Too much biological filtration?

[austintylerl]

For many months my nitrate level have been under
.5ppm. I feed my mixed reef 20g generously a few times a week. I have about 15 lbs of live rock and a full 500 ml of seachem mAtrix.

Anyone think the matrix is overkill?

 

[pelphrey]

I've been in that same boat and still have a lot of matrix in my system. I do plan to remove some of it, just haven't yet. I'd probably move a half a cup or a cup from my tank, no harm in removing some from the tank and keeping an eye on it. I wouldn't remove a lot at once.

 

[Jason_J]

Why not just feed more if you want higher nutrients. Your current feeding of a few times a week isn't much.

 

[austintylerl]

Why not just feed more if you want higher nutrients. Your current feeding of a few times a week isn't much.

I dont want to feed more bc i have high phosphates

 

[austintylerl]

I've been in that same boat and still have a lot of matrix in my system. I do plan to remove some of it, just haven't yet. I'd probably move a half a cup or a cup from my tank, no harm in removing some from the tank and keeping an eye on it. I wouldn't remove a lot at once.

Okay thank you pelphrey. Ill take some out

 

[NY_Caveman]

Bacteria will regulate their metabolism based on resources. The surface area available would not affect this.

 

[austintylerl]

Bacteria will regulate their metabolism based on resources. The surface area available would not affect this.

But wouldnt removing bacteria infested rocks then limit the tanks ability to consume waste therefore increasing nitrate levels? Im out of my depth here

 

[NY_Caveman]

No. The remaining bacteria will just work harder and repopulate to their appropriate level.

 

[NY_Caveman]

I mean, if you remove a large amount of surface area of rock or Matrix, I suppose it is possible.

 

[austintylerl]

I removed 50% and have had a stable 2.5ppm of nos3!

 

[Jason_J]

Excellent. Let us know how everything is looking in a couple of weeks once the bacteria population has had a chance to stabilize.

 

[austintylerl]

Update: i ended up removing all of my matrix however nitrates still havent risen near even 1ppm. Dosing nitrates now. I would remove my macro but phosphates are high