Should I wash my Florite/Floramax/Eco Complete?

[Mark13]

Don't wash Eco-Complete, or wash it by way of a very light rinse.

Flora-Max, depends on which one. The original needs washing like Fluorite does, and is almost as difficult to get clean. The new Flora-Max products packed in water like Eco-Complete need to be lightly washed to get the algae that grows at one end of the bag where the store lights have started it to grow while on the shelf, but the water can be retained or tossed.

Fluorite must be washed, and is very difficult to get clean. The more you handle it, the more new dust you create. The method I use is to stretch some fiberglass window screen over a plastic bin (size of a recycling bin) and hold it on with plastic spring clamps ($8.99 to $12 for a bag of mixed sizes at Home Depot). Put about an inch deep layer on the screen and spray it with a garden hose. don't touch ti too much with your hands. If you have to move it around, just tilt the bin. This will clean 1/3 to 1/2 of a 15 lb bag in 3 to 5 minutes. And it will be 95% clean. I do not get any cloudiness in the tank when I clean it this way.

---Mark13

 

[FLESHY]

it may or may not have some value, but in either case, I agree, there is no reason to rinse eco-complete . . .

un-rinsed eco-complete will settle in just a few hours anyway . . . in fact, the settling is part of the process, since eco is made up of two different size particles . . . the denser particles settle first and make up the base, and the smaller ones then settle on top of that

Agreed. When the fine part settles on all of your plants though, its not cool.

As I recommended...DONT RINSE...but let the tank run for 24hrs before adding plants.

 

[Sab_Fan]

Agreed. When the fine part settles on all of your plants though, its not cool.

As I recommended...DONT RINSE...but let the tank run for 24hrs before adding plants.

ah! I see what you mean . . .

never had that problem, waited until the substrate settled before planting . . . but yeah, the fine particles would do exactly that

to the OP, one thing you could is just drain the eco, if you don't want to use the water its packed in . . .

 

[FLESHY]

Ya. Sab fan...also hoping I didnt come across as snobby. I just saw us working at cross purposes. I tried to describe the time I DID...even though you shouldnt. Shedding some light on what happens when you DO wash your eco.

 

[Anubisscott]

Well, the Flora-max is Florite, just cheaper and actual black around here. I went ahead and dumped it in as the Floramax is pre washed as it said. It did cloud up the water, but my four filters cleared it up just fine. By morning it was crystal clear. Here is what I am working with on filtration.

2 x Rena Filstar XP 3 - This filter is sized for aquariums up to 175 US Gallons (660 Liters) and does 350GPH. The unit is identical to the XP1 and XP2 filters but has 3 media baskets and a highest flow rate of the XP Series All other features and functions on the unit are the same as the XP1 and XP3.

2 x Aquatec 30/60 - This is just under the Penguin 350 in power and minus the Biowheel. It does 300-350GPH. Unfortunantly I have long thrown my boxes away but feel free to stop by any walmart and check it out yourself. My choice for this was almost half the price for a product made by the same company as the penguins. Also more acessable because you can find a Walmart easier then Petco or Petsmart to get filters at cheaper prices.

Everything has settled and for the tank I am challenging myself with its working out great. Couldn't see a thing when I put the 3 bags I was abled to find of black substrate, but turned off the lights so the fish would calm down and let the filters do their thing. At between 1,300gph to 1,400gph I wasn't worried about cloudy water.

For those who know, I have raised a Midas that is a gentle giant. He doesn't tear up plants nor does he really dig as he seems to like to lerk around the tank and behing the plants/logs. He doesn't tear up tank mates so currently I have Mollies and will soon get Platie's and Swordtails. Also have a schoal of clow loaches and 7 albino bristlenose plecos. Going to be one hell of a set up as soon as I get the rest of the substrate.

 

[Sab_Fan]

also hoping I didnt come across as snobby

no worries . . .

 

[bob965]

Eco-complete appears to be some type of porous rock, probably volcanic in nature, ground up and soaked in a nutrient enriched solution. It shouldn't be rinsed, and it even says so in the directions on the package. Flourite however, is a different thing altogether and should be rinsed.

 

[jcardona1]

i agree with what folks have said, dont wash Eco Complete, wash Flourite. My Eco Complete didnt cloud my tank at ALL. Flourite makes a muddy mess, even when you rinse it for hours.

 

[FLESHY]

About to set up a growout tank with clay substrate..we will see the cloud storm that causes.

 

[splant]

I've made the mistake of not rinsing Fluorite well enough. I only ran a hose into the bucket for a few hours and sloshed it around. It was so bad I ended up having to drain the tank and start over. Rinse Rinse Rinse!