Adding Fish with Eco-Complete

**geowashlaw** · 12-12-2008, 04:13 PM

I put 60 pounds of eco-complete in my tank last night ... when should I consider adding first fish?

**Northernguy** · 12-12-2008, 04:26 PM

I know its meant for plants but what I read says nothing about cycling the tank.Is your filter already cycled?If it is and all you did was change your substrate than add your fish as soon as your filter is turned on.
If all is new you will stll have to cycle first.

**geowashlaw** · 12-12-2008, 04:37 PM

all is new ... it says it has the nitrifying bacteria in it to start the cycle ... and I've read other posts about people adding fish right away ... but I'm skeptical ... was just curious if anyone had done it with success ...

**doug z** · 12-12-2008, 04:40 PM

LOL

Don't believe everything you read.. :)

Do a fishless cycle..

You're adding plants, right?

Shouldn't take long if that's the case..

If your substrate is soil, then yes, there is enough bacteria to deal with the ammonia, etc. right from the get-go..

I've never tried it myself, though..

**geowashlaw** · 12-12-2008, 04:45 PM

have 15 live plants ... put eco-complete and then a layer of black gravel ... no soil

**doug z** · 12-12-2008, 04:48 PM

Hmm..

You didn't need to put the black gravel over the Eco, but that's cool.. :)

Yeah, still have to do a cycle.. Fishless, preferably..

The plants will speed it up for you considerably..

And yes, if you have a boat-load of plants and alot of water volume you may get away with adding fish right away, but we are talking "El-Natural", 80% of the tank filled with fast-growing plants..

**geowashlaw** · 12-12-2008, 04:53 PM

thanks. I'll just keep testing and watch for the cycle to happen. My plants are not "fast growing." They are all new and had very immature root systems. I think it may be some time before I actually see them start to grow.

**geowashlaw** · 12-12-2008, 04:55 PM

black gravel was for personal preference in appearance ...

**Poofaye C.** · 12-12-2008, 05:02 PM

I agree with the Doug-ster. All those plants and the heads up on using the eco are great, sound like you care alot. I know it's hard and a drag to wait, but I wouldn't take any chances, if you can possibly hold on a few more days at least, do so. It'll be worth it....hang in there. What kind of fish were you going for/what size tank ya got?

**geowashlaw** · 12-12-2008, 05:05 PM

in our 10g we currently have 3 guppies, 3 silvertip tetras, 1 molly, 1 platty and 2 otos ... this is a 55g tank ... will be increasing the silvertip popultation to 6-8, the platty and molly populations to 3 each, the otos to 4 and then adding a few others ... thinking some dwarf honey gouramis, 1 rainbow shark and maybe some rainbows or killies ...

do I still need to throw some ammonia in there to feed that bacteria?