Mineralized clay substrate
Also known as: Seachem Fluorite, CaribSea Eco-Complete, Iron-rich clay
Properties
| pH effect | neutral / inert |
|---|---|
| KH (carbonate hardness) | neutral |
| GH (general hardness) | neutral |
| Nutrient load | moderate |
| Ammonia release initially | No |
| Particle size | 1 to 5 mm |
| Longevity | indefinite |
| Cost tier | moderate |
How it affects the tank
- Iron and trace minerals are bound in the clay matrix, releasing slowly to plant roots over years; not a one-shot nutrient dump like aquasoil
- No water-chemistry shift: pH and hardness stay where they were, making it compatible with any fish species
- Lower starter nutrient density than aquasoil; pair with root tabs for heavy feeders and column dosing for stem plants
- Effectively permanent: the clay matrix does not break down and continues to host bacterial colonies and bind nutrients indefinitely
Care notes
Fluorite and Eco-Complete are the established products. Rinse Fluorite extensively before use (it leaves a dust cloud that takes weeks to settle if you skip this). Eco-Complete ships pre-rinsed. Both are heavier than gravel, which helps anchor large plants but adds shipping cost.
Plants that work in mineralized clay substrate
73 aquarium plants in the catalog list this substrate as compatible.
- African water fern
- Alternanthera reineckii
- Alternanthera reineckii Rosaefolia
- Amazon frogbit
- Amazon sword
- Ambulia
- Anacharis
- Anubias barteri
- Anubias congensis
- Anubias nana
- Anubias nana petite
- Aponogeton crispus
- Aponogeton ulvaceus
- Bacopa caroliniana
- Bacopa monnieri
- Banana plant
- Bucephalandra
- Bucephalandra Brownie Ghost
- Cabomba
- Christmas moss
- Cryptocoryne balansae
- Cryptocoryne beckettii
- Cryptocoryne lutea
- Cryptocoryne parva
- Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia
- Cryptocoryne spiralis
- Cryptocoryne undulata
- Cryptocoryne wendtii
- Downoi
- Duckweed
- Dwarf four-leaf clover
- Dwarf hairgrass
- Dwarf hygrophila
- Dwarf lily
- Dwarf sagittaria
- Echinodorus bleheri
- Flame moss
- Giant hygrophila
- HC Cuba
- Hornwort
- Hydrocotyle tripartita
- Hygrophila pinnatifida
- Java fern
- Java fern narrow leaf
- Java moss
- Jungle val
- Ludwigia repens
- Ludwigia Super Red
- Madagascar lace plant
- Marsh ludwigia
- Micro sword
- Monte Carlo
- Needle leaf hairgrass
- Ozelot sword
- Pearl weed
- Phoenix moss
- Pogostemon erectus
- Pogostemon stellatus Octopus
- Pygmy chain sword
- Red milfoil
- Red root floater
- Riccia fluitans
- Rotala indica
- Rotala rotundifolia
- Rotala wallichii
- Salvinia
- Staurogyne repens
- Subwassertang
- Tiger lotus
- Water lettuce
- Water sprite
- Water wisteria
- Weeping moss
Sources
Data drawn from: seachem-fluorite-spec, caribsea-eco-complete-spec, aquatic-plant-central. Last verified 2026-05-13.
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