Help with a compete planted overhaul

[Glenc]

Turface is good stuff. Cheap as heck and a little goes a long way. I tried it for the first time in a 75 gallon tank and am very happy with the result. I have eco in almost all my other tanks. I have pulled plants up to to inspect the root systems and was pleased to find lots of nice healthy roots. I am growing four leaf clover in the foreground and it is also taking root nicely. Glosso worked well also. Also something that might be a factor is the weight. Turface weighs next to nothing. Adds very little weight to your finished tank. That may or may not be a concern for you, just thought I'd mention it.

 

[hulkamaniac]

After hearing so much about Turface and running into so many probs trying to track down a 10 lb co2 tank locally, I think I may save the expense and go with it over eco-complete, but I'm not sure. What does eco-complete have in it that Turface doesn't? Are the extra nutrients it's supposed to contain worth the extra cost? Should I consider mixing one or two bags of eco-complete with the Turface? or would that look bad?

 

[neilanh]

I recently started using Schultz's aquatic soil that you can get from Home depot or lowes. $6 for a 10lb bag, and a 10lb bag covers double what 10lb of eco will. I would bet 40 or 50 pounds of it would fill your tank nicely, and it's cheap as well. It's growing plants for me very nicely. I have eco in one of my other tanks, and I think the schultz does almost as good of a job with the plants.

 

[hulkamaniac]

Who knew there were this many substrates to choose from. Now I'm developing a headache.

 

[hulkamaniac]

Sorry to top my own thread. I seem to be having serious problems finding a substrate. I ran to three hardware stores today. Aquatic substrate is about $15 for 20 lbs which is the same as eco-complete basically. I can't find Turface anywhere at all.

 

[Purrbox]

Have you contacted the manufacturer for Turface yet? They are generally quite responsive and got back to me within 24hrs with the only vendor that sells Turface near me. I had wasted quite a bit of time looking for it on my own and never would have thought to check with that particular seller.

 

[black udder]

don't forget that the quote above says that 40-50 pounds of the aquatic would do your tank - that's about $50 vs the Eco's $140.

Great post - lots of fantastic info. Although now I want to start all over again too... and I just finished putting it all together.

 

[hulkamaniac]

don't forget that the quote above says that 40-50 pounds of the aquatic would do your tank - that's about $50 vs the Eco's $140.

Great post - lots of fantastic info. Although now I want to start all over again too... and I just finished putting it all together.

I was told about 100-120 lbs so 5-6 20lb bags. I did e-mail the manufacturer of Turface, but haven't got any response yet. Stupid me I never thought to call them. That's what technology does to you.