"Doug and Lois" wrote in message ...
My LFS recently began stocking a new substrate product "Carb Sea Live Plant
Substrate". Neither the owner of the store nor the employees know much about
the stuff. They haven't stocked it long enough to get much feedback on it.
Anyone here ever use it? Does it work well as a substrate for a live plant
tank? Does the fact that it is packed in water have any real effect on the
time it takes to cycle a tank? Do the plants grow well in it? Should
anything be added to it? (Laterite for example?)

Just curious what others experience is before I sink any money into it.

Doug
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Is this the same as "Eco-Complete Planted Aquarium Substrate" ? If
so, I love it! I took out 100% florite and put in 100% Eco-Complete
(6 bags) in my 75 gal tank. The plants are growing great, but the
tank has only been up a few months since the change. I can't really
speak to the liquid as there are too many other factors to consider in
the cycling process (you should in no way rely on this alone, there is
no substitute for mature biological filtration). Here are the
benefits I found:

- It is perfect right out of the bag, no rinsing like florite.
- It is not sharp like florite, much nicer to handle and move.
- It is beautiful!

Here is my last tip. I use a layer (1/2 bag) of Tropic Isle Tahitian
Moon Sand in the front - it blends in really well with the
eco-complete, looks really cool, and helped my microsword take root.

Good Luck,
Ryan