Seachem Matrix do it work?

[SOAHC]

Anyone have any experience with seachem matrix, is it effective or just snake oil?

Thanks

 

[DIYreefer]

Bio matrix? If so, it absolutely does work. I’ve used it in every tank I’ve had for the past 15 years or so and more recently, used it as the substrate to grow in my Jawbreaker grow out tank. That tank is tied into a larger system that was already established. A week or so after adding all of the matrix my po4 and no3 levels in the system bottomed out. I knew that was going to happen so I had supplements for both on stand by. I have to dose quite a bit in order to get any sort of detectable levels in the system. Bio matrix works as advertised, if not better.

 

[VintageReefer]

work “for what” ?

 

[SOAHC]

Bio matrix? If so, it absolutely does work. I’ve used it in every tank I’ve had for the past 15 years or so and more recently, used it as the substrate to grow in my Jawbreaker grow out tank. That tank is tied into a larger system that was already established. A week or so after adding all of the matrix my po4 and no3 levels in the system bottomed out. I knew that was going to happen so I had supplements for both on stand by. I have to dose quite a bit in order to get any sort of detectable levels in the system. Bio matrix works as advertised, if not better.

Thank you!

 

[SOAHC]

work “for what” ?

At what the packaging claims it does "control ammonia, nitrate, nitrite"

 

[VintageReefer]

At what the packaging claims it does "control ammonia, nitrate, nitrite"

It works. And I’ve used it for years. It’s not really better or worse than other options. I use it to transfer bacteria quickly and conveniently from my main display to emergency tanks or new tanks i setup with the purpose of skip/reduce cycling time

 

[Red_Beard]

it do

 

[Red_Beard]

:) for real though, it does work. I have used it extensively in both fresh and saltwater tanks. I keep a baggie in the sump just in case i have to pull out a quarantine tank or whatever. Pre-seeded/cycled media and you can toss it when you are done if it gets contaminated without heartache.

 

[Reef.]

It’s another surface for bacteria to grow on, nothing more or less.

 

[braaap]

It’s another surface for bacteria to grow on, nothing more or less.

Except it’s extremely porous. It works better than a comparable bag of crushed rock.

You can use it to skip a cycle in a 30-50 gal tank no problem. I’ve done it a few times. A bag full of it from an established tank works wonders.

 

[VintageReefer]

Except it’s extremely porous. It works better than a comparable bag of crushed rock.

You can use it to skip a cycle in a 30-50 gal tank no problem. I’ve done it a few times. A bag full of it from an established tank works wonders.

It has less surface area than dollar store pot scrubbers :)

I do use it. But it’s not cheaper or better than other means

 

[Reef.]

Except it’s extremely porous. It works better than a comparable bag of crushed rock.

You can use it to skip a cycle in a 30-50 gal tank no problem. I’ve done it a few times. A bag full of it from an established tank works wonders.

Yeah probably true but the point I was making to the OP is it’s not some magic substance, it’s just extra surface area, if a tank has adequate surface area to begin with, adding a bag of seachem is not going to do anything more.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Except it’s extremely porous. It works better than a comparable bag of crushed rock.

How did you test that surface area claim?

In my experience it works no better or worse than a piece of filter floss taken from the sump of an existing tank and tossed into a new tank - at least for processing ammonia.

For long term use for nitrate reduction I've not seen any published studies.

 

[VintageReefer]

How did you test that surface area claim?

In my experience it works no better or worse than a piece of filter floss taken from the sump of an existing tank and tossed into a new tank - at least for processing ammonia.

For long term use for nitrate reduction I've not seen any published studies.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/w...cks-to-seed-future-tank.1048981/post-12434484

 

[braaap]

How did you test that surface area claim?

In my experience it works no better or worse than a piece of filter floss taken from the sump of an existing tank and tossed into a new tank - at least for processing ammonia.

For long term use for nitrate reduction I've not seen any published studies.

Well for one I use common sense. Although that isn't too common around here. It is an extremely porous item which by their claims is 700m2/l. They say it is equal to 170 liters of plastic bioballs. I guarantee it works better than just a piece of floss. Considering a piece of floss can't have the area that a bag of this does. I've also never been able to quite literally instantly cycle a tank with a piece of floss. :face-with-tears-of-joy:


Is Matrix the best product for this job? Probably not. But it is small and works excellent in a large media bag from BRS. I also have it as my substrate in a 10g for snail/jawbreaker breeding.