libertybelle
Aquarium Advice Addict
I have inert black gravel in my 29 at the moment. Fairly thin layer (when I first started the tank I had nearly 100% plants that didn’t care much about rooting. (Anubius, java ferns etc) so there’s not much in there. I eventually added some val and boy did it take off and some other things.
But there’s clearly not enough substrate in there and when I thin plants I can’t even get roots reburied!
I 100% do not want to change out the substrate entirely. (I have a toddler at home with me and I just won’t have time for that project right now. )
Instead of just getting more black gravel I wanted to add some eco complete to add some trace minerals for the rooting plants along with some much needed depth.
From what I can see it looks like the eco complete would ‘match’ pretty well with black gravel so the inevitable mixing won’t look heinous. Anyone think it would be a problem to add the ecocomplete on top of existing black gravel?
Also I see mixed reviews on rinsing this stuff. Usually if I’m adding gravel to an existing tank with inhabitants I just rinse like crazy and put it in one cup at a time over time so as not to stress fish out. Do you really not rinse eco?
But there’s clearly not enough substrate in there and when I thin plants I can’t even get roots reburied!
I 100% do not want to change out the substrate entirely. (I have a toddler at home with me and I just won’t have time for that project right now. )
Instead of just getting more black gravel I wanted to add some eco complete to add some trace minerals for the rooting plants along with some much needed depth.
From what I can see it looks like the eco complete would ‘match’ pretty well with black gravel so the inevitable mixing won’t look heinous. Anyone think it would be a problem to add the ecocomplete on top of existing black gravel?
Also I see mixed reviews on rinsing this stuff. Usually if I’m adding gravel to an existing tank with inhabitants I just rinse like crazy and put it in one cup at a time over time so as not to stress fish out. Do you really not rinse eco?