From what I've read it's fine with them and it tends to be other things that mess with their barbs. I'm currently running Cory Cats and eco-complete and haven't had any issues yet
substrate with cory
Hi, is eco-complete too coarse for cory catfish? If so, is there a sand I could put on top of my eco-complete to make it more cory friendly?
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Thank you! How long have you had them and which cory?
Many people have successfully kept cories on the "rougher" substrates, including me on Flourite. It all comes down to water quality, not substrate, that cause problems for cories.
Lots of people keep cories alive with eco-complete, but that's not a very high bar. Catfish are hardy, and will endure a lot of miserable things before kicking the bucket.
I don't have personal experience with this issue, however it is pretty commonly shared advice in the aquarist community that rough gravel can wear down catfish barbels. It is my own impression that eco-complete is just about the roughest type of gravel used in aquariums, so I imagine it's no good.
Just because some people say they manage to keep cory cats alive with eco-complete does not mean they have fish that are thriving.
I don't have personal experience with this issue, however it is pretty commonly shared advice in the aquarist community that rough gravel can wear down catfish barbels. It is my own impression that eco-complete is just about the roughest type of gravel used in aquariums, so I imagine it's no good.
Just because some people say they manage to keep cory cats alive with eco-complete does not mean they have fish that are thriving.
My cories have been on Eco-Complete for over a year, and they have long, healthy barbels, and none have had any issues as far as I can tell.
I also believe it to be more about water quality than substrate as mentioned. I have a large group of bronze corys in a 55g with eco-complete for over 2 years. All look healthy, no damaged barbels or mouths, and multiple fry have been born in this tank.
Eco-Complete is not my favorite substrate looks wise so if I ever did a redo on this tank I would probably not use it again.
Eco-Complete is not my favorite substrate looks wise so if I ever did a redo on this tank I would probably not use it again.
The same argument is made against fluorite, and I completely disagree. I am not alone in disagreement. That is most likely attributed to forum-thinking.Lots of people keep cories alive with eco-complete, but that's not a very high bar. Catfish are hardy, and will endure a lot of miserable things before kicking the bucket.
I don't have personal experience with this issue, however it is pretty commonly shared advice in the aquarist community that rough gravel can wear down catfish barbels. It is my own impression that eco-complete is just about the roughest type of gravel used in aquariums, so I imagine it's no good.
Just because some people say they manage to keep cory cats alive with eco-complete does not mean they have fish that are thriving.
When I was younger and much less experienced, I kept cories on sand and aquarium gravel(separate tanks). They all had stunted barbels, and my water quality was terrible, due to my inexperience.
Fast forward twenty years, and my fluorite tank with good water quality. My cories have long barbels and spawn regularly. I'm not sure what you're definition of thrive is, but I'm fairly sure I meet most peoples' defintions.
The same argument is made against fluorite, and I completely disagree. I am not alone in disagreement. That is most likely attributed to forum-thinking.
When I was younger and much less experienced, I kept cories on sand and aquarium gravel(separate tanks). They all had stunted barbels, and my water quality was terrible, due to my inexperience.
Fast forward twenty years, and my fluorite tank with good water quality. My cories have long barbels and spawn regularly. I'm not sure what you're definition of thrive is, but I'm fairly sure I meet most peoples' defintions.
So the whole barbel/gravel thing just complete bunk? Huh. I guess I'm too reliant on outdated aquarium dogma! My apologies.
No need to apologize!:smile2: I wouldn't say it's complete bunk, as there are always exceptions to the rules, but I know what aquarists like me have experienced.So the whole barbel/gravel thing just complete bunk? Huh. I guess I'm too reliant on outdated aquarium dogma! My apologies.
Although I'm one of the more vocal, I'm not the only one on here with the same experience. There are many threads on here that mirror this exact one. New keeper asks the question, experienced forumite says rough gravel bad, experienced rough gravel Cory keeper says water is the problem, not the substrate. Debate ensues. Eventually, someone else comes in and says cories stop doing what cories do because the rough gravel hurts. That may be true, but I think it would be hard to prove. More discussion chips away at the myth of sharp gravel shortening barbels. I imagine broken glass would do that, but not a mass produced and used substrate.
So ultimately, many of us with with the so-called bad subs have healthy Cories. And I would venture that there are many, many more cories living on "good" subs in bad water with short barbels, than there are those living on "bad" subs in good water.
Ok, thanks everyone! Now I have to really digest all of this and think!!!!
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