I do this with every new tank now. I have a few rocks cooking in my sump and ceramic media balls as well as bricks. It works beautifully to set up a new tank. Instant cycle as long as you make sure that you add livestock slowly.
What kind of bricks and ceramic balls are you using? Also do you add water and add the media and that’s your cycle. Or do you add the ammonia and let it even out and then add the media?
No, it's not necessary.
What was 17 bucks that was able to seed all of those tanks? Link?
Do you have a link to this thread or read it? Also does any generic scrubber work or is there things to stay away from?I like the media blocks because they don’t catch detritus. And maybe it’s ocd but I like how they stack / line up evenly in my sump
Studies have been done on nitrifying bacteria surface area colonization and you know what came out on top…dollar store pot scrubbers
aquariumscience.org
They do look cool stacked up.I like the media blocks because they don’t catch detritus. And maybe it’s ocd but I like how they stack / line up evenly in my sump
Studies have been done on nitrifying bacteria surface area colonization and you know what came out on top…dollar store pot scrubbers
I do have a link
7.2.12. Seachem Matrix Aquarium Filter Media
Seachem Matrix filter media is simply marketing hype that doesn't work very well. This was confirmed by testing.
Now, it’s bias against matrix due to personal reasons and exaggerated claims, but the data is valid. And it’s clear matrix is not the best or cheapest choice
I do think matrix works fine if you want to buy it, and I also acknowledge there are cheaper and better products. I keep a bag of matrix in my 75g display tanks sump, and over the last 6 months I’ve started a 32g hospital / qt tank and a pico reef. Both times I avoided cycles completely by taking that bag of matrix from my 75 and throwing it in the filter compartments of the 32 and 1.1g pico. Both tanks never went through a cycle. The matrix that’s transferred I leave in place on the new tanks, and I replace what I borrow with new matrix.
Now, I have always felt a drawback of matrix (which is mentioned in the article) is that water needs to flow through the media for it to be seeded properly. I always get the feeling that most flows around the media bag as it’s the path of least resistance and some water flows through. I try to minimize this by putting it on a media shelf in my sump where all water needs to flow through, but I still feel a lot of the water just goes around. Regardless, enough matrix gets what it needs to work.
For my latest build, I am not using matrix. Gasp! I’m actually not a fanboy of matrix! I just like it for convenience and from experience of it working for me.
I have switched to reefin art ceramic media blocks. These have larger pores than matrix, and a hollow center channel, which would address a lot of the articles complaints against matrix. They are also reef safe and aluminum free
The issue is, that center hole needs water to flow THROUGH it, or it becomes a stagnant zone or detritus trap. For my new build I found a way to prop them in my sump that forces water to flow through. You could also 3d print a rack that holds them in a grid or whatever pattern works best for your setup.
With my setup they are a perfect fit and all water flows into the sock chamber and then is forced to pass both around and through all of the media bricks. These can easily be removed and transferred to new tanks, and replaced as needed.
i believe the gimmick now is that there is also space available for the microfauna(pods, etc) to populate and reproduce in. granted they can, and will do the same with live rock. and that it aids in "flow" due to the very porous design of it. but, i digress
