Fluval Stratum VS Eco-Complete VS ADA Aquasoil

leslieliang · 12-24-2012, 01:46 AM

From reading a bit from this forum and Google searches, this is how I would rank the three products above: ADA Aquasoil, Fluval Stratum, and Eco-Complete (from best to worst). Many people probably do no agree with this, but that is my conclusion.

The prices also match up with my conclusion, with the best product having the most expensive price.

On ADGshop, Aquasoil goes for 48 dollars for 21 pounds. That's roughly $2.28 a pound.
On Amazon, Fluval goes for 40 dollars for 16.7 pounds. I believe the 16.7 pounds is a mistake and it should actually be 17.6 pounds, resulting in a price of $2.25 a pound.
On Amazon, Eco-Complete sells for 21 dollars for 20 pounds. That's roughly $1.05 per pound.

I'm leaning more towards Aquasoil, but reading some forum posts, people seem to price a 21 pound bag of Aquasoil at like 60 dollars. This makes me kinda iffy on ADGshop selling legit Aquasoil. Can anyone confirm that they sell legit Aquasoil and if 48 dollars for 21 pounds of it is worth it.

Thanks!

Vincent Tran · 12-24-2012, 02:05 AM

ADG is legit! $48 is a good price too.

**ThatGuyWithTheFish** · 12-24-2012, 02:22 AM

Aquasoil all the way. IDK how much it weighs, but a 9L bag from here costs $30 + shipping:
http://www.adana-usa.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=680

leslieliang · 12-24-2012, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatGuyWithTheFish

Aquasoil all the way. IDK how much it weighs, but a 9L bag from here costs $30 + shipping:
http://www.adana-usa.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=680

Shipping from this site kills it. From what I have seen so far, 9 liters = 21/22 pounds.

somewhatshocked · 12-24-2012, 02:58 AM

Hate to rain on the parade but there's really no comparison on any level. Not buffering, not plant nutrition, not durability.

If you can afford Aquasoil, get it.

Buffering: ADA wins that one and it'll last a couple years

Plant nutrition: Fluval Stratum contains next to nothing, so you'll have to use root tabs

Durability: Stratum breaks down much more easily than ADA

leslieliang · 12-24-2012, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

Hate to rain on the parade but there's really no comparison on any level. Not buffering, not plant nutrition, not durability.

If you can afford Aquasoil, get it.

Buffering: ADA wins that one and it'll last a couple years

Plant nutrition: Fluval Stratum contains next to nothing, so you'll have to use root tabs

Durability: Stratum breaks down much more easily than ADA

So you are saying nothing compares to ADA Aquasoil? I guess I'm sold if that's the case. Going to buy some right now!

somewhatshocked · 12-24-2012, 03:23 AM

There are definitely substrates that come close. Fluval Stratum is just not one that can be compared, in my opinion, in any way.

It's not a bad substrate but definitely isn't in the same league.

(I use and enjoy both, for the record)

KFryman · 12-24-2012, 03:38 AM

Somewhatshocked do you know how close Azoo's plant grower bed would come to aquasoil? I can see both, and but Azoo's would be easier to get.

Green_Flash · 12-24-2012, 04:09 AM

none of the above?

shrimp soil!

**Jeffww** · 12-24-2012, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KFryman

Somewhatshocked do you know how close Azoo's plant grower bed would come to aquasoil? I can see both, and but Azoo's would be easier to get.

It turns to mud rather readily.

Stinkmonky · 12-24-2012, 06:30 AM

Don't mean to hijack but what if we throw inert capped mgocpm into the mix here

jonathan · 12-24-2012, 01:09 PM

I'm totally new to this. I know only from anecdotal evidence that Aquasoil must be the best. I've started to wonder in terms of nutrition though. The Aquasoil product description is not that much different from the Fluval Strathum. No solid mention of plant nutrition. Power Sand on the other hand does in fact mention nutritional value. Is Power Sand the real value ?

Any thoughts on that ?

**UDGags** · 12-24-2012, 01:09 PM

Aquasoil is the best if you can afford it. ADG and AFA are about the same price once shipping is added in.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

somewhatshocked · 12-24-2012, 02:52 PM

Azoo Plant Gower Bed doesn't turn to "mud" quickly. It's possible to get a bad batch, as it is with any soil product.

I've been using it for over a year with no issue. It doesn't buffer as strongly as ADA products and certainly doesn't contain the same type of nutrients but it's nice for shrimp.

**Jeffww** · 12-24-2012, 03:24 PM

When I tried a quart container from my lfs It almost disintigrated completely after a replanting or two. Maybe I got a bad sample?

12-24-2012, 01:46 AM	#1
leslieliang Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Chicago Posts: 3	Fluval Stratum VS Eco-Complete VS ADA Aquasoil From reading a bit from this forum and Google searches, this is how I would rank the three products above: ADA Aquasoil, Fluval Stratum, and Eco-Complete (from best to worst). Many people probably do no agree with this, but that is my conclusion. The prices also match up with my conclusion, with the best product having the most expensive price. On ADGshop, Aquasoil goes for 48 dollars for 21 pounds. That's roughly $2.28 a pound. On Amazon, Fluval goes for 40 dollars for 16.7 pounds. I believe the 16.7 pounds is a mistake and it should actually be 17.6 pounds, resulting in a price of $2.25 a pound. On Amazon, Eco-Complete sells for 21 dollars for 20 pounds. That's roughly $1.05 per pound. I'm leaning more towards Aquasoil, but reading some forum posts, people seem to price a 21 pound bag of Aquasoil at like 60 dollars. This makes me kinda iffy on ADGshop selling legit Aquasoil. Can anyone confirm that they sell legit Aquasoil and if 48 dollars for 21 pounds of it is worth it. Thanks!

12-24-2012, 02:22 AM	#3
ThatGuyWithTheFish Honeycomb Cats! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boston Posts: 1,671	Aquasoil all the way. IDK how much it weighs, but a 9L bag from here costs $30 + shipping: http://www.adana-usa.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=680 __________________ 20G Long Hi-Tech: My Golden Rule of planted tanks: WWTAD- "What would Takashi Amano do?" RAOK Club #69

12-24-2012, 02:58 AM	#5
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (263/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,726	Hate to rain on the parade but there's really no comparison on any level. Not buffering, not plant nutrition, not durability. If you can afford Aquasoil, get it. Buffering: ADA wins that one and it'll last a couple years Plant nutrition: Fluval Stratum contains next to nothing, so you'll have to use root tabs Durability: Stratum breaks down much more easily than ADA __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

12-24-2012, 03:23 AM	#7
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (263/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,726	There are definitely substrates that come close. Fluval Stratum is just not one that can be compared, in my opinion, in any way. It's not a bad substrate but definitely isn't in the same league. (I use and enjoy both, for the record) __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

12-24-2012, 03:38 AM	#8
KFryman Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 179	Somewhatshocked do you know how close Azoo's plant grower bed would come to aquasoil? I can see both, and but Azoo's would be easier to get. __________________

12-24-2012, 02:05 AM	#2
Vincent Tran Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Orange County Posts: 166	ADG is legit! $48 is a good price too.

12-24-2012, 04:09 AM	#9
Green_Flash Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: United States Posts: 1,458	none of the above? shrimp soil!

12-24-2012, 06:30 AM	#11
Stinkmonky Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 389	Don't mean to hijack but what if we throw inert capped mgocpm into the mix here

12-24-2012, 01:09 PM	#12
jonathan Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Brooklyn NYC Posts: 121	I'm totally new to this. I know only from anecdotal evidence that Aquasoil must be the best. I've started to wonder in terms of nutrition though. The Aquasoil product description is not that much different from the Fluval Strathum. No solid mention of plant nutrition. Power Sand on the other hand does in fact mention nutritional value. Is Power Sand the real value ? Any thoughts on that ?

12-24-2012, 01:09 PM	#13
UDGags aka Nick (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 551	Aquasoil is the best if you can afford it. ADG and AFA are about the same price once shipping is added in. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2 __________________ 125 gallon

12-24-2012, 02:52 PM	#14
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (263/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,726	Azoo Plant Gower Bed doesn't turn to "mud" quickly. It's possible to get a bad batch, as it is with any soil product. I've been using it for over a year with no issue. It doesn't buffer as strongly as ADA products and certainly doesn't contain the same type of nutrients but it's nice for shrimp. __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

12-24-2012, 03:24 PM	#15
Jeffww Microsynodontis Lover (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Houston Posts: 2,081	When I tried a quart container from my lfs It almost disintigrated completely after a replanting or two. Maybe I got a bad sample?

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