ECO Complete - Is it worth it?

[@flonkas]

The amount of research you put into videos is absolutely incredible. You sir are a gentleman, a scholar, and an educator.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Thank you

[@gsgeology6475]

Ok, maybe I can try and explain a few things: First, to let you know, I am a degreed geologist with a background in mineralogy and have actually worked in the fertilizer industry. To start with the N-P-K values listed on package related only to immediately soluble compounds. Having high N-P-K values in an aquarium would be detrimental to the system as the fertilizer would all dissolve instantly and then throw your water chemistry completely out of balance. We want high values for our garden because of the soil CEC taking the majority of the nutrients. Secondly, the difference between the two Eco Competes comes down to different rock types. One is derived from basalt, which when naturally breaks down (weathers) due to exposure to water releases essential nutrients contained within the rock itself. Think of the Hawaiian Islands, this is the reason they are so lush. The red version, coming from shale, does not contain as many nutrients as the primary component to shale is quartz, however there are secondary minerals which will breakdown providing quite a bit of Potassium (K) and Fe especially. This is a common misunderstanding for people without a background in geology, or a similar field. I had to explain this to my wife when we used Eco Complete in one of our planted aquariums, which has subsequently gone gangbusters and it one of our best growing aquariums. Sorry for the insults people sent your way. They were unnecessary and not helpful in the end.

[@TrafishAquatics]

I appreciate the feedback from somebody with knowledge and a degree in the field!

[@gsgeology6475]

@@TrafishAquatics No problem. Anytime!

[@matt79hz]

you sound like the right person to ask. Which would be better simply for growth. This, or something like Master Soil, or Fluval Stratum. thanks :)

[@gsgeology6475]

@@matt79hz I haven't done a lot of research on all of the brands yet. They should all theoretically work the same way. We have used several of the planted substrates and have had good luck with the one in this video and fluval. The way these substrates work, the key is to make sure you have the N,P, K and trace elements available, so we also use Easygreen.

[@Scouse.raver1]

@GS Geology hi, just wondering which eco complete u prefer to use? Please, black or red? Emma 😊.

[@aryn32]

Thank you for providing this information. I found it extremely helpful.

[@zymphad7377]

That was my understanding with this stuff when I bought it for my 20 gallon planted. The substrate is not nutritious but rather it would hold onto fertilizer well and that it's also great for beneficial bacteria. But I would have to use fertilizer. I use the Co-Op's easy green after water change and use those root tabs each month.

[@TrafishAquatics]

That's a good plan, I use easy green and root tabs in other substrates as well as this one and haven't seen a noticible difference other than plants have a harder time rooting in this

[@fishgirlfromct7743]

Yes, please. A walk thru on CO2 would be great. Your videos are extremely educational cause your down to earth and make it easy for the average fishkeeper to understand.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Awesome! Sounds good will do!

[@Justintheinsane]

I kinda figured the media was designed to go into a tank and then get stock immediately with plants and fish. Since it started with bacteria... Thanks for clearing that bit up

[@Howdy2497]

I was a bit sceptial about the substrate so this video really helped! Keep it up!

[@TrafishAquatics]

Your welcome!

[@tinadorminy4086]

Love your information!! I subscribed!

[@TrafishAquatics]

Thank you

[@davidbowman2501]

I"ve used Eco-complete black for a couple years now in my planted tanks and I think it does just fine. I do add ferts though, both liquid and capsule.

[@TrafishAquatics]

I agree it does work but it does need the ferts added to it when you start out

[@t4ddg965]

I used 2 bags in a 65 gal tank and covered with sand. Not one single fish lost, no cloudiness, or any other negative issues. Fish straight in, and plants straight in - and they flourished. I used 2 bags in a 32 gal - topped off with sand. Lost every fish by the 2nd day. The bags had a 'sewage smell' that was not in the bags I used in the larger tank. Use caution if you smell a really strong oder. I've also fought a fine sediment, and now mystery snails.... Before I ever put 1 fish or any food back in the tank. (Note, I bought those bags the week after the winter storm in Feb, in Texas, so maybe they were compromised during shipping by the extreme weather?) For me: Very hard for me to plant 'stem' plants in the eco-complete- they wouldn't stay planted. I had to add extra sand to those locations. But bulb and rooted plants are great - when you move them they are all wrapped up in the substrate. Except for stem plants - everything has grown great I've learned from this. Was an expensive lesson, but that can happen I guess. I would use it again, but not as my main/only substrate.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Well said, I've seen similar issues with stem plants until they root up, I bet the freezing cold may have killed the bacteria if there were any.

[@andrewgoldfish]

Very helpful. I want to try something different in a new tank and this helped to explain what eco actually does.

[@05spencerdiaz]

Very interesting video. Thank for all the knowledge👍🌿🐟

[@TrafishAquatics]

You're welcome!

[@angiemoore1741]

I have echo complete in one of my planted aquariums and gravel in the other. Honestly the plants grow pretty much the same in both. I would be interested in a video about setting up a co2 system.

[@TrafishAquatics]

In the aspect of planted aquariums they're basically about the same except for the CEC values. You can grow plants just as easily in one as the other.

[@Leafs1]

For me its the tank without eco complete that has grown 10x better. Take my S Repens for example. They thrive in the tank without eco complete. Cant figure it out

[@ScottFuller-h9u]

Please show a CO2 addition video. Thanks for your sharing. I'm in the process of setting up a 75 gallon tank with substrate and coral sand, very interested in your advice!!!!!

[@jimcarnese2974]

Informative thanks Travis

[@TrafishAquatics]

Your welcome!

[@pencilpauli9442]

Thank you for the review. Am very disheartened having purchased Eco-Planted™. Guess I should have done more research, but being a beginner it was difficult to know which substrate to buy. I was under the distinct impression that Eco-Planted™is suitable for a planted tank, as the name suggests. Since your video was uploaded, Eco-Complete ™ has changed its name to Eco-Planted™. Either way it seems misleading. Have already bought some fertilisers (liquid and root tab) so hopefully that will help. What I don't want to do is have to set up a CO2 cannister system, as it is more expense and another layer of complexity for me to want to have to deal with.

[@LeFleur80]

I feel exactly the same and made the same mistake...

[@lif3l3ssgaming]

It is in a different way from my understanding like unlike fluval stratum and other aqua soils which are good for plants right away but they do leech amonia and lower PH which in some cases is not great. But they lose their nutrients over time where as eco complete may not have nutrients but it holds onto the nutrients you put into your system weather that be root tabs and or ferts but becomes basically more nutrient over time and can be reused for virtually forever where other aqua soils break down and you have to reset your tank.

[@pencilpauli9442]

@@lif3l3ssgaming Have had the tank set up about a year now. I've only started having ammonia (0.25ppm-5ppm stabilised at the lower end but persistent) Also started getting Nitrates in the water column, which is usually between 5 and 10 ppm, though has been higher. pH is stable at 6.6, which is the same as the tap water. A big problem I have had has been with hair algae. I forget the name for the type, but they are the hard algae that form using silicon. Someone from another channel who was discussing the stuff suggested that volcanic substrates maybe "feeding" brown hair algae by leaching silicates into the water column. Further research suggested that this was possible and I assume that the process is helped by the slight acidity of the water. I've changed my lighting so that may have helped but also upped the frequency of water changes. Still having problems with black beard algae though 😟😟

[@maddieempey2173]

Cant wait for the co2 video!

[@TrafishAquatics]

It's actually up so you don't have to wait 😁 kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3K6e2ttn6-Bd6c

[@cstatum1]

I have fluval stratum in two tanks and sand in another and all three have the same 7.4 ph. I don't think stratum really affects ph but it does grow plants really well. Thanks for the info.

[@TrafishAquatics]

It depends on your kh, most of the time the stratum will lower ph, but if your kh buffers it it wont.

[@Scouse.raver1]

Thanks for the info & video 😊. Emma.

[@donpettit7107]

I would further postulate that the basalt based Eco-Complete is simply basalt scoria from a cinder cone that is not crushed at all…nor is it screened meaningfully…as it contains grain sizes from granule size to silt. It is likely rinsed and placed in the bag without much processing and the humic/fulvic acid packet thrown in. In a bonsai container, basalt scoria is largely considered inert, and mostly placed to aid in supporting the soil structure. So the amount of nutrients provided is likely negligible.

[@Bacon7666]

7:00. "I haven't fertilized this tank, since basically setting it up" I am interested to know what was the time lapse that you started the aquarium to the time you made this video. So i can have an idea on how often should i fertilize my eco complete.

[@TrafishAquatics]

From initial startup till the video was about 2 months, I still have not added any fertilizer to the substrate, I did have to add some liquid fertilizer since adding my CO2 kit as the plants were consuming more nitrate than the fish are producing

[@AQUAGUYUK]

Love the stuff never see chemistry issues or swings

[@Angels-Tube]

Very good information. Thank you

[@AntoineFinch]

My Grandkids brought some goldfish from the fair which i put in a 20 gallon tank i have? how would i add this without starting the cycle over again ? i have a sponge filter and hang on a back on this tank! Its bare bottom now!

[@TrafishAquatics]

You can scoop some of this into a bowl and then slowly lower the bowl down into the aquarium and then dump it on the bottom, Just repeat this process until you have enough substrate.

[@Angels-Tube]

You made me laugh out loud when you called your pleco a butt

[@TrafishAquatics]

Lol

[@suzanayazid9769]

Very informative!

[@TrafishAquatics]

Thank you

[@brandonlee8582]

Are you familiar with how the eco complete planted (black) substrate compares to the eco complete cichlid (almost white) substrate??? I have both and seem to have better luck with the black. I do recall seeing the large list of minerals/nutrients on the back of both bags that you showed in the beginning (as advertised). The person at the pet shop told me they were "pretty much the same" which didn't seem very convincing. Just wondering if anyone knows about the cichlid variation and if it's only worth buying for a cichlid tank. Thanks!

[@TrafishAquatics]

Are you talking about the one that buffers up the ph for the cichlids?

[@brandonlee8582]

@@TrafishAquatics yes I believe there is two different ones for cichlids and they both buffer the ph

[@TrafishAquatics]

These are probably composed of crushed coral

[@kevinparrish4882]

Does the picture you showed first of the bag have an expiration date of 06/2020?

[@TrafishAquatics]

I'm not sure if it does or not, I no longer have the bags

[@TusharK-g2j]

I am using ECO Complete in my aquarium and my aquarium top layer get bit muddy after 10-15 days, Is it recemented to grave ECO Complete Aquarium?

[@matthewkringle2599]

I started a 40 gallon tank and some smaller ones with this and I didn’t have any cloudiness from bacteria. They advise not to rinse it, especially in chlorinated water

[@TrafishAquatics]

Right, I didn't rinse as directed and still got a bloom so who knows, I don't have chorine in my water either.

[@IansFishRoom]

I'll definitely be price comparing eco-complete and lava rock next time I need some substrate.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Definitely curious to see how it prices out eco-complete versus normal lava rock since it's literally the same thing lol

[@matthewkringle2599]

I would not suggest buying lava rock and smashing it. You end up with tons of different sized sharp edges. Eco Complete I believe goes through rock crushers and a tumbler so it’s very uniform and not razor sharp. I crush lava rock for my filters instead of always buying expensive ceramic media, but it is a huge pain

[@IansFishRoom]

@@matthewkringle2599 I wasn't going to break it. I was going to look for something similar to this. amzn.to/3gfTWST

[@matthewkringle2599]

@@IansFishRoom Ah that’s a good idea. When you look for Eco Complete check petco.com or petsmart.com. Always much cheaper on their sites and if you pickup in store at petco you can usually get like 25% off on top when you place an order of $50 or more

[@davidnowparvar2209]

Does the substrate cause algae issues ?

[@frank_texas7400]

I have been planting aquariums for over 15 years, I have hydroponics stations for my cooking herbs have been doing it for 10 years and I have tried and experimented with most of the stuff out there… I once ran a planted tank with 20.20.20 of course no fish on it (I am not a monster or anything) I have used Amazonia substrate but nothing compares to a bed of cheap pea gravel on top of that organic potting soil them root tabs and cover it with sand or home center lava stone…fail proof cheap parameters stay basically the same and last for over 2 years without any co2 or liquid fert just fish poop

[@TrafishAquatics]

Yep organic soil with a cap on top of it is one of the easiest and best ways to grow plants

[@LifeAsAThomas]

So this could be used for plants as a soil? I’ve been doing a Pon mix but would like something I could just buy done.

[@TrafishAquatics]

It can be but it's mostly inert until fertilizer is added to it and then it absorbs the fertilizer to release to the plants later.

[@Angels-Tube]

How big is the tank behind you?

[@IansFishRoom]

65g

[@TrafishAquatics]

Yep 65 gallon

[@cynthiaduran7811]

Does your pleco do well with this substrate? I have a pleco and am worried he’ll choke on it

[@TrafishAquatics]

Yes he's perfectly fine

[@ThePlantedTankTV]

If you look at the back of the bag it says it will raise you waters ph. That's why I quit recommending it to people... Says it at the bottom left corner of the bag on the back...

[@1domcouk]

I've heard that Eco-complete is not good for the barbels of corydoras catfish. A sand substrate is better for them perhaps.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Sand is definitely a good option, I haven't seen any issues with mine though so far but I've been keeping an eye on it

[@MrGhoulie]

I used this substrate and within a few weeks I got a bunch of white fluffy mold or fungus on my substrate. Almost looked like thick fog on the bottom. Ended up boiling it and then trying it again, and the same thing happened. I thought it might of been because of my driftwood, but I boiled my driftwood, PLUS there wasn’t a single bit of the mold or fungus growing on my wood. It was only on top of the substrate. Can anyone help? I really like the look of the substrate, the rough natural look as opposed to smooth pea gravel, and a lot of planted substrate like fluval stratum I’m not a gain of the unnatural balls it is made out of.

[@lif3l3ssgaming]

sure it was mold cause its sounds like biofilm which is completely normal

[@thatonefoofrumlongbe]

How's your eco complete doing now a days? I bought it for all my tanks. No Co2. Just osmocote diy Root tabs. I started to heavily plant, and I'm wondering if i shot myself in the foot with this substrate. I definitely hate stem plants with this substrate, so i went with a bunch of Amazon swords.

[@tinadorminy4086]

I would LOVE a video on co2

[@TrafishAquatics]

Awesome kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3K6e2ttn6-Bd6c

[@EllaCruzfansite]

great system for 0 overgrowth though! id keep it like that

[@TrafishAquatics]

I have left it this way so far, the pogostemon octopus has gone nuts which is normal lol

[@gregblount5577]

Maybe you should have done the research before you ordered it. I’ve used it in 2 tanks and it’s been great

[@TrafishAquatics]

Im not saying it doesnt work, as it will eventually have enough nutritional buildup to sustain plants, im just saying that you arent getting whats advertised.

[@gregblount5577]

@@TrafishAquatics have you done something on CO2? Do you have a link?

[@TrafishAquatics]

Yes kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3K6e2ttn6-Bd6c

[@mellewedin8221]

I love this active substrate. The only issue with it, it will raise pH.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Shouldn't raise pH, it's just lava rock, hasn't raised my pH at all.

[@dat_boii]

Huh... so I guess that's why my Eleoacharis wouldn't grow when I planted a ton of it in this stuff a few years ago.

[@burakagus3103]

I want that rock.

[@Leafs1]

1 year later i can honestly say it has done nothing for me. Root tabs and weekly ferts.......nothing. 4 tanks here and 3 with normal substrate are perfect, big big tank with EC is nonwhere near as lush as them. Cant figure it out

[@TrafishAquatics]

Agreed, I just don't think it's as good as other options.

[@Leafs1]

@@TrafishAquatics we learn so much over the years but sometimes finding that perfect medium in a tank is frustrating. It just hurts a lot when you have been doing this for years and you think "ok i am going to change my substrate and fork out some money for it" and nothing especially when my wife says u dont need that!. She goes out and buys a 200L thats now as lush as an amazonian forest and i cant even get my anubias to look good let alone my stem plants.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Honestly the best substrate I've ever found for growing plants is black diamond blasting sand, is completely inert but does have some iron in it, You can use root tabs and liquid fertilizers or cap soil with it and it works great either way

[@mellewedin8221]

The substrate is not inert, it will raise pH. I use it, it's all have used for active substrate. When they do not risen it. Do not risen it. You are stripping of all the good Bacteria it has grown, and all the good stuff your plants need.

[@TrafishAquatics]

I did not rinse it

[@julioflores4053]

IT WORKED FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND START TO DECAY AFTER, I PERSONALTY DON'T RECOMMEND IT.

[@TrafishAquatics]

What do you mean decay? It's a stone so I'm not sure what you mean.

[@ballistic350]

You still need liquid fertilizer..

[@TrafishAquatics]

Fish waste being broken down as well as minerals from water changes are your liquid fertilizer

[@ballistic350]

@@TrafishAquatics thanks im gonna go with eco complete also for my planted tank I plan on setting up... new to the aquasacping planted tank hobby...