Eco-complete With Potting Mix Underneath

Aleksei

New Member
Mar 3, 2018
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Ames IA
I was planning on setting up a 30-50 gal jungle and want to hear opinions on the substrate.

My idea was to use Miracle-Gro potting mix under the Eco Complete ( as to avoid leaching). I want to achieve maximum nutrient capacity of my substrate and want to avoid creating anaerobic conditions. How high do you think I can go with such a substrate, or you think that I rather should stick with Eco Complete?
 

Phishless

Lifetime Member
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Jul 13, 2017
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I use miracle gro capped with BDBS in a high tech environment and it works well.
First off it leached lots of PO4, WC's for first two months in great quantity.
 

Aleksei

New Member
Mar 3, 2018
9
3
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35
Ames IA
part of my 10g is covered only with Carib Sea sand , and nothing really grows there...I imagine it created a highly anaerobic spot. A guy on Facebook told me he did his substrate like this: 1" inch of potting mix, 3" inches of eco complete and a 1/2" to an 1" of blasting sand. Once I set the tank up with plants, should I completely avoid touching such a substrate? Or I can still mess around with it - in case I want to introduce more plants for example?
 

Phishless

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Jul 13, 2017
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Arnold, MD
If the miracle gro is screened or sifted to remove all wood items then soaked in small quantities to remove all floating materials it will help greatly.
When pulling plants care must be taken, turn off filter and pull roots very gently, even 1 or 2 at a time.
Cap breaches will happen, a quick vac of the area and turn filter back on.

I move lots of stuff all the time, over time I have added extra BDBS to compensate for soil loss.

I use 1" of potting mix/topsoil and 1.25" of BDBS as a cap.
 

imransheik956

New Member
Oct 16, 2018
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RSA
regarding dirted tanks, would u think it wise to add clay based cat litter before capping?


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