overpriced "super growing substrates" and I'm so glad I did. I've got 14 tanks now, all dirted, and I can grow anything I want in them. My experience with Seachem Flourite and CaribSea was a disaster - total waste of money. CaribSea, in particular, was a 100% rip-off, everything just died. But trust me, once you go dirt, you'll never go back. Just check out Dustins Fish Tanks and his guides on "Dirted Tanks" - the guy's a genius. Dirted tanks are the way to go - it's cheap, it's effective, and my plants look amazing.

[fineman]

I've switched to using clean white pool filter sand in a couple of my tanks and it's been a game-changer. The best part is it requires hardly any rinsing before use, and cleaning is a breeze - just hover over it with a gravel vac and you're good to go. Plus, it's super affordable at around $12 for 50 pounds. I know some folks swear by playsand, but I've found it needs a lot more prep work before adding it to the tank. That being said, it's dirt cheap and has a nice color to it. My cories and rams seem to really enjoy sifting through the white pool filter sand, so that's a definite bonus.

[tides_roll]

I've found aquarium sand to be the way to go, even if it's pricier than play sand. You only buy it once, so it's a worthwhile investment. My corys absolutely love it, and I've seen firsthand how much they thrive in this environment. As for plants, I've had great success with Vallisnaria and Zorchzon Swords - they're the only ones my Clown Loaches won't eat, and they do incredibly well in the sand. In fact, they send out runners all the time, and over the years, I've been able to give away numerous Vallis with massive five-foot fronds to friends while still having a tank full of them. It's clear to me that sand and corys are a perfect pair.