Eco-Complete vs. Anything as good that's cheaper ?

[Jag1980]

What is Eco-Complete?

Is there a product out there that is just as good and cheaper than Eco-Complete that has the same natural look?

I'm looking for something that will last a long time, the same amount of times as Eco-Complete or a Fluorite substrate.

The cheapest bag of Eco-Complete shipped to me is $22.00 plus $10 shipping.
Local store prices are between $35.00 and $42.00 plus tax...

[bkw1982]

soilmaster select was the big dog for cheap substrates, but i think it has been discontinued. In its place is Turf pro products. If you find soilmaster, usually sold at lasco, its like 15 bucks for 50lbs. The new Turf pro i hear is like 24 or so for the same size.

Ive never personally used soilmaster, the stupid guy at lasco wanted to charge me 33 bucks to have it shipped to his store. At some other sites there were good reviews on soilmaster select, and i hear tell Turf pro and soilmaster are the same thing.

[Mgamer20o0]

turface or sms is light in weight other then that its good. you looking for like black or what?

[jmhart]

SMS is good. Schultz Aquatic Soil is also good, similar to SMS, except it only comes in red/clay

[Jag1980]

I was really looking for something black or natural looking.
The Eco-Complete looks very natural for a planted tank.

I like the cost and grain size of the SMS but it looks Gray and that might not look very natural. I live in Washington and I'm not sure I would be able to find it..

[Mgamer20o0]

its not that bad.

sms

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k225/mgamer20o0/tanks/29gal07292008.jpg

[Jag1980]

Looks pretty good actually, I was expecting a more lighter color of gray., but it looks pretty dark in the picture.

I read on another forum that the SMS "Charcoal" is no longer available? :confused:

[jmhart]

Lesco has been the retailer of SMS for years, but they've discontinued carrying it in favor of the product Turface. I beleive Turface also comes in charcoal.

As far as "natural" looking substrates, all of your major plant substrates are going to have about the same level of "natural"-ness. The color may vary, just as it does in nature. Once put in the water, they will all look good, it just depends on which you like best.

[Mgamer20o0]

yes it does and people say its the same thing. sms is really dirty. once wash it gets a lot darker.

[msjinkzd]

I really like SMS, I still have 75lbs of it in my basement. Turface is supposed to be very similar and just a little bit more expensive. That being said, my eco complete is still my favorite over the sms and flourite.

[bkw1982]

Do you guys use pure sms/turface with nothing else? or do you mix?

(i just thought it be useful to know for myself and the op, not trying to hijack :) )

[jmhart]

I used it mixed 50/50 with original flourite. I can't say that my plants necessarily benefit from this, except that it's heavier and holds them down better. I don't have any heavy root feeders, which I think would benefit more from the flourite.

[Jag1980]

Would I see much of a difference in my plants between a Fluorite type of substrate and a 3M Color Quartz black substrate?

[jmhart]

With good dosing, no. I know plenty of people that use 3M Colorquartz and have good looking tanks. They dose EI.

[Jag1980]

I think I'm going to just buy some 3M Colorquartz, I don't think I'm going to be able to find the other stuff locally as cheap.

I really like the color black or the color combo in the Eco-Complete
Eco is just way to expensive..

[Mgamer20o0]

it also depends on what kind of plants you use. even with ei having good substrate is going to help root feeders like crypts/swords

[plantbrain]

I'd say ADA auqa soil is better than EC and cheaper.
Each bag of ADA is 2x if not more than the EC bags and that comes to 10-14$ per unit volume of EC, then shipping weight is less because you are not paying for water..................

And you do not rinse ADA AS either.
And I think there's little doubt, it grows plants better.

You can still dose the water column and should, but the results should be better using ADA for most folks.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[Mgamer20o0]

how much are you paying for ada? only place local has it for $40 a bag.... if i got it shipped i would save a couple bucks but thats it. you have said over and over how ada is cheaper then eco but i havent been able to figure out how. i have both eco and ada soil here.

also its good to point out ada soil is known for ammonia spikes when you first get it. you have to wait it out a couple weeks.

[fishorama]

How is the ADA with sand sifters & bottom feeders? Love the brown colors

[FluffynTex]

AquariumPlants.com's own: Freshwater Planted Aquarium Substrate

http://www.aquariumplants.com/product_p/ss.htm

Looks like Eco Complete and at a great price.

[bkw1982]

AquariumPlants.com's own: Freshwater Planted Aquarium Substrate

http://www.aquariumplants.com/product_p/ss.htm

Looks like Eco Complete and at a great price.

From what i hear it's actually soil master.....but you get a niffty red bucket.

[Jag1980]

AquariumPlants.com's own: Freshwater Planted Aquarium Substrate

http://www.aquariumplants.com/product_p/ss.htm

Looks like Eco Complete and at a great price.

Looks like BS to me..

Look at the images they post:

Is this the best picture they could get to compare?
Original picture from their website
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f192/Picturesfrom2006/fffggg.jpg
My $150 camera can take the brightest, clearest picture you could ever imagine, and this is all they can get for a picture of all three products?
I used Photoshop to over brighten this photo, as you can see the Eco and their crap looks like it's the same ****. I think this is so people say, wow.. That looks the same as Eco-Complete I should just buy their stuff.. I don't think the image is Eco-complete...I think it's a second pile of their crap.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f192/Picturesfrom2006/fff-1.jpg

But then, they can get a much better picture close up that looks more like Fluorite or Soil master select..
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f192/Picturesfrom2006/ffff2.jpg


This is Eco-Complete: Notice the round edges on almost all the pieces of substrate? Compare to the above picture of what they call Eco-Complete...
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f192/Picturesfrom2006/ffffd.jpg

[Jag1980]

Well I can't get any 3M colorquartz unless I order a pallet of about 20 bags..Figures..
So I guess I just have to bite the bullet and get Eco-Complete... Spend a few extra bucks and get what I will be happy with instead of just getting a substrate that saved me a few bucks but isn't the look I want in my tank. :silly:

[jmhart]

aquariumplants.com's substrate is SMS. There's been a lot of discussion about it before, so search around and you can find out more.