Mulm And A Nightmare!

Is mulm a problem in a planted tank? I've just changed my gravel over to eco-complete, and to be honest, it went terribly as I didn't think through the best way to change over...I'm still left with alot of mulm covering most surfaces, this is after a big water change and siphoning...it looks pretty bad, will I just have to keep doing regular water changes? This is how it was after changing the substrate!! I couldn't believe I was so stupid!! Its cleared up alot but still now perfect by any means:

I won't ask how you managed it, but it should settle on its own within a few days, then do a water change and disturb then sipon anything from plants/decor etc.

nry said:

I won't ask how you managed it, but it should settle on its own within a few days, then do a water change and disturb then sipon anything from plants/decor etc.

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Neither will I. You might want to consider rinsing the filter media in tank water everyday to give the filter a chance to work. Running to clear a tank like that will clog it up quickly. Water changes will also help. In addition, watch your water chemistry with Eco-complete. I've heard that initially it does some funky things to the water, and if you have fish, be prepared to do some extra water changes to compensate.

That being said, mulm isn't bad, provided it's where it should be, which is the substrate. Some species, including loaches often like to be kept in a seasoned tank with a good layer of mulm in the substrate. Pretty gross, but they like it. It is also exceptional natural fertiliser for houseplants.

llj

EcoComplete has effects on the water? Anything specific, I thought it was pretty neutral, certainly hasn't had any effect on my EC-based tank.

EC will raise the GH and KH of the water, mine took it from 4/5 to 6/8 ish, but it got less over the months. Not tested GH/KH for months so cant comment on the long term effect, but over the short term certainly it raises the GH/KH but it shouldn't be an issue really. It wont cause an NH3/NO2 spike like ADA AS does.

Sam

I guess that because mine ran without fish for months I probably paid no attention to water parameters at all and missed it all

Did you scoop out the old substrate when the tank was full of water or something

EC does not require prior cleaning, but there was a recent 'bad' batch about a year ago: These can be identified by milky white liquid in the bag.

EC will raise the GH and KH of the water

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I have read that EC is 'nitrate and carbonate free and therefore will not increase pH or carbonate hardness'.
I am researching subtrates at the mo, so where did you get that info from Sam?

Andy