Eco-Complete Vs Aquasoil?? JUSTIFY PRICE PREMIUM

[scorpio19]

I recently bought a 75gal bow front aquarium. I'm planning to have a heavily planted setup with Co2 injection and good light. I'm really torn between Eco-complete and ADA Aquasoil for the substrate.

Please help me justify the price difference between these two.

ADA Aquasoil: ADA recommends 4 x 9 liter bags of Aquasoil + 3 x 2 liter bags of Power Sand for 75 gal setup. That costs around $217 shipped. That's a lot.

If I choose to buy just the 4 x 9 liter bags of Aquasoil, that'd be $150 shipped. (I'm not sure if that'd be enough for 75gal, please correct me)

Eco-Complete: I guess I have to use 5 x 20 lb bags (please correct me if I'm wrong) for 75gal. It costs less than $130 (Cheap price of $105 shipped at petsolutions.com. Can someone vouch for them?)

As you can clearly see, the price difference is a lot. Would you justify the price premium of ADA Aquasoil? Is it going to make a huge difference if I use Aquasoil over Eco-complete??

Please ENLIGHTEN me, Planted Tank GURUS

 

[BobB]

I was wondering why would you need their sand? I know they will push their product, BUT?

 

[Tom Barr]

The cost difference is about 40$.

If you think that's a lot when setting up a 75 gallon planted tank, you need another hobby. You can go cheap plenty of places, used filters, freebie plants from folks, other items, DIY's etc.

These will matter less.
You can change those around easily, the sediment is tougher and less likely you might change in the future.
Aesthetics also is a big issue. I think the ADA looks better.

Pass on the power sand.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[BobB]

The cost difference is about 40$.

If you think that's a lot when setting up a 75 gallon planted tank, you need another hobby. You can go cheap plenty of places, used filters, freebie plants from folks, other items, DIY's etc.

These will matter less.
You can change those around easily, the sediment is tougher and less likely you might change in the future.
Aesthetics also is a big issue. I think the ADA looks better.

Pass on the power sand.

Regards,
Tom Barr

So you would say the ADA sediment is good but the sand is not needed?

Bob

 

[Gerryd]

Hi Bob,

So you would say the ADA sediment is good but the sand is not needed?

Yes that is the consensus. ADA soils are good, but the Power sand doesn't seem to improve things or be worth the money, so why spend the $?

 

[XPLOSV]

Hi Bob,



Yes that is the consensus. ADA soils are good, but the Power sand doesn't seem to improve things or be worth the money, so why spend the $?

Thats is true, I alway have nice growth without PS so I can't justify paying/using it.

Here in Australia its 50$ AUS a bag + 30$ shipping cost for 4bags.

Eco or Aquasoil is not much different in price, imo I'll stick to aquasoil.

If your short on cash, you can have some sand at the front and aquasoil at the back for contrast.