Just remember that if you need to rinse your Fluval stratum before use, you should do it gently to avoid destroying the rest of the pellets.

Substrate For Cory Catfish (Myth debunked) The Best Substrate For Cory Catfish (Myth debunked)

There are many different types of substrates available, and choosing the right one for your aquarium will depend on several factors. Stratum makes an ideal alternative substrate for planted aquariums and those housing freshwater shrimp. The tumbling of the substrate caused by the vacuum will break it down quicker, eventually making it slimy mud. Thanks very helpful ,i have a 48″x20″ aquarium and want to plant up ,im not sure of the best substrate to use for the planting to be as good as hope it will be.Wo, I always give the advice to just pick a round or sand substrate, because why would you take the risk? The negatives are that it is so nutrient rich it can cause the ammonia to spike for the first month or so; this may require frequent water changes to keep ammonia levels at a safe level. The subtrate's light, non compacting, porous structure is also highly beneficial to nitrifying bacteria, which rapidly colonize the vast porous surface, providing optimal water quality for fish. Once you’ve added as much as you want, use a piece of cardboard or something similar to smooth out the surface. Be sure to use a soft bristled brush or sponge if necessary to ensure that everything has been thoroughly cleaned out.

Stratum Series - Fluval USA

Fluval Stratum is beneficial for aquatic plants because of its composition that allows easy penetration and growth of roots. The murky waters will cause your fish to experience some discomfort, and you don’t want to stress them out.The best substrate for cory catfish is sand because cory catfish like to dig and rinse their gills with this fine substrate. Once removed, thoroughly rinse the new Fluval Stratum in clean water until all dust particles are gone. Rough handling may cause some pellets to break, and the resulting dust and particles may cloud the water. If you have a lot of active fish or plants growing in the tank then you may need to change out the substrate more often than that. The substrate is pre-washed, so it can be placed directly into your tank, but you may experience cloudiness for several hours.

Fluval Aquatics - a world leader in quality aquatic products Fluval Aquatics - a world leader in quality aquatic products

Initially I set it up about 2cm of Stratum at the front going to 5cm or more at the back with about 2-3cm gray capping layer of sand.Then continue moving back out towards shallower areas until all dirt has been removed from each section of the tank floor.