Yur experiences with flourite...

Paintballer99

Paintballer99

AC Members
Jul 1, 2009
808
0
0
Hey everyone...
I'm deciding if I sould go with flourite, or eco-complete for my 20 gallon long (which will be planted). So, how have you been using flourite? WOuld eco-complete seem better to your or would flourite?
 
Either substrate is fine for plants and wouldn't say one is necessarily better than the other. I've been using Flourite with good results since 2001. Before then, I just used ordinary gravel and grew plants just fine in it, as well. You don't have to use 100% Flourite, I normally mix it 50/50 with gravel or sand. I'm using Flourite mixed with pool filter sand now.
 
I prefer eco, I have both runnign in tanks. Flourite has rougher edges and a larger grain. Both work well for planted tanks.
 
I'm using a 50/50 mix of flourite to sand in one tank, and just sand in the other. Both tanks have nice growth.
 
I've never used regular Flourite, but I do have Flourite Black Sand. I also have Eco Complete in a different tank (this one is also mixed with some regular gravel and laterite).

I really liked that I did not have to rinse the Eco, even though adding to an established tank. The Flourite Sand, like all sand, was a PITA to rinse out, but it looks very nice. Both seem to be very good for my plants (Echinodorus bleheri "compacta", crypts, HC, Ludwigia glandulosa, etc.).

I personally think it is a draw between the 2. If you don't want to mess with doing special cleaning for sand, then I would not get the Flourite Sand (but then you didn't mention it anyway). The Eco does tend to send up blooms of dust clouds when cleaning (but this might also be the mix of substates I have in that tank). Again, I have no experience with regular Flourite, so I cannot comment on it.
 
I have both 3 tanks with flourite one large tank eco.

both are good for planted tanks.

eco no rinsing required
flourite lots of rising and needs time to settle.

both look good and work well

coin toss really
 
I used 3 bags of Florite and 2 of Eco for my 58. Eco was used to top of the Florite and along the front area of the tank. I think the Eco is easier on my cories, no barbel damage, but that may just be my experience. Good luck, either, or combined with sand should do well.
 
I use both, but I like the texture and color of regular Flourite. Eco just looks like lava rock to me, but if your growing a carpet of plants, you aint gonna see it after a few months anyhow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom