The CaribSea Eco-Complete, also known as CaribSea Eco-Planted, is a popular substrate that you can use in your fish tank if you want to grow live plants. So, is this product safe for your pet snails or can it be harmful? You can find out in this article from Aquarium Blueprints.
What is Eco-Complete?
Unlike inert substrates, Eco-Complete contains trace elements. As a result, you will be able to grow rooted and/or water-borne plants with this product.
Eco-Complete is made from Volcanic Basalt, which features a high CEC. This will allow the substrate to absorb and then release supplements to the water column.
Once the original trace elements from the bag have been depleted, you need to recharge the substrate either by adding root tabs or dosing liquid fertilizers in order to keep this product effective when it comes to growing live plants in your aquarium.
Benefits for Snails
One of the elements released by Eco-Complete is calcium, which all types of aquarium snails need in order to grow and maintain a healthy shell. According to Caribsea, the substrate has a calcium concentration of 33,065.61 ppm right out of the package.
As we stated above, however, the calcium will be depleted in the tank water over time. Therefore, you either have to recharge the substrate (or find another way to add calcium to your tank water).
If you have a black-colored version of the substrate, then it may also help bring up the coloration of their bodies and/or shells.
It should also be noted that while the small rocks of Eco-Complete are sharp, they shouldn’t be sharp enough to damage the snail’s soft body or outer shell. Our Ramshorn Snails have no problems gliding across the top of this substrate.
Recap
The CaribSea Eco-Complete should be completely safe for aquatic snails. Although these small volcanic rocks are sharp, snails should have no problems easily gliding over them.
Furthermore, the substrate will initially come with traces of calcium. Snails need a healthy dose of this element in order to grow and maintain a health shell.
With that said, Eco-Complete will eventually run out of calcium. Thankfully, you can easily recharge the substrate with root tabs and liquid fertilizers to help both your live plants, as well as your pet snails, healthy.