Seachem matrix

Feltman · Sep 27, 2015

Not sure if I'm in the right thread looking to use some seachem matrix for a quarantine tank I'll be running and was wondering is this a nutrient absorbing media that will just be throw after, or is this just a surface area for bacteria to grown on and needs to be seeded first?

RareEarthCorals · Sep 27, 2015

Matrix is a media for colonizing nitrifying bacteria. Once your tank has cycled it can take 6-8 weeks to bed the bacteria. It should be kept in a oxygen deprived low flow area of your sump. One established it will assist in maintaining low nitrates in your system. I use it and have had great success. The key is lack of oxygen and low flow.

Feltman · Sep 28, 2015

How long would u give it if I put it in my established 150 to seed and then moved to the 30 quarantine

RareEarthCorals · Sep 28, 2015

Six to eight weeks should be enough. For 30 gallons I would use 1 liter.

Twomuchless · Sep 28, 2015

I use it with great success

Feltman · Sep 28, 2015

Could that be sped up with a product like biospira?

Twomuchless · Sep 28, 2015

To speed up this process you can use Stability when you first stock it.

steve&mari · Sep 28, 2015

What would be low flow for it ? Would it work in a reactor or fuge ?

Feltman · Sep 28, 2015

I don't have much experience with it but the bottle says best in a canister filter which is what I'm using. Don't see why it wouldn't work in a reactor since that's basically what a canister is. But I'm Def not qualified to give much advice so take what I said lightly

Twomuchless · Sep 28, 2015

I have it in my first section in my sump underneath my filter sock ; My dad has his in the fuge section with his cheato I think a reactor will break down the media

steve&mari · Sep 28, 2015

Twomuchless said:
I have it in my first section in my sump underneath my filter sock ; My dad has his in the fuge section with his cheato I think a reactor will break down the media

Thinking about trying it and I have plumbed off the return to be able to run multiple reactors each controlled by ball values to control each ones flow. We run a oversized dc return pump so I can maintain the flow to tank depending on flow of reactors. So I'm able to run flow very low through the reactor I'd use it in. It'd be less flow then what's through the sump.

Twomuchless · Sep 28, 2015

I think you should be good as long as the media isn't tumbling against each other sounds like a good idea

steve&mari · Sep 28, 2015

Twomuchless said:
I think you should be good as long as the media isn't tumbling against each other sounds like a good idea

Cool thank you for the help. It was how I was thinking if it's between the sponges and not tumbling with slow flow around 100gph it shouldn't break down to dust. I use brs dual reactors with seachem purigan in 1 chamber and matrix carbon/phosgaurd in other other chamber. Have another brs single reactor I could use for the matrix. The outlet lines run into filter sock with dt drain.

RareEarthCorals · Sep 28, 2015

You can try all the products you like but its ready when its ready. You will know when it is ready when your nitrates balance out. That is why I say six to eight weeks. You need to get to elevate nitrates first and then when the levels begin to drop you can safely assume the product is ready. Look for my other post helping a fellow R2R member so you can see how it unfolded. It works!