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 use it in my 3 beta tanks. Keeps my water crystal clean and my ammonia at 0 with regular water changes.

I will only purchase 2 bio medias. This is one of them. I typically use this first, right after mechanical filtration. I do this because this pumice will overlap and force water to change paths. It provides the very last bit of slight mechanical filtration on the off chance something gets through. Because this is natural stone, it will have many I perfections and he highly inconsistent. That is ok by me because it has been a reliable performer as a bio media and final mechanical protectant for the last trays of Biohome, which has more porosity and uniformity. Between the 2 medias my tanks have thrived. I'd be torn to pick just 1 as they have a few exclusive beneficial traits.

I have a new 55 gallon tank about 2 months old, I seeded it with old gravel in panty hose and I squeezed the brown muck into my tank, needless to say I am neurotic and I can't leave my tank alone. I change the water pretty much every other day. My ammonia and nitrite levels have been fluctuating. As soon as they were both 0 I changed the canister water and rinsed the poly pad in aquarium water. I vacuumed the gravel all in the same day and now i'm having a mini-cycle. I was then told the polypad would fall apart eventually and all I needed in my high powered canister filter was biofilter ceramic media. I have been slowly trying to get to only that but with 2 goldies , I dont want them suffering any ammonia spikes so I keep adding expensive tricks like API-absorb and it works for a day and sometimes up to 5 but not after that. This arrived this evening, I put it in an hour ago went to dinner and everything is at 0! Mind you an hour ago my ammonia was.5 my nitrites were .25.My water was cloudy and it is crystal clear

Seachem is a great product. I use these bio media in two of my Tidal 75 filters to provide space for beneficial bacteria to thrive. Like all bio media, in time the tiny pores will get clogged and no longer work and need to be replaced. This is a great replacement. 1 liter bottle will last me for quite some time.

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.