Eco Complete

[Lacuna]

I have eco-complete in my tank. Sorry if it's a stupid question but am I supposed to gravel vac like I would with ordinary gravel? It says it has special bacteria to rapidly convert fish waste into food for plants, so I'm not sure.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, you can and should gravel-clean-siphon Eco-Complete just like any other gravel, to remove debris and maintain your tank. Any benefits of Eco-Complete are tightly bound to the gravel and will not be disturbed by the process as far as I know. Supplemented gravels like EC and Flourite are good for "serving as backup," helping plants to bridge a gap in water column dosing for instance, but they are not a substitute for water column dosing of nutrients I believe.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Truck]

I have eco-complete in my tank. Sorry if it's a stupid question but am I supposed to gravel vac like I would with ordinary gravel? It says it has special bacteria to rapidly convert fish waste into food for plants, so I'm not sure.

That claim the manufacturer makes is false, fish waste IS plant food, nothing needs converting.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, agree with Truck, the bacteria part is ridiculous!

 

[lljdma06]

Yes, agree with Truck, the bacteria part is ridiculous!

I love product claims.

 

[Lacuna]

Okay, gravel vac it is. The lazy side of me was hoping for a different answer.

Now you mention it, the claim to convert fish waste into plant food does seem slightly ridiculous. Unless the bacteria just helps break down the waste more quickly. I kind of wish I'd just gone for black gravel, would have cost me a lot less.

 

[Rlon35]

Why would you vacuum into the substrate? You'll lose alot of the finer substrate. If you have a fully planted tank, you need only wave the vacuum over the bottom, stirring up aas much as you can between the plants.

Related question for the veterans out there. How much eco complete for a 90 gallon planted tank wherein the front will be a partial sand foreground? I was thinking 60 pounds, along with the 30 lbs of aged eco complete and rgavel that I will be moving from another tank.

 

[three-fingers]

I never gravel vac any of my planted tanks regardless of the substrate. MTS, bacteria and the plants roots take care of everything .

 

[Lacuna]

Why would you vacuum into the substrate? You'll lose alot of the finer substrate. If you have a fully planted tank, you need only wave the vacuum over the bottom, stirring up aas much as you can between the plants.

Well this is actually what happened. I was left with loads of the finer particles in the bucket, they all got sucked up. Plus the only space I have for gravel vaccing is the front as the tank is heavily planted at the back and sides. So I'm just going to hover above the substrate with the syphon like I do with the sand in my other tank.