u/Custom-111

I am hoping to setup a 10 gallon HEAVILY planted tank with Pygmy Cory, Chili Rasboras, and Neocardina shrimp (havent picked a color yet)

I am personally not a huge fan of using sand in my aquariums (I dislike the look and chance for anaerobic bacteria and their nastiness to hang out underneath). I am wondering if small gravel is okay for the Corys and their little barbels?

Local aquarium center runs them in gravel, employee said he has a few he runs in gravel, but also being a reptile owner, I trust pet store employees about as far as I can throw them, which is leading me to second guess myself.

I have 6 large pothos hanging from the edge of the tank, hornwort, Java moss and some chunks of wood reaching 60% of the way up the tank. Theres currently small gravel on the bottom (size of the tip of a pen, probably under 2mm), and im wondering if thatll be okay, or my dreams of having pygmy corys is going up in smoke.

Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

Long story short -> Canadian, Cannot find XXL or Tray2Grow systems without selling a kidney to afford shipping.

My understanding is that an Easy2Go system can turn any tray into an autopot. Has anyone used one? How does it compare to a Tray2Grow? Or even individual XXL bases?

Im just trying to weigh my options, whether or not I spend the money on a Tray2Grow/XXL (which almost ends up being double the MSRP) or buying an Easy2Go if it provides comparable results.

Thanks

Any pictures of an Easy2Go setup would be fantastic if you've got em!