Gravel to Fluorite changeover

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C

Crazed Demasoni

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 19, 2010
188
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Massachusetts
I have a 29g and I'm going to go the route of planting it. I just grabbed an Aquatic Life 30" light for freshwater, and have a couple of random plants in the tank in the pots they came in. My dilemma is this:

I have the normal junk petco black gravel at the moment. I'm moving in just under 2 weeks to my new apartment, and will be draining the tank fully, saving some water, then putting my rams back into it. I'd like to take this opportunity to change over the substrate.

I'm torn between fluorite black sand (first choice), normal black fluorite gravel, a combination of the two, or eco-complete. Any suggestions?
Also, while I figure out where I want things etc, I'm considering planting them in small terra cotta pots so I can move them around easily/they can tangle their roots together a bit. Is there anything I need to look for before I buy the terra cotta?
 
There are a couple options:

#1. Eco complete has worked GREAT for me and others that I know. I highly recommend the stuff.

#2. There is a better option than terracotta, and it might even give you some more freedom substrate wise. I personally know this guy, he is out of Madison Wisconsin, and he is in the process of selling a small plant planter that can be hidden in substrate...it is small, and way sexier than the pots. (Should work better too!)

I dont know how often he is on this website, but here is the link to his profile:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/member.php?u=58974

Drop him a message, and tell him that Forrest sent you to ask about his planters. Im sure he would be more than happy to talk them over with you, and get you this new product before it even really hits shelves!
 
Fluorite requires a lot of rinsing before you put it in your tank. Eco-Complete...not so much. Both work fine and I'm convinced they are the same stuff just repackaged. I would say the Fluourite black sand looks the nicest.
 
I really like the look of a black sand substrate as well, so I'm leaning towards the fluorite black sand. I've heard that putting it in a pillow case then running water through it til it's clear coming out is a good way to clean it up
 
You actually are NOT supposed to rinse your eco-complete because it is supposed to be a mixed-grade substrate.

At first this sketched me out, so I gave mine a light rinsing.

I have helped to set up several planted tanks since with the stuff, and I wont rinse it ever again.

Clears more quickly than many other commercial plant substrates even without rinsing.
 
I've got Eco in a couple tanks, Flourite in another ... my preference is for Eco ... even when Flourite gets settled, in can be disturbed very easily, and it has a tendency to settle on the plants ...
 
I did some more research on my own too, and I think I'm going to go with the black eco instead. less hassle, same/better results, less chance of trashing my AC110.
 
I think you made the right choice. The eco can settle out on plants too, but all in all its a pretty stable substrate. I have had great luck growing a lot of stuff that I shouldnt have been able to in my little setup, but maybe part of that has been my renewed fervor in the planted end of the hobby these past two or three years.
 
I'm just hoping I dont get sucked in too fast. Not looking to set up CO2 yet...
But that's what I said about the lighting...
And the substrate...

*Continues downward trend... or upward
 
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