Looking for users of Eco-Complete African Cichlid Substrate & tahitian moon black sand. Pros & Cons of both needed.

I have Eco-Complete in 2 of my tanks. I love it and so do the plants and MTS. MTS are there to turn it, clean it, and airate it. The plants grow like crazy. There's no need to rinse it before putting it in the tank. You'll want to carefully vaccum the surface to remove uneaten food, feces, and dead plant matter, but you could also just push it in for the plants.

No rinsing, that's a great selling point. What are MTS?

i've never used either for my aficans, I've always just used plain silica sand. if you get it from menards, home depot, etc. its usually already pretty clean and the cloudiness clears up within a day. but you should really check Pet World out to see if they have what your looking for

Well, I have both forms of MTS: Multiple Tank Syndrome and Malaysian Trumpet Snails. I was talking about the latter in my other post. lol The MTS burrow in the EC and eat what's in there and get their freak on. lol I usually don't see them unless I turn out the light at night. The stuff is expensive! I am not sure how much it is at Pet World, and the only other place that I have seen it locally was at Paradise Cove for about $34 a bag--one bag is 20 pounds, but some of that weight is water, yes, it's packed with water, it's live soil, complete with beneficial bacteria to help start a cycle (that's what the bag says, I don't 100% believe it, though). You'll also want about a 3 inch depth. For my 30 long (36"x13"--think that's the correct width), I used 4 bags (80 lbs.). I had posted this on a planted tank forum, and they said that I used too much, but I have also been told that I used the correct amount. I just know that it looks great, the plants are growing like crazy, and the MTS love it, but my wallet hated it. I think my EC cost more than my tank and stand combined. I found it on Ebay for cheap, though.

The Eco Complete for cichlids is 19.99 for 20lbs at Drs Foster/Smtih. I'll have to check at PW.

personaly i would not have a substrate 3" deep, as at that depth it can hold nasties that you dont want in your tank if you can help it, personaly i would not use any thing deeper than 2" but remember you will have to rake sand periodicaly to prevent a build up of gasses, you will know if you have as it smells like rotten eggs

I agree with clunkster. If sand is your substrate it should be 1.5" max depth. If not, it can harbor pockets of noxious gas that can be released and kill your fish.

I use both of the substrates mentioned. Both require a ton of washing or your water will turn black or white depending. That being said, a perfect and fairly easy way to wash it is to put it in an old pillowcase and rinse until the water runs out of the bottom clear. Much easier than a bucket.

Other than the cleaning, I love both of these substrates. I use the TMS with a light blue background and the eco-complete with black. They both show off colors very well and are both extremely easy to clean as all sand is since the poo sits on top.

If you have any other specific questions, feel free to send me a PM.

I currently use pool filter sand as it has a slightly larger grain that allows for vacuuming and it costs about 8.50 for a 50lb bag.

HTH

The Eco complete you dont have to wash since it's packed in water.

No problems here with mine without washing. After mine settled, it was fine.

The Aragamax is the worst. I liked the PFS, I washed it anyway. Some said not too, but the issues I had with the Aragamax I didn't want to take any chances

I did the aragamax thing once and it was a nightmare. I rinsed and rinsed and rinsed and finally I had enough & put it in the tank anyways and filled the tank, drained it, filled it, drained it about 20 times (with the python) Finally I could see thru it. Never again

That was the worst day of my life. I washed that stuff in the shower for 14 hours. not quote 90 pounds. Then into the tank to have filled, stirred around. drained another 10-15 times. About 1 month later finally clear. Never again will I mess with that stuff