eco-complete in a very lightly planted tank?

[hc8719]

is it possible to keep eco-complete while keeping plants to a minimum?

i understand that you need some, or the waste would just inch up, but does the tank need to be densely planted?

 

[tropicfishman]

you know I've been wondering the same thing, I have a heavyly planted tank but with no special substrate. I was wondering how you would keep waste from building up around the plants, I tried lighting pressing the vaccum over the plants, worked alright but I know I need to get down deeper to get the good stuff lol

 

[locorosa]

I went with a 50/50 mix of eco and regular sand in a lighty planted tank. I concentrated the eco in the back and toward the corners. I have light planting with two groups in the corners and as they propegate I will move them across the back.
This has been set up for almost two months and the plants seem happy. I also use Flourish excel 2-3x a week. I will get a picture of the tank and add to this post.
Other than a rather ugly diatom outbreak I am happy with the setup.
Lots of new growth and rooting going on.

 

[Lonewolfblue]

You can use Eco in lightly planted tanks, as well as heavily. It won't hurt anything.

 

[hc8719]

by lightly i mean like 3 plants even. small ones

or what about no plants?

 

[Lonewolfblue]

No plants is ok too. But who would pay that much for a substrate if they were not going to plant it when there's other cheaper options if you were not going to plant? Another nice looking substrate that's a little cheaper, and is good for planting is Volcanit. I've goy it in 1 tank, and getting more for 2 more tanks, my empty 10G tanks.

 

[hc8719]

it was more of a theory than anything, though with as much waste as my pleco and gouramis produce, it'd be worth it almost if i never had to dig into the substrate and get the hordes of waste collected over a week or 2

 

[Hoovercat]

Then get some swords or crypts and quit vacuuming. The waste that is deeper than the surface is plant food at that point.