Mineralized Top Soil capped with Pool Filter Sand and Eco Complete

lowrez · 08-03-2011, 02:04 AM

I have a 40 Breeder I've been mineralizing top soil for. I have some Eco Complete I was going to cap it with, but I'm increasing liking the sand beach look in the front of the tank and thinking the HC and DHG I'd like to grow would do better in the sand. Would the steam plants benefit enough from the Eco Complete cap as opposed to sand to warrant trying to separate the two or should I just roll with a PFS cap across the whole tank? If I do both caps, will they eventually mix in together if I don't seperate them with hardscape or some sort of a guard? I'm fine with a transitional area where the two gradually mix, and this would be where the steams end and the ground cover starts so it'd be covered, but I'd like the beach to stay clean.

nyrecruiter · 08-03-2011, 03:23 AM

I capped ecocomplete with sand in my 75 (entire tank) and as far as plants go everything was great. Unfortunately for me, I have some catfish that like to wreck any ground cover or "clean" areas so my substrate mixed (looks fine). I would guess if your fish don't dig and stir things up and you can restrain yourself from digging during vacuum time you plan should work out well.

08-03-2011, 02:04 AM	#1
lowrez Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Knoxville Posts: 67	Mineralized Top Soil capped with Pool Filter Sand and Eco Complete I have a 40 Breeder I've been mineralizing top soil for. I have some Eco Complete I was going to cap it with, but I'm increasing liking the sand beach look in the front of the tank and thinking the HC and DHG I'd like to grow would do better in the sand. Would the steam plants benefit enough from the Eco Complete cap as opposed to sand to warrant trying to separate the two or should I just roll with a PFS cap across the whole tank? If I do both caps, will they eventually mix in together if I don't seperate them with hardscape or some sort of a guard? I'm fine with a transitional area where the two gradually mix, and this would be where the steams end and the ground cover starts so it'd be covered, but I'd like the beach to stay clean.

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08-03-2011, 03:23 AM	#2
nyrecruiter Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Westchester, ny Posts: 21	I capped ecocomplete with sand in my 75 (entire tank) and as far as plants go everything was great. Unfortunately for me, I have some catfish that like to wreck any ground cover or "clean" areas so my substrate mixed (looks fine). I would guess if your fish don't dig and stir things up and you can restrain yourself from digging during vacuum time you plan should work out well.