I'm a little confused about this substrate... I read in a previous thread that the majority of the nutrients in this substrate is contained within the liquid in the bag. Is there any validity to that statement? It concerns me because water changes would render the nutrient load of the substrate rather quickly if it was all in solution.

Also, if I were to use half of the substrate and save the rest for another tank or a future use (since I only have a 5 gallon hex), would the EC be fouled due to air-exposure? I assume that the live bacteria in the substrate might die, and I don't particularly want anything else growing in there. Should I let it dry out if I'm not going to use the remainder of the bag for several months?

Thanks.

LOL, I'd love to know who made that nonsense up!?

just use it straight without rinsing it.
and if it stays wet or drys out in
storage, it won't really matter.

The Eco will stay good. I have used half bags that had been opened for a year before. I also have used the same Eco for 3 years (I have been switching tanks around) and it grows everything just the same.

its a great sustrate , i have had this for a yr and plants r still growing nicely

as I mentioned earlier... alot of people have had really good results using this substrate,
the downside as to why more people dont use it is becuase of the cost

You have to remember though... yes the substrate is a vital part in growing healthy plants, but it is merely only a part of the whole equation..

The liquid is a bacterial content of the substrate. It helps cycling tank.

I know that's what they advertise and I believe you if you say it works but how do the bacteria survive with out air and ammonia. The ammonia is easy enough I suppose to supply in the liquid mix but Nutrifying bacteria are aerobic species. I'm just perplexed I guess and quite a bit gun shy after my first 3 years (6 total) of keeping fish and wasting countless amounts of money on "quick cycle" products to only discover that only BioSpira actually works. And that's only if it's kept refrigerated from the time it's packaged till the time it's introduced in your tank.

Just can't seem to get my arms wrapped around this one.
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condominiums sale Pattaya

Ditto. I've had this for around a year also and I've had nothing but good results. Eco-Complete is great stuff, just a tad pricey. Sometimes you can catch a good sale though. Best of luck and keep us posted on that hex5! I have one also and I'm kind of at a standstill with it.

I paid 24 bucks for a 20lb bag, like I have 60lbs =80 bucks..its worth it...doesnt cloud the tank and it also give a nice blk color

Thanks, Mikeb. I suppose I'll start a thread somewhere with pics, but right now I don't have much aquascaping going on. It's mostly a practice tank to see if I can even grow plants. So far, so good. Even with inert gravel and a 13 watt CF, I can grow java moss and corkscrew val like crazy, and my red ludwigia has lots of pink and red new growth. Pretty neat. Reason I ask about the EC is because I want to do things right when I set up a larger tank.