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Seachem Flourite vs Eco-Complete
Use this detailed comparison of Seachem Flourite vs Eco-Complete to learn about these two types of substrates.
Owning an aquarium is relaxing. It’s also beautiful to look at and gives your home a focal point.
Your fish aquarium won’t be complete without a few main items. You have to have one or more types of fish and a couple of plants.
You’ll also have to have a filter and a layer of tank gravel on the bottom of the aquarium. Today, we’re going to discuss that bottom layer, which many believe to be one of the main components of your tank.
This bottom layer is also known as
Contents
Overview
Here are the basics about each type of
Seachem Flourite
Get Seachem FlouriteThe Seachem Flourite Black substrate is manufactured by Seachem. Seachem’s innovative laboratories were founded by Dr. Leo G. Morin more than 3 decades ago. They’re known for their love of finding state-of-the-art solutions to the various problems facing aquarists.
It’s a stable form of porous clay gravel. This Seachem
The Flourite Black is extremely effective when it’s used alone as tank gravel. At the same time, it can be combined with other types of substrates to further boost the quality of your fish tank.
The Seachem Flourite
This beautiful-looking
Flourite aquarium gravel is rich in micro-nutrients and minerals. They work to boost the natural growth and development of your live plants. It also enables the plant roots to spread and grow naturally.
Your fish will also love the Flourite Black
Eco-Complete
Get Eco-CompleteThe Eco-Complete substrate is manufactured by CaribSea Inc. it’s best used with fish tanks that contain live freshwater plants. Its granules are black. They always seem to sparkle and shine, giving the tank a remarkably unique and elegant look.
One of the best features of substrates is that they balance out the colors in the tank. Since the Eco-Complete is dark, it’ll make any light-colored fish appear more dynamic.
This high-quality
When plants find a healthy, well-balanced environment, it boosts their growth. Your tank will look attractive, clean, and well-nourished. And your notice your fish will seem calmer and happier.
If you’re having some problems with Eco-Complete check out this video from Jay at The Planted Tank. Jay has some great videos for beginners getting into the planted tanks. His channel has helped me out a great deal – check out the video below.
Material
Each type of
- Gravel
- Soil
Sand - Pebbles
- Marbles
Seachem Flourite
The Seachem Flourite
At the same time, it still retains its light, permeable clay gravel structure. Its high-quality design is best used in aquariums with live, natural plants.
The Flourite
One of Flourite
The Seachem Flourite is pre-washed. Yet the manufacturer recommends that you give it a quick rinse before placing it in your tank. When you rinse it, you’ll remove any traces of residual dust that may be in the bag.
When it’s time to place this
If you’d prefer to speed up the clarifying process further, try Clarity. It’s one of the most trust-worthy water clarifiers available. It’s suitable for both freshwater and marine tank water.
Another feature that makes the Seachem Flourite
Eco-Complete
The Eco-Complete
The first time you open the Eco-Complete
This Eco-Complete feature saves you time and effort. Make sure you don’t rinse the Eco-Complete, as you would with other types of substrates. Rinsing it in any way will just wash away the helpful bacteria you need to promote the health of your plants. The good bacteria also keep the water’s pH balance in check.
If you prefer, you can strain the
Once your Eco-Complete substrate is added to the tank, the water may become unclear. That’s a normal reaction to the gravel settling into the water. It should take less than 24 hours for everything to settle back into place. Then, you’ll notice that the water has become clear once again.
One of the features that make the Eco-Complete
These different sized tank gravel pebbles have a way of naturally arranging themselves on the bottom of the tank. The small pebbles find their way and settle completely to form the
The large pebbles tend to float and drift more, rather than settle down in one place. The two different sizes, plus the fact that they sparkle in the light, add an appealing quality to the tank.
Surface
Both types have a porous surface, which promotes healthy bacteria and plant growth.
Seachem Flourite
The Flourite
Even though the Seachem Flourite has a light, permeable surface, its gravel settles completely on the bottom of the fish tank. it doesn’t float to the top or drift in the water.
Eco-Complete
Eco-Complete has one of the most highly permeable surfaces of all the substrates. It provides up to four times more surface area than other types of substrates.
The reason why the surface area is so vital in a tank is that it helps the good bacteria develop and grow. It also boosts the development of healthy roots underneath the
Environmental Impact
Both the Seachem Flourite and the Eco-Complete substrates contain all-natural, mineral-rich ingredients.
They don’t cause any discoloration in the tank water because they’re free of dyes and artificial colors. Plus, they don’t contain any chemically-treated coating or outer covering.
Usage
The Seachem Flourite Black
These substrates promote healthy bacteria growth and keep the water’s pH balanced. They also give the tank an attractive look, and make it look terrific!
Plants also love porous substrates because it allows them to spread their roots and take hold of the gravel. Other materials that need a support base to settle on are fish feces and fish food. The
Since substrates contain high levels of nutrients and minerals, they promote healthy plant growth. When your live plants are healthy, your fish will also be healthy and happy.
Plant Nutrition
A good
Seachem Flourite
The Flourite
Plants need to find a place for their roots to take hold of. Substrates offer a nice base for the live plants to help strengthen the roots, and ultimately, the entire plant. It also boosts their growth and helps them stay rooted in one place.
Eco-Complete
Eco-Complete contains a wide variety of healthy elements, nutrients, and minerals. It boosts plant growth, as well as provides the tank with a healthy, natural-looking environment.
Another reason why the Eco-Complete
Water’s pH Balance
It’s better if you keep the water’s pH balance at a neutral 7.0. On average, freshwater aquarium fish require a pH balance of between 6.8 and 7.6.
Seachem Flourite
The Seachem Flourite won’t trickle out any chemicals into the tank water. This
Eco-Complete
The Eco-Complete
Seachem Flourite Pros and Cons
Pros
- Made from specially fracted porous clay gravel
- Rich in minerals and micro-nutrients
- Doesn’t require replacement
- Boosts healthy plant growth
- The bag comes with an inner mesh bottom for easy rinsing inside the bag
- Free of chemicals or dyes
Cons
- May create a thin layer of film on your plants
Eco-Complete Pros and Cons
Pros
- Made from volcanic basalt soil
- Rich in nutrients
- Contains helpful bacteria
- Has an extremely porous surface
- Boosts healthy plant growth
- Bi-modal
- Pre-cycled
- Free of dyes, chemicals, or artificial coatings
- Cost-effective price
Cons
- Can be a challenge trying to reach a neutral pH balance
Cost
To figure out the cost, check the size of your tank. Then calculate how much
Seachem Flourite
The Seachem Flourite Natural Planted Aquarium
It’s only available in a 15.4-lb bag.
Eco-Complete
The Eco-Complete Stratum is more budget-friendly than the Seachem Flourite. It’s a smart choice if you have tanks with a large capacity. This
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seachem Flourite good for plants?
Yes, Flourite aquarium gravel is rich in micro-nutrients and minerals. They work to boost the natural growth and development of your live plants. It also enables the plant roots to spread and grow naturally.
How long does it take Flourite to settle?
Flourite is very dusty and you really need to rinse it a lot. Typically it will clear up in about 2 days. Some cloudiness is normal. You can use filter floss to help remove the cloudiness quickly.
How do you use Flourite substrate ?
Ensure to place a bowl or plastic bag over the
After going through our Seachem Flourite vs. Eco-Complete comparison, you now know everything there is about these two top kinds of substrates on the market. When you have all the necessary information, it’s easy to pick the one that best meets your tank’s needs.Find out more about what makes each type of
Both types of these tank gravel substrates will make sure the plants in your tank get all the nutrients and minerals they need. They give an appealing look to your tank. Plus, they make the colors of the plants and fish pop with color.
Each type has its advantages and disadvantages. Finding the best one to cover the bottom of your tank depends solely on your personal preference.
Further Reading: Be sure to check out our round-up Best Substrate For A Planted Tank and learn which substrates promote the fastest plant growth.