Ok so i have been wanting to change my substrate from larger gravel to something more viable for plants. My buddy recomended this eco complete susbstrate for planted aquarium. It was fairly expensive but well worth it. Along with the new substrate capable of handeling new plants i added some more plants.

Before



After





Total the switch took me 3 hours and no fish were harmed. I thought i lost my snail but he poped back up in the tank the next day. I took my filter off and attached it to a bucket, took out the plants that were in the gravel, trimmed them, got rid of what was dead and put them in the bucket with the fish. The filters stayed on the entire time. When i first put the new substrate in the water was black but in about 3 minutes it was crystal clear. I kept about 75% of the original water and did a 25% change. Tell me what u guys think. I wish i had a better camera.

Looks better, but add a bunch more plants and then it would look great. And be a healthier tank.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

Might be hard to see but there are 4 rooted plants, 1 fern and 5 patches of grass. Im thinking maybe some moss. Im hoping the grass spreads if not ill plant some more but for now its seems to be working out great.

That looks really good!

I'm starting a substrate change either today or tomorrow in my 29 and 10 gallon tanks with Fluorite. Eeeeep. Biiiig job!

You should try it in a 220, I'm considering changing out substrate in it.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

Oh boy, I do NOT want to think about it. I just finished washing one bag full and getting it into the 10 gal. It's taken me a few hours and the water is STILL cloudy. I'm just going to have to wait to turn the filter back on tomorrow when it settles back down a bit.

Thankfully I don't have any fish that need to go back into it tonight.

looks good.

I use 1" peat moss with 1" play sand then 1" of pc select (or gravel) on my systems. inexpensive and works great.

my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

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55gallon
Light - 6500K CFL, 23wattsx5 5hr/day
Substrate - Red Mexican Clay, Sphagnum Peat moss, Eco-Complete
Misc- Pressurized CO2, EI Dose KNO3, KH2PO4, CSM-B
Plants -Limnophila Aromatica, Stargrass, Dwarf Hair Grass, Christmas Moss, Baby Tears (HM), Dwarf Baby Tears(HC), Rotala Rotundifolia, Ludwigia Glandulosa, Riccia Fluitans

Yeah the eco complete is a little expensive but really worth it becuase its "pour and play" and i like the way it looks

Do you have to wash the eco-complete?

I didnt, it came in the bag wet. The bags are supposed to be sealed to hold the moisture in if they arent than find another bag.

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55gallon
Light - 6500K CFL, 23wattsx5 5hr/day
Substrate - Red Mexican Clay, Sphagnum Peat moss, Eco-Complete
Misc- Pressurized CO2, EI Dose KNO3, KH2PO4, CSM-B
Plants -Limnophila Aromatica, Stargrass, Dwarf Hair Grass, Christmas Moss, Baby Tears (HM), Dwarf Baby Tears(HC), Rotala Rotundifolia, Ludwigia Glandulosa, Riccia Fluitans