I recently acquired seven bags of Floramax (105lb. total) and three bags of Eco-Complete (60lb. total) for the new tank I am in the process of building.
For those unfamiliar with either substrate, Floramax is much like a fragmented, porous-brick colored clay (approx. 1cm overall). Eco-Complete is granular, black, and slightly larger than sand.
My dilemma is that I can't decide on a way to lay out the substrate. If the small, sandlike Eco goes on the bottom and the Flora on top, some mentioned that the plants would be well-rooted and there would be easier oxygen access to the roots and to the beneficial bacteria in the substrate. I don't know how I feel about a brick red top layer to show off my fish and plants.
If the Flora goes on bottom with the Eco on top, I'd imagine the roots would have more space to travel between and I'd like the Eco on top because it would show off the fish colors better (IMO), be easier for bottom dwellers (ie. corydoras and their barbels) to move over, and easier for foreground plants to send out runners and spread.
I think mixing the two together would offset their qualities. Perhaps moving the Eco to the front and laying the Flora on the back half of the aquarium for the mid to large background plants would help.
Overall, there seems to be a great bit of choices. So...what do you suggest based on your experiences?
For those unfamiliar with either substrate, Floramax is much like a fragmented, porous-brick colored clay (approx. 1cm overall). Eco-Complete is granular, black, and slightly larger than sand.
My dilemma is that I can't decide on a way to lay out the substrate. If the small, sandlike Eco goes on the bottom and the Flora on top, some mentioned that the plants would be well-rooted and there would be easier oxygen access to the roots and to the beneficial bacteria in the substrate. I don't know how I feel about a brick red top layer to show off my fish and plants.
If the Flora goes on bottom with the Eco on top, I'd imagine the roots would have more space to travel between and I'd like the Eco on top because it would show off the fish colors better (IMO), be easier for bottom dwellers (ie. corydoras and their barbels) to move over, and easier for foreground plants to send out runners and spread.
I think mixing the two together would offset their qualities. Perhaps moving the Eco to the front and laying the Flora on the back half of the aquarium for the mid to large background plants would help.
Overall, there seems to be a great bit of choices. So...what do you suggest based on your experiences?
