🧰Accessories for a Corydoras: tests, upkeep and budget
Corydoras : Fine sand, sinking wafers, gentle filtration and a soft net that will not snag its spines. Expect 100 to 180 euros of equipment for a 100 L tank.
In short: 4 to 7 cm as an adult depending on the species, around 100 L for a group of 6, water between 22 and 26 °C. A peaceful, gregarious bottom fish, it sifts the sand in a group and gets stressed with fewer than six companions. Its barbels wear down on sharp or dirty substrate: fine sand is mandatory, and take care with salt and copper, which it tolerates poorly.
Water tests: your dashboard
The first smart buy for a Corydoras costs €15 to 30: the drop-test kit, out weekly for NO2-NO3 and at any doubt for GH, KH and pH. Then come the net sized for 6 cm, the substrate siphon and the dedicated bucket — never the cleaning one, whose detergent traces contaminate the water.
The Corydoras specifics
a battery backup air pump: at full stocking, a filtration failure is measured in hours.
The full budget, no surprises
An equipped 100 L setup (tank, filter, heater, lighting, substrate, decor, tests): expect €200 to 450 upfront, then €10 to 25 a month (food, electricity, conditioner). Second-hand often halves the tank price — only the filter and heater deserve to be new. Details on the full Corydoras profile.
Frequently asked questions
Which accessories are essential for a Corydoras tank?
Drop tests, siphon, net, dedicated bucket, an independent thermometer: the whole kit stays under €60.
What budget for keeping a Corydoras?
€200 to 450 to set up an equipped 100 L tank, then €10 to 25 a month in routine costs.
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