Seachem's Matrix?

[legalreefer]

I was thinking about running this in my next system and would like to know your experience with it. What are the pros and cons, should I continue to use a phosohate remover, do you ever clean yours, is it in a reactor, etc.? Thanks!

 

[acroholic]

Matrix is an aerobic and an anaerobic filtration media. The advantage of it is supposed to be that you get denitrification as well as regular ammonia->nitrite->nitrate conversion. The denitrification occurs in the inner portions of the media. Using Matrix supposedly allows you to use less live rock for those minimalist type aquascapes while still maintaining a decent fish population.

Where it differs from the plastic type media is the denitrification aspect.

The above is just what I have read. I have a 20 liter bucket of it sitting ready to go in my sump when I stock the new tank. I am not going with a minimalist type aquascape, but I will not have a bunch of LR in there either. I do want to be able to keep some larger type fish, however.

 

[legalreefer]

Your post it was spraked my interest in it. Im not planning on having a lot of LR either and this seemed like a good product to aid with the filtration. Maybe a little more time looking around RC will help find some first hand experience. I'm in the process of building a sump and can build it to house the matrix wo using a reactor.

 

[kilralpine]

Ive been running Matrix on my 80G for about 6 months and I really like the stuff. I used a few cups in my hang on back on my 20 gallon to the same affect and really liked the increased buffer capacity.

 

[sleepyreef]

I've been thinking about putting some of this in my sump. Googled it and didn't see too many SW enthusiasts using it. I saw a lot of FW posts about it though. I surmised that it would be like putting a lot of live rock in my system since it claims to be very porous - even more so than actual live rock.

I have also read that to clean it you would only need to rinse it from time to time just to remove any built up detritus, but otherwise it lasts a lifetime (in aquarium terms).

 

[jhutto]

It is supposed to help with nitrates for the reasons Dave mentioned.

 

[stickx911]

interesting. I've had a a couple jugs left over that I never used from my FW tanks...I always thought these would be like adding bioballs which are generally considered to not be a benefit.

 

[ripped tide]

I've been using it for almost a year. I use it as a refugium substrate. If you dig up my build, you can see a pic of the sump. So far so good.

 

[tgriffin]

I run it in my sump and haven't noticed any difference that it has made. Not knocking it, just doesn't seem to work in my system

 

[jennm]

We use it all over the place. Love the stuff. 1 liter of Matrix replaces 10 GALLONS of bio-balls (and provide anaerobic surface area that bio-balls don't.)

It's handy for all sorts of things. Keep a bag of it in your sump and if you need to cycle another tank (like a quarantine) in a bit of a hurry, that helps tremendously.

It's been around for many years, but it seems to be surging in popularity lately (at least locally). We love the stuff.

Jenn

 

[jbdreefs]

I've asked to see the sumps of many retailers, and you'd be surprised how many systems rely on matrix as a substitute for live rock.

 

[nathannano]

I have been using matrix since the big frag swap at the beginning if this year. The seachem rep gave me a few things of it. I really feels it helps. I use 5L of it in my sump. Its my only bio filtration I have in my bb 20g frag tank and my nitrates are 0. I am sold on it

Sent from my tank using tapatalk

 

[acroholic]

MRC recommends using Matix in the biochamber of their Biosump. I discussed it with Jeremy and Raj at SEA, and decided to give it a try. The only point I was concerned about was he sheer volume of Matirx I would need to fill the biochamber of this big old sump. Stuff ain't cheap. I did find the 20 liter bucket online for $125 shipped, which is a good deal.

 

[tgriffin]

does anyone clean the matrix? I am thinking mine has to be catching detritus as it is between a baffle.

 

[edulover]

I use it in my tanks and I love it as well. Not sure how much it is responsible for my good number versus the GFO but i swear by it.

 

[ralph atl]

Acroholic;789369 wrote: MRC recommends using Matix in the biochamber of their Biosump. I discussed it with Jeremy and Raj at SEA, and decided to give it a try. The only point I was concerned about was he sheer volume of Matirx I would need to fill the biochamber of this big old sump. Stuff ain't cheap. I did find the 20 liter bucket online for $125 shipped, which is a good deal.

sorry, but do you put it in a reactor? tumble?

never used it....

I know GFO, Carbon, and the like isn't really effective after a week or two as bacteria coats the media.....but with bio-pellets they as long as they tumble, they deteriorate renewing outer area....just clue-less...thanks!

 

[acroholic]

mysterybox;789405 wrote: sorry, but do you put it in a reactor? tumble?

never used it....

I know GFO, Carbon, and the like isn't really effective after a week or two as bacteria coats the media.....but with bio-pellets they as long as they tumble, they deteriorate renewing outer area....just clue-less...thanks!

Ralph,
I believe you keep it stationary and force water through it, however you would choose to do so, like in a canister filter, a sump chamber, or a reactor of some kind. I think if you tumble it, you might grind it up and also the water would probably go around it instead of through it. Matrix is not like biopellets, which are consumed. These are inert media, providing surface area for bacteria only. Same principle as bioballs, except they are porous and allow for anaerobic in addition to aerobic denitrification.

In my case, they are going to go in the biochamber in the MRC sump, which is the 4 inch wide area between the filter socks and the skimmer section with all the holes in the acrylic on the front and back (pic). This is a forced flow through type thing in the MRC Sump. This sump chamber made specifically for this type media (I think).

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