Can someone persuade me that Corys are a really bad idea... pleeease

[DangerousMouse]

I have a tank which had been retired for a while, yesterday I spent 3 hours emptying most the water out, cleaning the glass, the external and internal filters.. you get the picture.

I refilled it, ordered a new light unit, sat back and admired - it's looking good!

Decided to do a community tropical tank, but now I have remembered - Corys! They are so cute, I love Corys. Except, the tank has large gravel in. To have Corys I'd need to empty it again and change the substrate to sand.

Is it worth it? Why didn't I think of this yesterday. To change the substrate is another few hours work.. But I think I want Corys.

Also, what else should I have? It's a 180l. So exciting setting up a new tank!

They are veeeery cute I prefer a sand substrate anyway, it's easier to clean. It's up to you though! I have kept corys on gravel and they were OK, but they do a lot better on sand. I wouldn't keep them on gravel again tbh.

If you want something with a bit of personality then a pair of dwarf cichlids might fit the bill, depending on water params. But you've got a good 4 weeks to decide while your tank goes through the cycle so plenty of time to make your mind up and then change it again and then make it up again....

Hmm I think I'm going to change it, if I don't do it now then I won't be able to once the fish are in.

I had cichlids in there before, I'm thinking smaller tropicals so the tank looks busy, like tetras, Molly's etc. what can angel fish live with? I'd like one of them.

The tank should cycle quicker as the filter has been running in a planted tank which has fish in, so I'll change the substrate and check the levels after a week or so

I wouldn't go for angels, they get pretty big so will make a snack out of any small tetras. Also they need a fairly specialist set-up because of their shape (tall as well as long). Hatchetfish are quite cool if you want something with a slightly different shape.

Good call on the filter running in another tank, that'll save some waiting.

You don't have to empty it out to change it, you can swap it over with the water still in it ( I have even swapped it over with fish in ).