I will be planting my 10 and 5 gal tanks soon....I have read good things about the use of eco-complete as substrate. Anyone's thoughts on this?
opinions on eco-complete
- Thread starter tetramoon13
- Start date
It's a good mid-range price plant substrate if you like black substrates. If you plan to have heavy root feeding plants then I recommend getting it. If you have a bunch of stem plants and water column feeders then it's unnecessary.
Bonuses:
+ small particle size for the roots to exchange ions and other nutrients with
+ high amounts of iron and other metals needed by plants
+ "self sorting" meaning that the big pieces should go to the top of the substrate
Detriments:
- Small particle size which means you suck up some of your substrate every cleaning, note, sometimes it doesn't sort well
- pH balance issues in some previous shipments
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Overal, it's an excellent product. The blackwater extract makes the tank look nice for the first few water changes. I like using it because my plants do so well in it (crypts and other root feeders), however, I dislike the idea of loosing some of my substrate every time I decide to do a water change. -Expecially if algae is attached to it, making the particles unusable.
+ small particle size for the roots to exchange ions and other nutrients with
+ high amounts of iron and other metals needed by plants
+ "self sorting" meaning that the big pieces should go to the top of the substrate
Detriments:
- Small particle size which means you suck up some of your substrate every cleaning, note, sometimes it doesn't sort well
- pH balance issues in some previous shipments
----------
Overal, it's an excellent product. The blackwater extract makes the tank look nice for the first few water changes. I like using it because my plants do so well in it (crypts and other root feeders), however, I dislike the idea of loosing some of my substrate every time I decide to do a water change. -Expecially if algae is attached to it, making the particles unusable.
I like ADA aqua soil, it's done much better over time and has a similar, actually better aesthetic look, no rinsing and is a little cheaper.
Most places that sell the EC run about 18$ or so a bag, the ADA product for the similar volume: 13.50.
Note, EC is packed in water, you pay shipping for that.
ADA is dry and not nearly as heavy.
The ADA product is also much easier to plant HC, Gloss, and any fine rooted plants. Unlike EC, ADA also has macronutrients in the aqua soil.
Unlike the EC, the ADA As is more even in grain sizing.
Neither product should be rinsed.
Check Aquarium design group in the USA, Aqauessentials in the UK etc.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Most places that sell the EC run about 18$ or so a bag, the ADA product for the similar volume: 13.50.
Note, EC is packed in water, you pay shipping for that.
ADA is dry and not nearly as heavy.
The ADA product is also much easier to plant HC, Gloss, and any fine rooted plants. Unlike EC, ADA also has macronutrients in the aqua soil.
Unlike the EC, the ADA As is more even in grain sizing.
Neither product should be rinsed.
Check Aquarium design group in the USA, Aqauessentials in the UK etc.
Regards,
Tom Barr
ok, some good information here, I actually am looking for a black substrate for my 10gal. which I am keeping neon tetras in, and I will be adding a couple more when I relocate my African dwarf frog to his own tank. I have read that neons like to have a dark substrate, and the EC seems like a good product for a planted tank. This does not have to be layered with anything else, as I understand, but what about the Aqua soil? should that be layered with any other product?
aqua soil does not need to be layered, ADA sells power sand to put it underneath but its not necessary.
ADA sells three types of aqua soil:
Amazonia-black-lots of nutrients
Malaya- brown - not as much nutrients as Amazonia
Africana- light brown - has the least amount of nutrients
if youre looking for black soil, id say get amazonia
itll bring the ph down so your neons will really shine
ADA sells three types of aqua soil:
Amazonia-black-lots of nutrients
Malaya- brown - not as much nutrients as Amazonia
Africana- light brown - has the least amount of nutrients
if youre looking for black soil, id say get amazonia
itll bring the ph down so your neons will really shine
hooray! That sounds good. I wonder if Greg watson sells it......will be ordering some ferts soon.
After using Both I prefer Flourite much better. Especialy now that my LFS is charging $35 for a bag of EC and I can pickup Flourite for 1/2 that much.
Still I need a second bag to really fill my 10 gallon tank...Anyone know where I can order a bag for around 25 shipped?
Ecocomplete does not seem to hold my plants down nearly as much as the flourite, even in my 3 gallon where I have a nice thick substrate. It is also a PITA to gravel vacume since I always suck up a ton of it, and that can plug up my sink.
I didn't want all my tanks to be the same but I should have stuck with Flourite, I must admit I do like the dark substrate in my Dwarf Puffers tank though, it accesnts his bright yellow body nicely. But in the end I would have just used flourite.
The only other advantage other than color is that you don't have to rinse the crap out of it like you have to do with flourite. Either substrate seems to grow my plants fine though. EC is less work at first but harder/impossible to gravel vac later on.
Still I need a second bag to really fill my 10 gallon tank...Anyone know where I can order a bag for around 25 shipped?
Ecocomplete does not seem to hold my plants down nearly as much as the flourite, even in my 3 gallon where I have a nice thick substrate. It is also a PITA to gravel vacume since I always suck up a ton of it, and that can plug up my sink.
I didn't want all my tanks to be the same but I should have stuck with Flourite, I must admit I do like the dark substrate in my Dwarf Puffers tank though, it accesnts his bright yellow body nicely. But in the end I would have just used flourite.
The only other advantage other than color is that you don't have to rinse the crap out of it like you have to do with flourite. Either substrate seems to grow my plants fine though. EC is less work at first but harder/impossible to gravel vac later on.
I have never seen the ADA aqua soil but it sounds like a good choice for my DP tank. You mentioned that it will alter the PH. How much does it effect it?
In the USA, Aquarium design group sells it:
http://www.adgshop.com/
http://www.adgshop.com/Aqua_Soil_s/21.htm
The amazonia is nice, a 9 liter bag will cover a 20 gal H tank.
So 26$ is pretty good for that.
If you have not tried it, it will surprise you. there is little growth differences between Flourite and EC. Aethetics, weight and rinsing are the main issues there.
But the differences between the ADA As and the others is a lot larger.
Cost is pretty close, some have argued that Flourite or other products are cheaper for them, that's due to local free shipping, sales etc.
ADA stuff does not have that large marketing but over time that will change, the same could be said for Flourite about 10 years or less ago.
ADa As is not to be rinsed prior.
You can also pour it in to an extisting tank without draining the tank etc.
I just add soem okld water/mulm/filter squeezings etc to the bottom of a new tank, a light dusting of ground peat, and add the ADA AS over that 2-6" deep.
It will lower pH, but this is not an issue if you do weekly water changes. It makes using the pH/KH table a little tougher, but there's a simple way around that.
Regards,
Tom Barr
http://www.adgshop.com/
http://www.adgshop.com/Aqua_Soil_s/21.htm
The amazonia is nice, a 9 liter bag will cover a 20 gal H tank.
So 26$ is pretty good for that.
If you have not tried it, it will surprise you. there is little growth differences between Flourite and EC. Aethetics, weight and rinsing are the main issues there.
But the differences between the ADA As and the others is a lot larger.
Cost is pretty close, some have argued that Flourite or other products are cheaper for them, that's due to local free shipping, sales etc.
ADA stuff does not have that large marketing but over time that will change, the same could be said for Flourite about 10 years or less ago.
ADa As is not to be rinsed prior.
You can also pour it in to an extisting tank without draining the tank etc.
I just add soem okld water/mulm/filter squeezings etc to the bottom of a new tank, a light dusting of ground peat, and add the ADA AS over that 2-6" deep.
It will lower pH, but this is not an issue if you do weekly water changes. It makes using the pH/KH table a little tougher, but there's a simple way around that.
Regards,
Tom Barr