🏠The Corydoras tank: 100 L, hardware and start-up
Corydoras : A tank of around 100 L with a large footprint rather than height, with fine river-type sand. It occasionally darts up to gulp air, so keep clear access to the surface.
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.
100 litres minimum: why that number
For a group of 6+ Corydoras reaching 6 cm as an adult, plan 100 real litres — and remember a big tank is more STABLE, hence easier, than a small one: parameters drift slowly, leaving time to correct. This volume suits a sturdy standard cabinet — just verify perfect levelness.
Hardware: filter, heater, lighting
The Corydoras tank’s technical trio starts with filtration — three to five volume turnovers per hour, a heater around 1 W per litre set to 22 to 26°C, backed by an independent thermometer — built-in thermostats sometimes lie, and lighting on a timer at 8 to 10 hours a day: any longer and the algae win.
Substrate, plants and start-up
A fine-sand substrate is mandatory for the Corydoras, a constant sifter — gravel wounds barbels and skin. robust plants (anubias, vallisneria, Java moss) and wood to structure the territory. Then patience: a complete nitrogen cycle (3 to 4 weeks, nitrites back to zero) before the first Corydoras — the step every hurried beginner pays for dearly.
Frequently asked questions
What tank size for Corydorass?
A real 100 litres minimum for a group of 6+ — below that, parameters drift too fast to catch.
Does a Corydoras need a heater?
Yes, about 1 W per litre set to 22 to 26°C, with an independent thermometer double-checking the thermostat.
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