Does Eco-Complete ever need to be changed out and loses it's beneficial elements after time? Or is it good for the life of the tank?
477292
This is a long term hearty substrate. Anytime I uproot a plant I notice its roots are stuck to black granular pieces of it. The only way to get it off is to cut the root. So the plants love it enough to embrace it literally. Laterite dissolves, sands and soils get bacteria over growth but this stuff seems to be stuck to the roots. When I have strong currents it moves around easily and when I syphon the gravel it gets sucked up easily with soil debris and sand so I would use it as a bottom layer or a mix. But yes this is great for long term use and it won't dissolve on you. Shrimp love it plants love it and it comes with its own live bacteria. This is a long term hearty substrate. Anytime I uproot a plant I notice its roots are stuck to black granular pieces of it. The only way to get it off is to cut the root. So the plants love it enough to embrace it literally. Laterite dissolves, sands and soils get bacteria over growth but this stuff seems to be stuck to the roots. When I have strong currents it moves around easily and when I syphon the gravel it gets sucked up easily with soil debris and sand so I would use it as a bottom layer or a mix. But yes this is great for long term use and it won't dissolve on you.... » Read More This is a long term hearty substrate. Anytime I uproot a plant I notice its roots are stuck to black granular pieces of it. The only way to get it off is to cut the root. So the plants love it enough to embrace it literally. Laterite dissolves, sands and soils get bacteria over growth but this stuff seems to be stuck to the roots. When I have strong currents it moves around easily and when I syphon the gravel it gets sucked up easily with soil debris and sand so I would use it as a bottom layer or a mix. But yes this is great for long term use and it won't dissolve on you. Shrimp love it plants love it and it comes with its own live bacteria. « Show Less
477293
From what I've read and what I've experienced,the fertilization/nutritional aspect of the substrates depletes with time as your plants use it. How long it takes depends on how dense your aquarium is planted. My lightly planted tank last about 6 months. Just be careful with it because can change your water parameters if you get a bad batch. If you see any white specs or rocks, Do Not Use it. See my review for more info.
2277846
It takes quite a while for the bacteria to build up in the filter. Said it was important to not change out all media in the filter at the same time. I used Prime that removes chlorine when I do water changes. Also use Stress Plus in the tank and All Gone in my filter. My tank stays extremely clear and I have happy fish.
2255462
Hello William,Using carbon in addition would not be harmful in any way but is really not necessary.Chemi-Pure is a mix of high grade carbon and absorbtive resins.Resins are far more effective than carbon and also last longer.Generally if you do not overfeed your tank and do water changes regularly a 10oz jar of Chemi-Pure will last about 3 months and do a great job polishing up to 50 gals of water.If you have a larger tank use 2 jars.
526255
I believe it depends on how many fish you have and how quickly the tank get dirty. Personally i just change it once a month to be safe.I have a 55 gallon tank with some tetras, two angel fish, two pelcos, and a albino corry(Total: 9 fish). I only change once a month, even when i had 13 fish i still changed the filter once a month.I never had any issues with the fish and my water always passed the weekly tests.
2259948
Still love the system. We changed the plastic adaptor with copper adaptors. I wouldn't recommend changing the tubing, it fits into the end and seals just so, but the other fittings you can make copper. Lowes helped us find the right fittings. We can taste the difference. Our water isn't really cleaned well here, it taste so much better and don't have to worry about our stomachs not racing well to the water anymore.
771881
I'm sorry, I don't have the original box or directions and can't give you specifics, but I can tell you that I have a 20-gallon tank and this filter system has kept the tank-water crystal clear, continously for the past couple of years. I change the filter about once a month. I keep the old filters, wash them thoroughly, brush them off under running water, being careful to hold the top of the layer of material firmly so that it won't fall off. Then I dry & keep them, in order to put back in the rotation. I use each one three times.
404945
Carbon filter yes (lifetime) just tense and replace. Larger white (1 side) & black filter can be cleaned BUT SHOULD BE REPLACED MONTHLY... It's an awesome + extreme quiet filter pump ! Great buy from Amazon....
1284878
You should only need to change the water when you change the "filter" (really, it's a detergent cartridge). Make sure you rinse out the tank several times; it gets a nice coating of stubble gunk.
905993
it depends on how grungy the water isIf it is clean and just smells like a swimming pool it will probably last yearsIf it is murky and filled with silt not very long.Most places i fill up the water is pretty clean and just smells or tastes bad. I only fill up my tank 5 or 6 times a year . they claim that it should be replaced every year.Personally i soaked it in bleach every fall when i put the trailer away and another soak in the spring and used it for 4 years.It was still working ok when i replaced it this summer
1858012
Yes, but not for the reasons you think. The eco-complete will not technically grow your algae, but the low lighting will. Algae loves 2 things: Poor water quality (i.e. high phosphates/nitrates) and poor lighting. So you will probably have a bad algae problem later on due to your low lighting, so I would suggest investing in a nerite snail or rabbit snail, since they love algae and will leave plants alone. The eco-complete however does hold some nutrients, but not as much as it advertises - it would be like pouring a small amount of Seachem's "Trace Elements" into the tank.
1330350
The instructions on mine (110 gallons size) say to change every 3 months, and rinse with tank water once/month. To me the important think to know is this is your biological and should not be cleaned or changed too often, and only in rotation with the other components to your system . I have rinsed with tap water on occasion, since I know the biological bacteria is also in the gravel, etc. I have also used it longer then 3 months.
586025
You can also get more info here: http://www.theperfectwater.com/Home-Master-2-Stage-Fine-Sediment-and-Carbon-Filter.html . It's good for 100,000 gallons before you need to change the filter. I've had mine a year and so far I love it.
1296582
Yes i have purchased it twice for my system and it works fine, it just takes a little longer to get that smell out of the water when you replace the RO part, but maybe just an extra emptying of the tank
1976237
There is a different size biowheel for each individual Eclipse system. I have an Eclipse 2, but I believe there are also Eclipse 1 and 3 systems. Marineland stated when I purchased my system that you are not supposed to replace the biowheel unless it is damaged. I set up my tank in 2007 and only replaced it this year because the material had become loose and frayed and would no longer stay on the wheels. It is important to NOT change the biowheel unless it is damaged because it actually controls and maintains the good bacteria in your aquarium which will keep your fish healthy.
1303307
The tidy tank sludge stuff should take care of most of it. http://smile.amazon.com/B00FQMGR1S
50749
Eco-complete is a great plant substrate but will not provide complete nutrients for plants...ferts added via the water will greatly benefit live plants along with a source of carbon(seachem's excel)seachem comprehensive is a great liquid fert to begin with as well...for heavy root feeders(sword plants&various; crypts)you will need to supply a quality root tab..
325870
I see no problem at all with my tank. As Im using all seachem ferts on my tank. Florish excel is basically liquid co2. If you don't have co2 and you have plants that requires excel. Then you must get it. As for trace elements. I use em combined with flourish and excel and other ferts. Just follow the dosing instructions