Eco-complete Red

[Gustavo]

I order plants from freshplantedaquariums.com, and I would like to replace the pea gravel with eco-complete. It's going to be an SE Asian Biotope, and I understand that the substrate has a lot of Iron, therefore is red. Has anybody used Eco-Complete red? How does it look under the aquarium lights?

Thanks!

Gus

 

[RadaR]

Looks the same as normal Eco-complete and I'm sure the chemistry is the same too.
There is a pic of it on this site.

 

[Gustavo]

Hi, yeah, I saw the photo in the website, but I can't find a picture of a tank with the eco-complete red to give me an idea, you know what I mean?

 

[aaronnorth]

it depends on your lighting, if you want a vibrant red then use a light which is about 4000k (pink tube) so it reflects more red. this also makes red plants look more red too.
The same if you want to make your plants loom more green, use a 6500k tube.

But in answer to your original question, i havent seen anyone use red EC.

 

[JenCliBee]

I think Akadama is pretty much the same colour red, if you google that im sure your get a rough idea on how it looks in a tank

 

[Gustavo]

Thanks guys, on the side note, I had to upgrade the lighting as well, and I was recommended T-5 lighting (?) along with new glass Versa Tops. Planted aquariums are expensive!!

 

[aaronnorth]

T5 isnt necassary, it just depends on the intensity of lighting you want. For example,
you could have 40w T8, or 30w T5.
due to T5 being more intense, you need less wattage, if you go too high with the lighting, you risk not being bale to supply enough nutrients & CO2 and algae will take over. for beginners, lower lighting is better as plant & algae growth is slowed down so things are easier to control.

 

[Gustavo]

Hi Aaron,

Right now I have two 15W T8 8,000K, and the guy from the plants website told me it wasn't enough, so he recommended the Nova Extreme SLR T-5 Fixtures 24" x 5-1/2" Freshwater; 48 watt, for a 55 gallon tank that's almost 21 inches tall. The lights and the tops were 165 bucks, plus 170 between plants and other things.

Thanks

Gus

 

[aaronnorth]

ok, that is enough light light then, you were advised correctly Sometimes people state you need about 3-4wpg (so about 150-200w on your tank! lol)

 

[Gustavo]

So ok, I got the new lights, and I realized that I order the wrong ones. I order two 24" inches that did not fit, so I went for the long 48" Nova Extreme, and I'm still waiting on the plants, so there's no rush. I found locally Flourite red, so I purchased two bags, but I think I'm going to be short, so I'm waiting on the lfs to get more tomorrow.

While I'm still waiting, I'm planning the livestock for the tank, these are the fish I'd like to get:

Schooling fish:
9 Zebra Danios (already in the tank)
15 Harlequin Rasboras

Centerpiece:
4 Blue or Blue Dwarf Gouramis

Cleaning Crew:
4 Siamese Algae Eaters

Bottom Dwelling:
5 Kuhlii Loaches

How's that for a 55 gallon tank with a lot of plants? Too much? Too little?
Thanks!

Gus

 

[aaronnorth]

sounds good to me, if it helps, here is my stocking list for my 216l

2 angelfish
12 neon dwarf rainbows
12 serpae tetras
4 botia striata
6 hatchet fish

 

[Gustavo]

Hey mate, thanks for the reply.

I just got done tearing the plants from the 55G tank and move them to the 10G tank with the guppies (I have 3 tanks already). Glad you like the selection, but I think I'm going to bump up the 15 Rasboras to 20. I'm a bit disappointed with the Danios, they won't school together, they just swim all over the place, chasing each other. Hopefully they'll group once I get the tank with the plants, and the other fish start arriving.

Gus