Switching to new bio media

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Seachem Pond Matrix or Matrix. Buy the best and never worry about it again. You spent money on pot scrubbers, gonna spend more money on lava rocks, your gonna spend more money replacing the lava rocks... Prolly for Matrix. It's a $20 investment for something you'll have for your entire hobby.
 
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I use Seachem pond matrix/matrix and Eheim substrat pro. I prefer the substrat pro. Much more uniform in shape which makes it easier to use in certain situations. Some (a few in the batch) of the matrix bio media looks like plain old cement rocks... Actually the matrix just reminds me of porous pumice stone.... I know it works though. Either is great. I prefer the substrat pro.
 
So are you guys saying that LavaRock pores will clog faster than pond matrix or Eheim substrat pro? I am asking because i am in the process of doing this myself. If the pores of the lava rock will clock - how can the smaller pores on the ceramic media Not clog?
 
Supposedly, ALL Ceramic bio-media's clog eventually(due to mineralization), or so I've heard discussed as of late.

I will admit however that I AM a proponent of and use both Substrat Pro, Matrix, and Matrix pond. In addition, I ALSO use pot scrubbers, and in some of my canisters swapped out the Matrix and Substrat Pro due to the fact that you can ALWAYS clear the pores of the Pot Scubbers with a good rinse with the garden hose(dont do it all at once if it's your PRIMARY BIO however).

My thoughts as far as clearing (or attempting to clear) the pores on matrix and Substrat pro have been to clean small batches (1ltr) once every 8-12 months by soaking in 50/50 bleach and water for a few days, then rinse, and soak in heavily dechlorinated water for a week. Then put back into operation.

This last time however, I DID-NOT put the Matrix and Substrat Pro back yet, and it's been 2 months. I've just been letting the srubbies do the bio, and have experienced no spikes at all.

As I've said once before, I believe A LOT of us (I know I DO/HAVE)tend to use waay more bio media than we really need. I'm fortunate to have 7 light to medium stocked tanks however, and do 50% water changes each week, and use 2-4 times the amount of purigen recommended on each of my 7 tanks.

My opinions and experiences only, your mileage may vary.....
 
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Arkangel77 said:
So are you guys saying that LavaRock pores will clog faster than pond matrix or Eheim substrat pro? I am asking because i am in the process of doing this myself. If the pores of the lava rock will clock - how can the smaller pores on the ceramic media Not clog?
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It's not that. The surface area of lava rock is actually very little... 15-26/cu.ft. vs. 18,300 sq.ft. per gallon for the substrat pro... You still need to rinse and swish it around to keep gunk from clogging pores and covering any biomedia. Sintered glass biomedia (like Eheim substrat pro) is one of if not the highest surface area biomedia you can get for your aquarium...

Here is a chart for your reference on lava rock vs.

image.jpeg
 
wow - looks like pot scrubbers are a big bang for the buck! If that chart is correct anyways
 
Biomedia is confusing and what one manufacturer states is different from another. Opinions differ from users also. They all claim to be the best. Top two overall are Eheim substrat pro and Seachem matrix. I couldn't find a definitive answer. So I figured why not use both. Lol. I like the Eheim better because of the shape, and more uniform size/structure. I have no doubt that Seachem matrix works... But the size and shape is all over the place, and I feel like I'm just buying rocks (that's what they are... Natural porous stone)... I have found a few "rocks" in Seachem matrix that look like concrete rocks that came from my front yard. I guess they missed a few on the sorting table...
 
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I just got a box of the substrat pro in todays amazon shipment (I have an amazon prime addiction) and it looks nice. I ordered just 1 liter since it only has to support a few grow outs but as they grow I'll order more to add.

As far as porous media getting clogged I bet a cheap sonicator like an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner type unit would clean out the pours quite well. I use them at work to clean small sensitive parts. Although I would estimate that the best way to go about using the ceramic media in the long term is to keep extra on hand and add some new pieces for the bacteria to colonize once and a while.

As far as the very best porous substrate, MarinePure looks very impressive and I've heard good things about it.
 
if you run it submerged, pot scrubber is the best of them all. more junks on scrubber = more surface area
 
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