Using Eco-Complete Substrate

bassbuster23

Hello, all.

I have a couple of questions. First, is anyone using Eco-Complete for their substrate? I am using it and am impressed with it so far. In less than 3 weeks, my tank is cycled, my watersprites are growing from 3/4" to 1.5" daily (already replanted 3 watersprite "babies"), and my dwarf hairgrass is starting to send runners all through the substrate. I am tickled beyond measure. It probably doesn't hurt that I'm using Flourish and Flourish Excel, either.

My other question is: How do you vacuum the gravel without uprooting all of your plants? Anyone using Eco having any trouble with vacuuming?

Thanks.

Amphitrite

I changed to Eco-Complete a few weeks ago, and I have to say I'm impressed with it so far. I'm not using any additional fertz at the moment, but will be adding root tabs in the near future.

As for gravel vacuuming, I just hover the vac slightly above the eco complete and don't stir it around at all.

herefishy

I use Eco-Complete in all but a very few of my tanks. All of the new setups have it. I, too, vac as Kate does. I am running a different filtering system than most. I like reverse flow. And yes, most of my planted tanks use undergravel filters. The reverse flow helps to keep the bottom much cleaner as it "blows" paricles back up into the water column to get picked up by the other filters and sponge pre-filters. I do a gravel sweep and rescape about every 3 months.

If you ever put together an African Cichlid tank, try the Eco-Complete for Cichlids. I use the gravel and sand both. You'll be just as impressed. I like the darker color as it enhances the fishes' colors. Darker substrate has also been proven to help relax the fish.