Setting up a 680 liter Corydoras friendly tank

[nikelodeon79]

I currently have a 208 liter planted tank with approximately 15-20 Corydoras panda, 10 Corydoras leucomelas, and 8 Corydoras habrosus. There are also about 20 or so harlequin rasboras in there. I will soon be switching out that tank to a larger tank that is approximately 680 liters, with the dimensions 69cm long x 61cm wide x 61cm tall.

The first concern that has been raised (on another forum) is that the tank is too deep for corydoras. Any thoughts on that? I did see another thread stating that the depth is fine for C. panda, but what about the smaller C. habrosus?

Substrate in the current tank is a very fine, smooth silica sand with a depth of approximately 2cm. My plan is to keep the same substrate in the new tank, but I am considering adding a layer of soil underneath the sand for plant growth purposes. I am concerned this will be detrimental to my corydoras, however, and would appreciate thoughts on that. I do also plan on pressurized CO2.

This will be a corydoras centered tank, so I am uncertain as to whether or not I wish to add any larger fish. My plan at this point is to stock with the harlequins, and perhaps another type of small, schooling fish. Recommendations on additional stock would also be appreciated.

Regarding additional catfish/bottom dwellers, I have not had much luck with otocinclus but am considering adding them to this tank in larger numbers. I do also have a few olive and zebra nerite snails that will be going into the tank.

Thank you in advance for any thoughts/comments/recommendations.

[mattfaulkner]

Cant say much with regards to the Corydoras, but if your tank is 69x61x61 cm then its 256 litres (gross) not 680 litres.

[MatsP]

All corys should be ok in any tank that you could possibly build in a home.

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Mats

[nikelodeon79]

My apologies! I don't know how I mis-stated the length so terribly, LOL. It is 183cm.

My thoughts were that corydoras would be just fine in just about any depth of home aquaria... but a few people's comments on another forum started me having doubts. Thanks for setting my mind at ease.

[MatsP]

As long as the fish are reasonably mature (not fry), you should be fine with water up to at least a meter.

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Mats

[Lloydy]

As long as the fish are reasonably mature (not fry), you should be fine with water up to at least a meter.

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Mats

What is the issue with depth? That Corys sometimes like to swim to the surface, the extra pressure caused by more water being on top of them or something else?

[MatsP]

It is (supposedly) too far for the tiny corys to get up to the surface to get air. I don't know if this is as essential as it's stated to be, as I've found fry in the filter, and I doubt there is much air at the top of the filter..

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Mats