Eco complete questions

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Nothing is permanate...Even with dirt you will have to replenish the minerals and ferts. This is where root tabs and Fert dosing come in.
 
JasonG75 said:
Nothing is permanate...Even with dirt you will have to replenish the minerals and ferts. This is where root tabs and Fert dosing come in.
Click to expand...

This is not entirely true. I've heard of and seen pictures of planted tanks that have had the same substrate for over 5 years. With the proper conditions these substrates can continue to provide for plants for years. Eco complete is great in that it has
a high Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), which means it absorbs nutrients added to the water column and brings it down where the roots can use them. The eco complete will provide nurtients for a time without the need to feed the water column. How long? Hard to say, depends on how large your plant biomass is and how fast they are growing.

Long story short you will need to feed the plants eventually and "recharge" your ecocomplete with these nutrients. What is needed for plants to thrive : Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, micronutrients and carbon (C02 or liquid carbon). You can use the seachem products although they are expensive or you can buy bulk powders for pennys on the dollar. Go to Barrreport.com and look up EI method for a better perspective on fertilization.

Good luck!
 
I'd say it really depends on what kind of plants you are growing. I have a 10 gallon that I only used Eco Complete in and everything in that tank grew fine in that for about 2 years until I just decided to add a few frets sporadically here and there. I really only had Crypts, Java Fern, a Moss Ball, and some sort of chain sword growing in it though, under pretty low light as well, and while everything grows fine and spreads runners and makes new plant I also wasn't using any plants with higher demands.
 
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