Brian_Nano12g
Aquarium Advice Addict
Found the Eco complete through petco. I don't normally shop there for my fish, but it's where I'm going to get the new tank and possibly some fish depending on availability in my area. (Petco is a little out of the way here.) I want a sand pit for my corries as well, will this sand work well jw? And do you put anything under or on top of the plant substrate (not including mixing in the clay), or just leave it as it be and that's all you need?
I think that works... I'm not sure how many bags to get. Ideally you want at least 2 to 3" of substrate depth. I like to create slopes toward the back corners to add dimension so possibly more EC might be needed. Maybe someone can chime in on quantity. The sand you won't need much of. I usually create sandy beaches or rivers in my scapes. It just becomes tedious to keep the black substrate off the sand... but it's a labor of love!
With EC there's no need to mix in clay (laterite). It already has some trace elements and a high CEC, which means it is highly porous and can absorb nutrients to release it back to rooted plants. However, EC can use a little boost IMO fresh out of the bag... when I first layout the substrate, I place root tabs (I prefer Flourish Tabs) throughout, evenly spaced in the substrate.
For fertilizer, you should get a bottle of Seachem Flourish and a bottle of Seachem Excel to start. This is a well rounded dosing regimen to start for beginners. Later, you can learn about dosing dry ferts, which will save you money.