Seachem matrix questions

burtonboy182 · Dec 15, 2018

How much matrix should you use? Say a 60g, 160g tank, 220g...

How are you running it?

Been reading best to run it through a reactor. How much flow should you have passing through it.

I hear detritus can be an issue. How do you clean it and how often should it be done?

SPR1968 · Dec 16, 2018

I have a 175g system and run a lot more than needed, so I have 6 litres of Matrix in my sump. It’s not expensive and you can’t really have to much filtration and I have a massive bioload

It’s like small pebbles and although you can leave it free, I have mine in the Seachem medium/large zip bag to keep it together

It requires slow water flow for denitrification so I have it in my sump. So I’m not sure about a reactor but it depends on your system and of course flow which I’m sure you can sort out.

It doesn’t really need cleaning other than a shake every so often and in theory won’t need replacing as it’s stone, but fancy stone!

It certainly works and is my current favourite having tried Marine Pure and Brightwell NO3 bricks.

lion king · Dec 16, 2018

There's a formula on the container for how much to use, but as @SPR1968 stated you really cant use too much. I use media bags suspended in my sump and in the back chambers of an AIO. If you are talking aerobic bacteria to break down ammonia and nitrite, then I don't think flow is important, and I never clean mine. I used too but after much testing never saw any measurable changes in nitrates so figured it was a waste of time. Now if you are talking anaerobic bacteria to break nitrates, then a slower flow like around 160-200gph(check the seachem website) and running through a reactor is best. This type of bacteria likes less O2 that's why it works best in a reactor with slower flow. Using it this way it will become saturated and needs to be changed out, it will start to leach nitrate back into your system when it gets saturated. Testing and your individual system dictates when this happens.

burtonboy182 · Dec 16, 2018

Lion king. I was under the impression that it doesn’t need to be replaced. It is just a place to house the beneficial bacteria. How does it get saturated.

burtonboy182 · Dec 16, 2018

Double post

lion king · Dec 16, 2018

burtonboy182 said:
Lion king. I was under the impression that it doesn’t need to be replaced. It is just a place to house the beneficial bacteria. How does it get saturated.

When you are using it as a denitrate reactor it does, you can visit the seachem website where they explain when it is used this way. When you use it for aerobic bacteria, the same way as you would use live rock, then it doesn't. You asked about using a reactor, that's why I included the info on anaerobic bacteria, these are two different types of bacteria.