Ecco-complete Primer

Marsha Finley · Post by **Marsha Finley** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 10:14 am

Folks:

I've used this stuff since June... EC is bioactive. It comes wet in the bag, loaded with all the nitrifying bacteria it needs. So, keep it above freezing (save those bacteria lives!!) and just dump it in the tank with no rinsing.

I set up the tank one evening & added a full load of fish the next day with no problems. I had found Marineland's <a href="http://www.marineland.com/science/nspira.asp" target="_blank">Bio-Spira</a> and dosed the tank with that inoculating bacteria, just in case... Ecco-complete just seemed to easy... I had also added a bit of laterite because I wanted a fleck of color in the black.

There is not a Cichlid version of Ecco-complete for folks who want a higher ph..
HTH <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0">

RTRJR · Post by **RTRJR** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 11:52 am

Marsha, I have heard that this material is significantly lighter than the Seachem substrates, closer to Profile than to Flourite/Onyx. Your thoughts/experiences?

I ask because I despised Profile, which is way too light for me. I set a test tank and took it down within weeks. The Profile went to the compost heap.

Ghazanfar Ghori · Post by **Ghazanfar Ghori** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:09 pm

Its not as light as Profile. I'd place it somewhere
between Flourite and Profile in terms of weight.
It's easy to plant into and I haven't had any trouble
with plants coming loose and floating to the top.
Except for the hairgrass - the Red Line Torpedo barbs
love pulling that up. @#!@$@!$!!!!

RTRJR · Post by **RTRJR** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 7:35 pm

LOL! Perhaps it is tasty but a tad tough? A number of barbs like to nibble a bit on particular plants. Would you like some of my hair algae to see if it will distract them? That would be cool - all that beauty and utility too.

I was in the LFS today and asked the manager (Andrew, some GWAPA folk know him from his prior job before he came to Rick's) about his public's response to Eco-complete. No one to date has complained, most have given strongly positive responses.

I'm still waffling, but soon have to decide as I have another reset to do - tank is currently bare bottom, and will be planted next round.

SCMurphy · Post by **SCMurphy** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 10:55 pm

Ghazanfar,

I can't believe you'd have a bad attitude about the fish that you paid enough for that you can declare them as dependents on your income taxes. <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley36.gif" border="0">

RTRJR · Post by **RTRJR** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:20 am

If I could declare the fish as dependents, plus maybe the outdoor birds, life would get easier.

JLudwig · Post by **JLudwig** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 12:01 am

[QUOTE=RTRJR] Marsha, I have heard that this material is significantly lighter than the Seachem substrates, closer to Profile than to Flourite/Onyx. Your thoughts/experiences? [/QUOTE]

Ah, you're still reading the APD, I'm very sorry to hear that <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0"> Seriously, believe nothing you read, some folks are very very set in their ways and like to poo-poo new products they haven't tried because its off the beaten path: the stuff is the best substrate (looks -and- function) I have seen so far, I've yet to try FloraBase however... The look is a total sell, you can stand looking at your flourite tanks after using this stuff. Combine with 10K bulbs and experience green plants in a sea of black/grey...

Jeff

Marsha Finley · Post by **Marsha Finley** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 1:05 am

Like GG says, it's in the middle... I didn't know it was new. I just got back into the hobby in June, about the time it came out, so it was just antoher product to me.

Not only have I had no problems, but there are some interesting asides as well. The 25H with EC is agrowing plants and a fully active colony of black worms - everywhere! <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0"> More than I bargained for, that's 4 sure!

RTRJR · Post by **RTRJR** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 1:42 am

Ah Jeff, you forget I am a fish person, not a plant person - 10K gives me the shudders, brings back bad memories of too-bright SW tanks. My upper limit it about 6700. And my fave is Triton - whatever its color is, but it is sure enough not white. <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley9.gif" border="0">

Marsha - my SO would freak at the sight, or just the thought. <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley11.gif" border="0">

Marsha Finley · Post by **Marsha Finley** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 10:32 am

RR:

I use 6700 as well. I have some rummy nose & cards in the 20H with EC.. they really seem to like the darker enviroment and are out almost constantly. Shows the cards colors off to perfection!

Ecco-complete Primer

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