Tropical Fish Forums

[Sophia]

Hi
Here is what we did to make a barrier for my tank that is 60cm x 30cm x 33cm so I could give the corydoras a play area.
Original substrate was a fine chip gravel overlaid with small brightwater gravel. Later I introduced corydora and subsequent to doing homework after purchase instead of before, learned that they would be happier in sand. Came up with a compromise that keeps the gravel for the plants and keeps the sand some distance from the big filter that almost touches the bottom.
Notice the planting in the Before shots - there were pockets of more dense planting and there was always a cardinal tetra hiding somewhere. After spreading the twisted val and dividing the zealandia grass so fish could actually swim through it, the tetra now school together and don't hide so much.
This has been set up now for approx a month and is working well. The 3 corydora love to snuffle in the sand and I've since bought 4 younger ones to keep them company.

[Caton]

Cool, I wish I could have more corys in my tank.
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[Sophia]

They are cool little fish. The young ones are very cute

[59FIFTY]

how many cories do you have?
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In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. - Martin

[Sophia]

have 7 peppered cories

[Shai]

You can put plants in sand no problem. : )

Well done on your idea though. What did you use to glue the styrofoam together? Some description of each step/photograph would be nice.

The depth of the sand looks a little much--take care you don't get gas pockets forming that could kill your cories. Some Malaysian trumpet snails will help churn the sand to keep this from happening but you still might consider sucking some of the excess sand out.
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What color is your straitjacket?

[Sophia]

hi, I give the sand a stir periodically for air pockets and do have snails in there too.
Glue for sticking it together and to stick the stones to it was West system epoxy.

[BarebackDreamer]

Nice tank. How big is it and what all do you have in it?

[Sophia]

hi, thanks

60Litre tank - 60cm wide x 30 x 33
Fish:
6 cardinal tetra
7 corydora (4 juvenile)
2 oto
2 juvenile swordtail leaving tomorrow
2 guppies also leaving soon

a few ramshorn and trumpet snails
100L tank sized filter

[Soodinum]

This is great! I've been trying to do the exact same thing but never thought to use Styrofoam, I'm guessing if Styrofoam would harm the water someone would have said something by now. .

I've got some aquarium safe silicone. Will that work? If not what type of glue do you guys suggest?

Thanks for taking the time to post this Sophia.