[Vitae]

I ordered 2 bags of EcoComplete from DrFosterSmith.com and unfortunately, they came to my door in a SOPPING WET box. All the water had drained from the bags.. :icon_frow :icon_frow :icon_frow
I don't blaim DrFosterSmith.com at all, every shipment I've ever gotten from them has been perfect :hihi: but I blame FedEx.

I called DFS customer service and let them know what happened, and to my surprise and happyness they will be sending me 2 new bags! :icon_surp

My question is, since I have these 2 dry bags of EcoComplete, is it still safe to use them? These were for the 40G im setting up as a planted Discus tank, and I could use the dry stuff in case I needed more, but I don't want to use it if it could be unsafe.

 

[Pooky125]

That happened to me this week too! Two of my 4 bags had exploded. I couldn't see how it hurt them any, so I'm using them...

 

[oblongshrimp]

I don't see why it would be unsafe.....I have taken it out of my tank and left it outside for a month and put it back in a tank dry and it didn't cause any harm so I see no reason why you would have a problem.

 

[EdTheEdge]

I don't see why it would be unsafe.....I have taken it out of my tank and left it outside for a month and put it back in a tank dry and it didn't cause any harm so I see no reason why you would have a problem.

Huh? I can't help but wonder..... Why does EcoComplete ship wet?

 

[frozenbarb]

its some secret water that has bacteria in it to make the water cycled as soon as you put it in.its some buffer liquid thing

 

[Vitae]

Thank you all for your replies! I'm starting up my first real big planted tank.. and EcoComplete was my first choice for substrate.
I've put the dry stuff in there and I'm actually glad im getting some more.. I could use an extra bag.
It's I believe a 45 gallon? But that is for another thread

 

[alanzhao]

I just got six bags of eco today also from same place and most bags are half freezed and one exploded, but I will still use them.

 

[Betowess]

That water stuff is a bunch of marketing hype anyhow. No bacteria can live for months in a closed bag. Just like in our tanks, they need O2. Dry bags are fine.

 

[Blacksunshine]

yeah it will be fine.
the reason it shipps wet is to increase the bag weight and screw you out of about 8lb of substrate.
And to keep the worms and nematodes that are always in it alive.
Personaly I'm never buying another bag of Eco. I'm pissed my last bag was barely enough to cover a 6 gallon tank and that it always shipps with bugs. pisses me off to see bugs in a newly setup tank.

 

[Vitae]

Well I got my second shipment of Eco in today, and it was all fine, no exploded bags.
Though, I added it all together and now I think I have TOO much substrate. Thats ok, I planned on re-doing my 20G anyway.
Speaking of which, going to post another thread...

 

[Westbrook]

I set up my 90 gallon with the Eco Complete and did not have any problems at all. Certainly no bugs. It has been several months and still everything is good. Should I expect to see these nematodes anytime soon??

 

[Galactic Doug]

The bacteria within Eco Complete are completely safe after a drying out because they simply do like most bacilli they reduse numbers to keep those healthiest alive the longest, then when conditions are ideal again they multiply. I have a friend that worked for a local University in their science lab, and he measured the amount of bacili in a drop of water before during and after a drying out just to see what would happen. They dyed off to extremely low numbers during the drying process then when he added some good water again they began to multiply at a repid rate. The total process took approximately 1 month from wet to dry, and back to wet again.

Basically they are one of the hardiest creatures on this planet next to viri.:eek5:

As for the bugs, I have never heard anyone having any real problems with them doing anything harmful to their tanks so...

Happy Planting!