Looking for Answers about CaribSea Eco Complete Planted Black Aquarium Substrate?

To figure it out multiply length times width, so (36x15) and then divide by 10, that will tell you roughly how many pounds of gravel you need to cover the tank to a depth of 2 inches. For your tank you need 54lbs of gravel/substrate. So you will need 3 bags. That will give you a little extra.

standard amount is 2 pounds per gallon. I'd go with 3 bags maybe?

Get 60 pounds. Most sand will sink but some might float. Just have extra just to make sure.

you should use 50 pounds. a good rule of thumb is 1 pound of gravel per 1 gallon. the bag usually tells you how much pounds there are in it

About 2 bags if not less depending on how think you want it. You'll be doing gravel filtration with a tank this small and if you're not aquascaping it might be better to do only a 1'" 1/2 to 2 inches of substrate.

Probably just 1, but 2 bags will make it deeper and will give more room for plant roots to grow.

It's recommended you have 2 inches of substrate. Two bags of eco complete would be ideal, maybe mix 1 small 5lb of bag of petco color gravel to style it to your liking.

The grain is small 2mm-5mm. This would be a perfect match up for your ideal substrate.

If you check CaribSea'a website, grain size varies from 0.25mm to 7 mm. It's essentially a mixed bag of sand, small gravel, and pieces in between.

BUT, for any eel, you'll want to go with complete sand (if you don't mind him burrowing everywhere). If he digs into gravel, he's likely to scratch himself on something and it might get infected. The eel is likely to uproot any plants, but you can hedge your bets by using eco-complete in the planted portions of the tank and have a separate sand-only portion for him to burrow into (should be rather deep, since he'll get BIG). Separating the two portions can be tricky, but people use everything from stones, tank dividers, to plastic sheets and then some. For the sand, research it's grit, since many sands can be abrasive.

This substrate won't make your swords grow better. You'll need to supplement your swords diets with root tablets. To keep your planted tank in good balance you'll need to add suppliements, Flourish, iron, and potassium. Keep in mind that you'll have to do regular water changes, as excess minerals will induce algae growth if not maintained properly.

You can add eco substrate with no problems to your fishes health. Keep in mind that there will be silt in your water and need to be filtered out, however there is no harm to your animals.

Bottom line, if you plan on changing substrates, take a day and remove all your fish into 5 gallon buckets. Remove substrate if you can with water still inside. If not Drain your tank to about a 50% water, and remove substrate with a cut off milk jug. Add the new substrate, and treated water then put the fish back in.

Good Luck

Provided you do things in very small batches, it could work. It depends if you'll kick up a lot of debris, which would irritate the fish's gills. Also, the sand will mix with eco-complete over time. That happens whenever you mix materials of different sizes. Although it might not look pretty, consider adding eco-complete in the areas for your more needy plants.

If you place anything with the Ecocomplete it will eventually mix and change the structure. I noticed many folks on the web use various layers of material. I used it straight from the bag with 3" in the back and 2" in the front. I have only been vacuuming the unplanted areas. I have NOT been inserting my gravel vacuum into the substrate. I do a short sweep over an area without hitting a gravel then vacuum up the particles that are displaced. I do suggest seeding the Ecocomplete with material from an established aquarium's filter.

It needs no rinsing when you first put it in the aquarium. A well planted aquarium will need little cleaning of the gravel- just vacuum up any debris on top.

I have 2 Kuhli and 1 Black Loache in my 30 gallon with this substrate. I haven't seen them burrow and it doesn't look like is fine enough for them to burrow. The substrate is probably somewhere between a rough sand and gravel.

I set up a few shells for them to run away to.

About 6 bags should do.

No copper in this substrate. I use this substrate to breed invertebrates.

Don't use anything in the bottom. Or put really large stones that the turtle won't be able to swallow. Owners have lost trutles to gravel swallowing.

Depending on your tanks bottom area, around 20 bags. It takes about half to 3/4 a bag to fill a 10 gallon tank to about 2 inches in substrate.

About 20. To get 2.5" to 3" coverage for a planted tank. You might be able to get away with 15 bags. And purchase more if needed.

Flourite will need a lot of rinsing and will cloud the water for a few days. It's also a little bit harder to clean on a weekly. However, it is very high on iron and will do great in a high light aquarium.
Eco, you will just open the bag and pour it right into the aquarium, with the packing water and all. Good balance of nutrients and for some, more appealing to the eyes.
Either one will do great for a planted aquarium, it's just a matter of personal preference.