Once and for all: Does Flourite contain as many nutrients as Seachem claims it does? - Page 2 - Science of Aquatic Substrates

hoppycalif · 05-02-2008, 11:11 AM

Eco Complete is not altered by baking or other manufacturing steps, other than crushing and grading for particle size, as far as I know. Its nutrients come from the black water they package with it, again as far as I know.

ADA Aquasoil is, I think, baked and loaded with some nutrients as part of the manufacturing process.

Flourite and SMS are clays that are baked, with no nutrients added.

I could be wrong on all of those statements, but I don't think so.

Newt · 05-08-2008, 08:46 AM

I am led to believe that Eco is not naturally occuring for the following reasons: All they will say about it on the website and bag is that it is 'all natural' which does not equate to naturally occuring. The other reason is why so many BAD batches? Does nature screw up? Or is it the manufacting process that gets it wrong.

Too many issues with people complaining about their pH and algae problems due to this stuff leaching into the water column for me to use it.

Like you Hoppy, I could be wrong.

BryceM · 05-08-2008, 04:28 PM

Rumor has it that the "contamination issue" was a result of their SW substrates (crushed shells) getting mixed in with their FW substrates at the yard. Truth? Fiction? Who knows.

What is certain is that CaribSea lost a bunch of potenial customers during that episode. I find Eco to be an ideal substrate, but that's just me talking. You can have success or failure with just about anything.

lauraleellbp · 05-09-2008, 11:09 PM

Having temporarily owned 5 bags of the "bad" Eco, IMO it LOOKED like the planted got mixed up with their cichlid substrate. There were some seashells in mine.

I've read through a few threads where CaribSea reps claimed that they were mining a new pocket that gave some unexpected content.

Whichever, I took it all back and am quite happy with my black Fluorite, so they lost me on that one purchase, at least?

Newt · 05-10-2008, 05:26 AM

Have then tell you what type of rock it is and then I will believe it is natural.

Nelumbo74 · 05-11-2008, 12:03 PM

I use flourite without any liquid fertilizers whatsoever, and my plants grow like weeds. I also get wonderful coloration. I think there is entirely too much emphasis put on liquid ferts. That's only my opinion.

BryceM · 05-11-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelumbo74

I think there is entirely too much emphasis put on liquid ferts. That's only my opinion.

Well, it's really depends on your particular light intensity. I have a 46g heavily planted, CO2 injected, low/medium light tank that get's no ferts beyond fish food. The plants are beautiful, dense, and don't grow so quickly that they're a nuiscance. It's also 100% algae free (knock on wood). In that sense, I agree with you.

If I tried the same thing on my high-light tank it'd go to pot real quick. Growth rates are simply too fast to keep up with using substrate-only methods. I've tried it. It sometimes makes me wonder why I bother with the high-light stuff.