Seachem Matrix Bio Media 1 Liter

Seachem Matrix is a great natural medium for colonizing both nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria so important for good water chemistry and the health of one's aquarium inhabitants. I noticed many users have complained about receiving an adulterated product, and frankly I thought I had received one as well. I called Seachem and got the scoop. Here's what I found out: Matrix is a natural, mined product. The mineral has natural variations in size and color. When mined, black Obsidian is sometimes included in the take. The Obsidian is removed by hand before packaging, but some slips into the container from time to time. The packaging does not have a tamper-proof seal beneath the lid. When you open the jar, you immediately see the product. Matrix is sold by volume and not by weight. A minimum weight is listed in the literature (e.g.: 1 liter of Matrix = 400 gram net weight) but this is required by law, and has nothing to do with the actual weight of the product, which can vary greatly due to Matrix absorbing moisture from the air, for example. The 1 liter of Matrix I received weighted 967 grams out of the jar. When you receive Matrix, expect it to vary in color, size, and that there may be a few dark or black rocks in the jar. Now for the actual use. Matrix provides a tremendous amount of surface area. The outer surfaces and crevices provide a very hospitable environment for the aerobic (oxygen consuming) nitrifying bacteria that make up the 'bio filter' so critical to breaking down Ammonia to Nitrite, and Nitrite to Nitrate. It's benefit doesn't stop there. At the end of the aerobic portion of the Nitrogen Cycle, nitrate is left to build up in the water column, and is one of the major pollutants that dictate the frequency and quantity of water changes. Nitrate can be reduced to Nitrogen gas - but this is an anaerobic (oxygen deprived) process requiring another type of bacteria. Nitrate laden water seeps into the core of Matrix after having been stripped of oxygen by the aerobic bacteria on the medium's surface. This oxygen-poor environment is perfect for colonizing anaerobic bacteria that consume Nitrate and release inert Nitrogen gas. This final step in the Nitrogen Cycle helps control the buildup of Nitrate in the aquarium, contributing markedly to the long term health of it's inhabitants.

I added wood to the inside of my aquarium. The wood leaked tannins into the water and turned it brown. I added this along with charcoal filters to one of my two filters and it pulled and keeps pulling the tannins out. The other benefit is more surface area for helpful bacteria.

I brought this matrix along with fluval biomax rings months ago. I put them together in a corner box filter and man oh man do these things clean! I have an overstocked 10 gallon fish tank and the matrix along with the bio max rings keep the tank clean! Protip: if you have a box filter put this, fluval biomax rings, and polyfill together in it. You'll have the ultimate filter! Plus, you save money too!

I’ve been using this product for about four months. I put it in some nylon filter media bags & dropped it into the filter. I recently changed out 100% of the substrate and left the filter media alone. There was never any kind of clouding from bacteria bloom or any readings of ammonia in the tank. Super impressed! I’ll never use anything else.

Using Prime with (3) 45% water change, and adding Matrix to the filter at the start. The spike was eliminated with in 2 days. The water was a bit cloudy, but on the 4 day the water looks crystal clear.

This product is well known for being excellent at providing a place for beneficial bacteria to grow and flourish. It is not overly expensive so I got some and added it to one tray in my cannister filter. It, along with a tray that has a bioball/ceramic ring combo makes up the bulk of my biological filtration with a large coarse sponge pre-filter helping also. This should be more than enough to handle my 75 gallon tank. I also have some sponge media for mechanical filtration but I like to rinse these with tap water so that the bacteria multiplies where I want it and not on the sponge that will eventually get replaced. The only issues I have are 1. There is at least half of this that is very dense like a rock. It is not all porous. That is not a deal breaker because I want bacteria growing in different ways and hopefully I will attract different types. 2. This really does need a bag to hold it. It will work in the cannister but the smaller pieces move and get wedged under the tray handles preventing it all from stacking correctly. I fit this into two media bags and this just makes it easier to clean but you will need to purchase a bag. Overall, based on reputation alone this is worth having in a tray. There is enough porous rock to justify the cost and now I have a nice diverse set of media in my filter working 24 hours a day.

Seachem Matrix is a tried and true bio media that’s a must have for your aquarium. Helps keep helpful bacteria to keep your nitrogen cycle going without issue and works great. You don’t have to worry about whether your bio media is working properly with this once you get it going.

Excelente

Bon

good stuff...does what it says on the box....been using it for years!

主人の水槽の濾過材に購入。入れるだけ綺麗になり、とても良いです。

It came unsealed. Some of the bottles weighs lesser than the other bottles..not too sure on the authenticity of the product.

Product does exactly what it is meant to do - Bio Media. I am running several pico and nano tanks with "minimal" live rock for more viewing space (I do not like the cluttered look) therefore the small tanks do not have enough filtration. I use the Bio Seachem Matrix Bio Media in a small bag in my filter compartment and all my tanks have stable (<1, generally 0) nitrite and nitrate levels. The rock sizes are "tiny" and porous, not craters that will trap waste. Since using the product I can now push my pico reef tanks (1.5-3G) to weekly water changes and the occasional bi-weekly water change. My 5G nano reef tanks get water changed bi-weekly - running strong and growing 8+ months.