Eco-complete, cories, and mixing w/regular black gravel

wonder woman · 01-18-2004, 06:18 PM

Eco-coplete seems to be the substrate to get if you have a planted tank. That being said, I'm still very concerned about it's sharpness. You can feel it through the bag. I have lots of cories. Does anyone out there have eco-complete AND cories, that have been happily co-existing for a while?
When I upsize to a 100g tank, I'd like to mix my small black aquarium gravel (from 2 30g 36" x 12" tanks) with eco complete. This way, I won't be spending $100+ on eco-complete, and the aquarium gravel will already be filled with helpful bacteria.
Any advice?
Thanks in advance!

spellweaver9 · 01-18-2004, 08:12 PM

I have eco-complete and cories, and they do fine i have had the same 7 cories in there for a year and no problems.

Rolo · 01-18-2004, 09:54 PM

I've read alot that not any of the substrates people have been worried about, in particular eco-complete and fluorite, has been hurting their cories. Barble loss is usually b/c of bacterial infections.

2la · 01-18-2004, 10:24 PM

The experiment that everyone cites as proving that it is more water quality than substrate material is flawed in several ways. That said, I do think there is indeed a water quality component to it. However, a smooth substrate will always be more beneficial to fish that root around in it--simple physics tells you that, and you hardly need to conduct experiments to prove it. Flourite is less than ideal for cories but not disastrous. Eco-Complete is a smoother substrate and would be considerably easier on cories' barbels.

01-18-2004, 06:18 PM	#1
wonder woman Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 490	Eco-coplete seems to be the substrate to get if you have a planted tank. That being said, I'm still very concerned about it's sharpness. You can feel it through the bag. I have lots of cories. Does anyone out there have eco-complete AND cories, that have been happily co-existing for a while? When I upsize to a 100g tank, I'd like to mix my small black aquarium gravel (from 2 30g 36" x 12" tanks) with eco complete. This way, I won't be spending $100+ on eco-complete, and the aquarium gravel will already be filled with helpful bacteria. Any advice? Thanks in advance! __________________ -Christina- MEMBER: #15 Eheim Pimps Club, Cory Addicts Anonymous, COAST, AGA. 550g pond= koi, comets/shubunkin, water lillies. 165g RES turtle pond in progress. 100g planted tank= 240 watts c.f., 1 DIY 1-gal co2 jug, platies, angels, lace gouramies, congos, black neons, otos. 30g= cories, platies, platy fry, ghost shrimp. 18g= platy fry 10g= baby RES tank- Turtlebuddy 30g= temp. adult RES tank- Myrtlemamma 20gL= temp. juv. RES tank- Tweak and Mertle

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01-18-2004, 08:12 PM	#2
spellweaver9 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: alabama Posts: 27	I have eco-complete and cories, and they do fine i have had the same 7 cories in there for a year and no problems.

01-18-2004, 09:54 PM	#3
Rolo Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Posts: 1,716	I've read alot that not any of the substrates people have been worried about, in particular eco-complete and fluorite, has been hurting their cories. Barble loss is usually b/c of bacterial infections.

01-18-2004, 10:24 PM	#4
2la Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 993	The experiment that everyone cites as proving that it is more water quality than substrate material is flawed in several ways. That said, I do think there is indeed a water quality component to it. However, a smooth substrate will always be more beneficial to fish that root around in it--simple physics tells you that, and you hardly need to conduct experiments to prove it. Flourite is less than ideal for cories but not disastrous. Eco-Complete is a smoother substrate and would be considerably easier on cories' barbels.