Plant substrate: Eco Complete or Flourite?

**Excellence** · 10-19-2010, 06:47 AM

I'm about ready to buy my plant substrate. Expensive but worth the value I'm sure. It comes down to Carib Sea's Eco Complete or Seachem's Flourite.

Which is better? What's your experience with them?

What does it mean Eco-Complete™ Planted Aquarium Substrate employs clever bi-modal grading, which naturally separates into 2 distinct layers: 1) Fine layer on the bottom for best root development, and 2) Coarse layer on top which conveys oxygen and nutrients to the roots.

How does the smaller gravel move to the bottom layer with the larger pieces atop? Your hand smooths it across the tank.

**MCHRKiller** · 10-19-2010, 10:24 AM

It is a natural process for smaller substrate to work its way to the bottom and the larger to the top, sort of like mixing sand and gravel..in time the gravel will wind up on top.

Eco-Complete has gone down in quality over the last few years, it has some glazed gravel looking stuff in it now where it did not have that before. It still works well for plants but it just is not as high of quality as it was. Flourite is as it always was fractured clay...works great plants love it. It is a mess to clean before use as it is very dusty. Personally I would go with the Flourite.

**gm72** · 10-19-2010, 10:27 AM

I have both in different tanks. Can't say as though I notice any difference between growth of the plants in the tanks. I have not noticed the quality decline with Eco Complete but I haven't bought any in probably 2 years.

**Sasquatch** · 10-19-2010, 11:32 AM

I haven't used Eco Complete, but I have two tanks with Flourite in them and the plants are doing very well. To be honest, you get the same kind of "bi-modal grading" with flourite. It's pretty brittle and the smaller bits wind up deeper in the substrate bed.

Be sure to give it a good rinse though before putting it in the tank ... it is very dusty!

**SkipW** · 10-19-2010, 01:09 PM

Have you looked into the substrate by aquariumplants.com ? Also a clay based like Flourite but cheaper and needs less rinsing. Works great with my plants.

**Excellence** · 10-19-2010, 01:11 PM

I'll give it a good wash. Hope a 7kg packet is sufficient because it's all I'm getting. This changes how much gravel I'll need. Now I have to recalculate!

**Lady Hobbs** · 10-19-2010, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by SkipW

Have you looked into the substrate by aquariumplants.com ? Also a clay based like Flourite but cheaper and needs less rinsing. Works great with my plants.

That's what I use but he lives in Aus. Not sure they ship there.

**WhiteDevil** · 10-19-2010, 02:10 PM

I use a mix of both, eco has more of a soil property then flourite does and with time it breaks down and offers dense nutrients longer. Flourite is nice but I am from chicago and the mix reminds me of an old brick pizza oven.

**Excellence** · 10-20-2010, 10:25 AM

Finally shortlisted two stores to acquire me the gravel and flourite I want... Just waiting on a final round of quotes. Can you believe it, out of maybe ten sites I emailed barely half the buggers didn't even reply? Hmph!

Australian efficiency...