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#Post#: 1178--------------------------------------------------
Is SeaChem Matrix as Immortal as they make it out to be?
By: Stu4648 Date: October 6, 2014, 1:17 am
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I recently purchased some Seachem Matrix, I have not put it in
the filter yet but is it as good as they say it is? According to
the hype, which I bought into, you never need to replace it and
it can cultivate the anaerobic denitrifying bacteria that can
actually breakdown nitrate. Not so sure about the last bit as
how anaerobic can you really make a canister filter, especially
one that gets rinsed out once a month. I think the jury may
still be out on that particular claim.
Although, in fairness it is the not having to replace it part
that I am most interested in. I already have some Fluval
Pre-Filter nodes in there that apparently do not need replaced,
so at this rate my filter should soon be largely self sustaining
bar the monthly rinse and occasional replacement of the coarse
foam pads.
So in the interests of research what is the longest time anyone
has had Seachem Matrix, or Fluval Pre-Filter for that matter, in
there filter without needing to replace it?
#Post#: 1203--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is SeaChem Matrix as Immortal as they make it out to be?
By: tim1126az Date: October 6, 2014, 9:00 pm
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Every canister I own has it...Never replaced in 2 years...never
will..
Never needs replaced: True, it's just small pieces of pumice
stone (which are rocks, rocks don't go bad 8))...so you could
save some cash if you can source bulk pea sized or so pumice
stone....
Anaerobic: As good as it can be in a canister, would work better
anaerobically in a slow flow wet/dry set up...
I have seen vids and read a couple articles of guys fluidizing
it in a reactor (since it is light enough)...just switching the
sand usually used for the Matrix...
If you have the room, I'd go with the Pond Matrix..bigger
pieces, more pores= more surface area.... 8)
#Post#: 1205--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is SeaChem Matrix as Immortal as they make it out to be?
By: Stu4648 Date: October 7, 2014, 1:41 am
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Someone else funnily enough is a big fan of the Pond Matrix on
another forum I use. Not the easiest stuff to get in the UK but
I finally managed to find a seller. Pretty expensive too but
hopefully I should only need to buy it the once so it should be
worth it in the long term. Anyway, the current plan is to set up
the media baskets in the Fluval 406 so the water flows through
the canister as follows:
Bottom - Mechanical; Fluval Pre-Filter
Second - Biological; Seachem Pond Matrix
Third - Biological; Fluval Biomax - Likely to be replaced with
more Pond Matrix when the Biomax expires
Top - Biological;Seachem Matrix + polishing pad to protect the
impeller and motor
I think it should work best like this as the biological media
gets smaller as the baskets get nearer the top. I can easily
rejig it anyway, at a later date, to see if there is any
improvement in the flow rate etc... by changing things around
for interests sake if nothing else.
#Post#: 1238--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is SeaChem Matrix as Immortal as they make it out to be?
By: tim1126az Date: October 7, 2014, 6:58 pm
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Sounds like a plan to me man...That's how the 406 on my GF's
Discus tank is set up, but has a couple packets of Purigen in
each side of the top basket...I've heard that the PM is hard to
get over there...You could use BioHome, it's pretty popular over
on the Hub...lot of guys in the UK use it, guess it's pretty
good stuff too...
#Post#: 1247--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is SeaChem Matrix as Immortal as they make it out to be?
By: Stu4648 Date: October 8, 2014, 1:03 am
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I'll be putting the regular Matrix in at the end of this month,
to replace the carbon that is currently in there, when I am next
due to clean the filter. It will probably be the end of the year
before I make any further changes. I have seen Pond Matrix on
the UK Amazon, only in 4litre tubs at the minute but I could be
tempted. That should be enough to fill any future filters for
the foreseeable future too. Although I will check out that
BioHome stuff too before then.
#Post#: 1260--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is SeaChem Matrix as Immortal as they make it out to be?
By: deanmbuna Date: October 8, 2014, 9:08 pm
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I was considering using Matrix until I learned about Biohomme
Ultra (cintered glass) and I filled both of my canisters with
it. I do not know that it works better than Matrix though I
have seen a video demonstrating that it is faster at absorbing
liquid than Matrix. It is working well after 2 months and it is
supposed to last for years. I use two trays of it in my
canister filter and Chemipure Blue and filter floss in the top
tray. The tank water is very clean and nitrates are quite low
with just one 50 pct. water change a week and 22 two inch mbuna
in a 55 gallon. Difficult to find in the US, but Great Wave
Engineering in California is the distributor of Biohomme in the
US. I think UK members of this forum might also be using it
since it is easier to get in Europe.
#Post#: 1265--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is SeaChem Matrix as Immortal as they make it out to be?
By: Stu4648 Date: October 9, 2014, 2:56 am
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I checked the Biohome stuff out and it looks pretty good.
Decided to order some Biohome Ultimate and see how it goes. It
can replace the Biomax. I think a combination of it, Matrix and
some Pond Matrix should do the business and hopefully be good
for a fair few years without needing replaced. As long as they
do not do too good a job and starve my plants of all available
ammonia and nitrate I will be happy enough, although somehow I
doubt they are that efficient.
#Post#: 1298--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is SeaChem Matrix as Immortal as they make it out to be?
By: mrk13p Date: October 10, 2014, 1:23 am
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im running the same in my 406 with purigen and filter floss in
the top tray like tim suggested. The top tray had chemipure
before but the purigen kept the water more crisp and clear.
#Post#: 1982--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is SeaChem Matrix as Immortal as they make it out to be?
By: Duck4cvr Date: January 13, 2015, 12:09 pm
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I don't have any experience with Matrix.
But I do have experience with Pea Size Pumice. I was trying to
go through the setting up my tank inexpensively.
The brand I bought was horrible I bought a a cubic foot for $5.
Realistically, less than a quarter of it was usable most of it
was sand and crushed. Rinsing, Boiling, and Conditioning was a
pain.
End of the day it wasn't worth saving ~15 bucks.
*shrug*
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