100 liters Pond Matrix in 750 gallon setup

[ken31cay]

Wanted to post the results of my water tests of my three setups with the hope to highlight the positive effects of Pond Matrix in my 750gal setup. I know a couple of members here might be interested to see this, including HUKIT

I started testing the water of my three setups starting in October 2024 (link to this full testing is at bottom of this post), but for the purpose of this analysis I will begin the with the test starting date of 12-Feb-2025, which is three months after inserting the 100 liters of Pond Matrix into the sump of my 750gal setup.

Test device used: Lamotte Spintouch FF Photometer

Date that 100 liters of Pond Matrix was put in the sump: 12-Nov-2024

Start Date of Tests:	12-Feb-2025
End Date of Tests:	23-Sep-2025
Test Span (weeks):	32 weeks
Total Tests (per setup):	87 tests
Avg. test frequency:	2.7 x per week

TEST RESULTS	750gal	450 gal	180 gal
Avg Nitrate (ppm)	1.4 ppm	4.4 ppm	4.1 ppm
Total Water Changes	25	48	45

SETUP DETAILS

750gal setup
Water vol. (gallons):	858
Pond Matrix (liters):	100
Daily Feedings:	3/4 cup krill and raw shrimp meat
Zaire Gibberosa 6":	6	added on 30-Jul-2025
Star Sapphire 4"-6":	5	added on 30-Jul-2025
Zaire Gibberosa 6"-10":	11	added on 14-Dec-2024
Zaire Gibberosa 8"-10":	13	added on 14-Sep-2024
TOTAL FISH:	35

450gal setup
Water vol. (gallons):	510
Pond Matrix (liters):	N/A
Daily Feedings:	1 Tablespoon 3mm Northfin Gold pellets
Leporinus fasciatus 5"-6":	4	added on 10-Aug-2025
Green Terror 2"-4":	2	added on 10-Aug-2025
Firemouth cichlid 3"-4":	5	added on 10-Aug-2025
Oscar 4":	1	added on 30-Jul-2025
Silver Dollars 4"-5":	17	added on 8-Jan-2025
Severums 6":	3	added on 05-Dec-2024
TOTAL FISH:	32

180gal setup
Water vol. (gallons):	197
Pond Matrix (liters):	N/A
Daily Feedings:	1/4 Tablespoon 3mm Northfin Gold pellets
Convict cichlids 3"-5":	8	added on 30-Jul-2025
Red-Tailed Shark 3":	1	added on 30-Jul-2025
Bala Sharks 3":	2	added on 30-Jul-2025
TOTAL FISH:	11

180gal Note: prior to 30-Jul-2025 previous inhabitants were one 4" Oscar and five 4"-6" Star Sapphire.


Here is the pdf of the all the testing starting October 2024: Lamotte Test Results 2024-2025 24

 

[ken31cay]

Here are videos of the three setups.

750gal setup:

450gal setup:

180gal setup:

 

[ken31cay]

Water change size (% of display tank vol):
40% for the 750gal setup
50% for the 450gal setup
40% for the 180gal setup

 

[ken31cay]

Comments/Questions are welcome and appreciated.

I'm very much enjoying the fact that I need to do less water changes on the 750gal and, taking into consideration the respective bioloads of the tanks and the feeding amounts, I believe some of that must be due to the Pond Matrix helping to decrease nitrates.

Another factor may the 'natural' food being fed to the 750gal as opposed to the Northfin pellets which have a signifacnt amount of fillers.

 

[HUKIT]

I’m always interested in these types of tests so I appreciate the tag!

I’m currently testing the Maxspect Nano Tech Anaerobic Blocks in one of my 240g’s. The results have been promising after a few months.

I have one question about the 750g. Do you think the diet may have had a significant impact on nitrate reduction? The reason I ask is, I started to feed one tank exclusively on NLS Probiotix and I noticed an immediate difference not in initial nitrate testing but rather how much waste was collected in filter socks. It’s not terribly scientific quite yet but I change finger socks every day(a total of 7 100 micron socks). The difference was that I didn’t need to swap the socks every day in that specific tank feeding NLS.

 

[ken31cay]

I do think the diet must be part of the nitrate reduction and I also believe I'd have alot more waste in my filter socks if I fed pellets. The filter has four 7" 100 micron socks; I change them every 2-3 weeks and even then they're still a lightish brown and nowhere near clogged.

If you find that the Nano Tech Anaerobic Blocks are making a difference in nitrate reduction then I'd love to hear about it. It's something I'd like to have a go at if it might have a positive effect.

 

[HUKIT]

I do think the diet must be part of the nitrate reduction and I also believe I'd have alot more waste in my filter socks if I fed pellets. The filter has four 7" 100 micron socks; I change them every 2-3 weeks and even then they're still a lightish brown and nowhere near clogged.

If you find that the Nano Tech Anaerobic Blocks are making a difference in nitrate reduction then I'd love to hear about it. It's something I'd like to have go at if it might have a positive effect.

I have quite a few friends who use Matrix exclusively and the results are mixed. I have read hundreds of posts hearing people’s individual results and it’s always the same. There are plenty of people posting their positive results very similar as what you’ve seeing and then the typical naysayers who saying it’s a poor, overpriced biological filtration medium compared to alternatives like sponge or Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBR).

I started the Maxspect on July 1st so it’s been roughly 80 days. I do envy your Lamotte as I don’t trust my interpretation of the API color chart so I’ve been having my local reef store test my parameters every 7 days using theirs. My water change schedule is 50% every 3 days. I started having my water tested every week from June 1st to June 30th to have a baseline. My nitrates hovered around 14.5-17.5ppm prior to a WC. I should note this tank has 10 Oscura Heterospila roughly 5-6”(it’s been two years, I hate these fish), 10 Amatitlania nanoluteus, and originally 100 plus Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis(lemon tetras) that I’ve lost a few so I’m guessing 90ish.

According to Maxspect the Denitrification catalyst should be replaced after 60 days which I did. The catalyst is very inexpensive at the cost of $7 every 60 days. My current nitrates are now averaging 9.5-11ppm so after 81 days I’m seeing roughly a 30% reduction in nitrates. So I’m pleasantly surprised so far. Now my concern is Maxspect also recommends cleaning and or replacing the blocks every 6 months which is sort of confusing. It takes time for the anaerobic bacteria to colonize so I emailed this past Monday as to confirm why I would replace the blocks as it seems like a scam to sell more products. I don’t mind buying the catalyst as I understand the bacteria needs a carbon source but I am skeptical on the need to replace the blocks every six months. They do note to only replace half as to not wipe the bacteria completely. I will continue using them until December 31st and then tallying the final results but so far I am pleased.

 

[ken31cay]

I have quite a few friends who use Matrix exclusively and the results are mixed. I have read hundreds of posts hearing people’s individual results and it’s always the same. There are plenty of people posting their positive results very similar as what you’ve seeing and then the typical naysayers who saying it’s a poor, overpriced biological filtration medium compared to alternatives like sponge or Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBR).

I started the Maxspect on July 1st so it’s been roughly 80 days. I do envy your Lamotte as I don’t trust my interpretation of the API color chart so I’ve been having my local reef store test my parameters every 7 days using theirs. My water change schedule is 50% every 3 days. I started having my water tested every week from June 1st to June 30th to have a baseline. My nitrates hovered around 14.5-17.5ppm prior to a WC. I should note this tank has 10 Oscura Heterospila roughly 5-6”(it’s been two years, I hate these fish), 10 Amatitlania nanoluteus, and originally 100 plus Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis(lemon tetras) that I’ve lost a few so I’m guessing 90ish.

According to Maxspect the Denitrification catalyst should be replaced after 60 days which I did. The catalyst is very inexpensive at the cost of $7 every 60 days. My current nitrates are now averaging 9.5-11ppm so after 81 days I’m seeing roughly a 30% reduction in nitrates. So I’m pleasantly surprised so far. Now my concern is Maxspect also recommends cleaning and or replacing the blocks every 6 months which is sort of confusing. It takes time for the anaerobic bacteria to colonize so I emailed this past Monday as to confirm why I would replace the blocks as it seems like a scam to sell more products. I don’t mind buying the catalyst as I understand the bacteria needs a carbon source but I am skeptical on the need to replace the blocks every six months. They do note to only replace half as to not wipe the bacteria completely. I will continue using them until December 31st and then tallying the final results but so far I am pleased.

The Lamotte photometer has been a game changer for me due to the ease of testing multiple parameters so quickly. The high pH reading is the one that appears to be unreliable, at least with my device which is the SpinTouch FF. I know there's the FX version out now.

Love your tank species, I can't get any larger than ~5" max size central american species imported here. I'd like to import Amatitlania nanoluteus sometime in the future.

RE: Maxspect: how much do you have in the sump of your 240g and where does the catalyst go? Do you have any pointers you'd want to give at this point in your experience with it? If you could recommend any online reading you could point me toward then that would be much appreciated.

 

[HUKIT]

The Lamotte photometer has been a game changer for me due to the ease of testing multiple parameters so quickly. The high pH reading is the one that appears to be unreliable, at least with my device which is the SpinTouch FF. I know there's the FX version out now.

Love your tank species, I can't get any larger than ~5" max size central american species imported here. I'd like to import Amatitlania nanoluteus sometime in the future.

RE: Maxspect: how much do you have in the sump of your 240g and where does the catalyst go? Do you have any pointers you'd want to give at this point in your experience with it? If you could recommend any online reading you could point me toward then that would be much appreciated.

The SpinTouch is the model they’re using currently as well. I just haven’t been able to justify the cost quite yet. They don’t charge for water testing but they do have a tip jar so I’ve been tossing in $5 each week. So after 30 weeks of testing I will have given them $175.

It’s so strange why some species are banned in different locations. Here we can’t have Asian arowanas based on being their endangered status. Never mind they’re all captive bred since the mid 90’s.

Maxspect says two blocks are good for 265 gallons but I’m using 4 blocks in this 240g with a 40g sump. I did change all 4 of the catalyst at the 60 day mark as they’re cheap at $6.99 for five. I figured some is good but maybe more is better, Lol. As far as placement I have them directly under the filter socks as they recommended to be placed into a high flow area for the best results.

I didn’t find a lot of information online except for a few saltwater forums. The owner of our local reef store says they’re working extremely well in his reef system. His test are at 0ppm using the Lamotte so he’s having to dose with potassium nitrate from nilocG.

Maxspect also has biospheres which I ordered this week. I want to try them aerobic (with oxygen) to see if they will work as nitrifying media. The other known bacterial process that's decrease inorganic N in significant amounts is the anammox process. I’m going to try them in another system as this little experiment has been somewhat entertaining.

 

[ken31cay]

I read up on the Maxspect site a little and I'm excited to try this. They're small enough that I can fit a number of them in my sump, though I don't see the catalyst sold at Amazon.com (USA site) or any of my usual sites I purchase from.

Question: how do you clean the Maxspect blocks? For the Matrix in my sump I can see how it's important to clean around every 6 months; I've cleaned them about 3-4 months ago by vigorously shaking the bags in declorinated water and alot of gunk/material fell off.