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	Eco Complete question
crazyred Fish Addict LAZY and I don't care :D Posts: 575 Kudos: 360 Votes: 293 Registered: 26-Aug-2005	Does Eco Complete need replacing after a while? I keep hearing people say that nutrient rich substrates such as these expend themselves and need replacing after a certain period of time which would hardly make it seem worth it. What say y'all? Last edited by crazyred at 12-Jan-2006 08:30 ~~Melissa~~ "Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
tetratech Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4241 Kudos: 1074 Registered: 04-Nov-2003	I wouldn't worry about it. If it does run out it's a long time. Most of the stuff you give the plants will come from the water column anyway. My Scapes
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
crazyred Fish Addict LAZY and I don't care :D Posts: 575 Kudos: 360 Votes: 293 Registered: 26-Aug-2005	Thanks Tetra....how many inches of substrate is ideal for plant growth? ~~Melissa~~ "Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
illustrae Fish Addict Posts: 820 Kudos: 876 Registered: 04-May-2005	Many stem plants will do okay in as little as 1 inch of substrate, but rooted plants such as crypts, and especially swords, will need a deeper substrade bed of about 3 icnhes, o rmore if you have the space. You can slope your substrate to accomodate different plants, placing rooted plants in the deeper areas and stem plants in shallower areas. Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
Bob Wesolowski Mega Fish Posts: 1379 Kudos: 1462 Registered: 14-Oct-2004	Eco does not "wear out" or lose its effectiveness as a substrate. I use 3 to 5 inches as substrate in my 125G. One sword in a "low" spot in the substrate actually rises out of the Eco as its roots grow. Last edited by Bob Wesolowski at 12-Jan-2006 12:35 __________ "To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research." researched from Steven Wright
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
crazyred Fish Addict LAZY and I don't care :D Posts: 575 Kudos: 360 Votes: 293 Registered: 26-Aug-2005	Sounds great. I didn't think it would "wear out", but you know how misinformation can spread. After a while one begins to wonder. About how many punds do I need to get 3" of substrate in a 55 gallon tank? I think I saw a substrate calculator somewhere that estimated 100 puounds, but this seemed excessive to me. ~~Melissa~~ "Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
tetratech Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4241 Kudos: 1074 Registered: 04-Nov-2003	I have six 20lb bags in my 72g bowfront. I think the 55 is the same length (4 ft). 2 lbs per gallon would give you enough to play around with sloping the substrate, etc toward the rear. I would go with 5 bags. My Scapes
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
crazyred Fish Addict LAZY and I don't care :D Posts: 575 Kudos: 360 Votes: 293 Registered: 26-Aug-2005	Okay....sounds good, except to my wallet. Just in case I run short on funds, can I layer plain gravel on top of the Eco or would this be stupid? I have 60 pounds on the way that a friend no longer wanted, so I could order 40 more pounds later, but it would be easier on my checking account to put 40 pounds of gravel on top of the 60 pounds of Eco. Is it okay? (yes, the 55 is 48" long or 4 ft.) Last edited by crazyred at 12-Jan-2006 14:05 ~~Melissa~~ "Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
crazyred Fish Addict LAZY and I don't care :D Posts: 575 Kudos: 360 Votes: 293 Registered: 26-Aug-2005	Anyone??? Eco/gravel can I mix to save $$$ or has it got to be all Eco? ~~Melissa~~ "Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
tetratech Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4241 Kudos: 1074 Registered: 04-Nov-2003	crazyred, Yeah you put some gravel on top, I wouldn't mix too much gravel in because of time it will probably mix with the eco and dilute it's value. You might be able to use the 60lbs your getting in heavily planted areas in the back and sides and keep the substrate very thin in the front. It's pretty easy to add more eco at a later date if necessary. My Scapes
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
crazyred Fish Addict LAZY and I don't care :D Posts: 575 Kudos: 360 Votes: 293 Registered: 26-Aug-2005	Oh yeah, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks Tetra....I so plant the back and sides a lot heavier than the middle and the front....great idea. See, that's why I come here, y'all are fish tank geniuses!!! ~~Melissa~~ "Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41


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