Silly me... I've had a 55 sitting around for over a year and I've finally started to do something with it. I have 4 cory cats (2 pandas and 2 peppered) and plan on getting 4 more of each for the tank. I've heard how they loooove sand so I bought 100 lbs of PetCo's generic aquarium sand. Now I just found out about sands sometimes too sharp for cories and am somewhat panicked as I just washed and put the sand in the tank (cories are in a 10). Did I make a major mistake? I found someone post that it's similar to pool sand. I'm also worried about these gas pockets I hear talk of. Any advice?

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No your fine. I would have suggested pool filter sand personally as its cheaper. pfs don't compact as bad and if it isn't to deep shouldn't get toxic gas pockets. Deeper sand beds need stirred at each water change. or add some malaysian trumpet snails to keep it stirred.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

Thanks!!! I ended up getting 3 bags white, 2 black to get a greyish hue. It looks really neat. I have a GIANT chunk of mopawni wood I'm super excited about! This is my first big tank. I have an AC70 filter, a 250 watt Jager heater, a ton of fake plants (mum refused live =[ ), and other little hidey holes and caves. All I need is a hood! ^____^

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Sand tends to compact and food particules can get trapped and rot and release H2S. Some sand is very sharp and cuts the Corys mouths and Barbels. I have had Corys for years and always used well worn gravel (no sharp edges) and have had no problems.

Well I have had sand in most of my tanks for years and never had a problem. Food particles don't usually get trapped in the sand as it usually just sits on top easy to vac up.

Most sand is soft and doesn't cause problems with cories mouths and barbels. I have even used blasting sand in tanks with no problems.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

I have sand in all of my tanks and love it as my cories do as well. I agree with the easy to clean part. I think it is much easier to keep clean than gravel. I also agree with Susan that PFS is much cheaper. Or black blasting sand- just bought it from menard's 50 pounds for 6 bucks! Not too hard to stir the sand every once in a while. Good luck!

Thanks! I feel a lot better! Just gotta wait for my heater and find a hood and I'll have all the parts I need! Excited? Totally! And I'm super impressed by this forum! Everyone have been super nice and helpful!

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