Yes, I got the info I needed out of this. I like Eco-Complete and Flourite myself. I am afraid of soil and Aquasoil.

Great information ! Started with just gravel,plant's that don't require co2 or substrate. Fish love it but now I want more plant's for fish so I'm now graduating to substrate. Unfortunately due to pandemic here small local owned stores haven't been able to get it from their supplier so got clay substrate as this is what they are using in the meantime. Learning process & you gave me si much information. THANK'S!

Your house looks great man, nice setups!

Todd, this was fantastic! I’m setting up a 75g heavily planted aquarium with a cherry shrimp colony and looking for opinions on inert substrate. I am in between flourite and eco complete and because of your points I’ve decided to go with eco-complete! Keep up the good work, love the content!

I was on the fence before, but after your video, I've decided for my new tank on a mixture of dirt, stratum, and eco complete, LOL. going to cap it with pea gravel/sand mixture. Thanks, you basically confirmed that all three of those substrates are great in their own way. 😊

Great video

I have sand in one of my 75 gallons and eco complete in the other 75. In my 3 smaller tanks I have fluval stratum. Fluval is my absolute favorite. Doesn’t cloud water and grows plants great. Yes it’s more expensive but it saves me in root tabs.

Flourite is an inert substrate without much nutrients. Its just a high CEC substrate. Its basically clay. You'll have to use root tabs to seed the flourite/ feed your plants. Its great for holding nutients, but doesnt come with any in it.

Try creating your own aqua soil. Add compost to organic soil along with manure and peat; then mix two parts clay to one part soil mix. Sterilize it add water untill the right consistancy. This will mold great and make hills easily.

Eco complete and flourite seachem are my 2 I use ... fluvel ones aren't bad too mix it with the seachem ones...

I did my first dirted tank a few months back and what you said has answered my one question about why my water won't clear up 100% right now its about 95 to 97% fully clear but there's always a bit of haze to it. I guess it's the dirts fault 🤷. I'm upgrading to a 125 next month I might just go back to gravel topped with sand and just use root tabs.. I must say though the dirted tank has grown plants like crazy in these 3 almost 4 months. Like insanely well. I just like having a clear looking tank above anything.

Thx

Thanks I'm setting up a new grow out area. I'm thinking of using pea gravel under the stratum to counteract the plants floating problem.

Any advice on planting in eco complete? I have trouble keeping my stems buried when I cut and replant

Great video. Where did you get your Harlequins?

If I already have sand, can I put the more expensive soil on top of it or do I have to remove the sand?

Newbie, please be nice ... was going to do a mix/ layer of the Eco complete/ little bit of potting soil under ... have my stratum in between my rocks... kinda like a mix ... would this be something Terrible to do?? I already have all these things .. I have a 20gal tall ... your thoughts? I ask you as your video was one of the ones I've learned most from so thank you!

You have any ottos?

What is the black diamond grain… I can only find fine.

Did the blasting sand show poop bad?

Fluval Stratum is not a clay based substrate. It is made from volcanic soil.