You'll find many large fish rooms will simply use air driven sponge filters. robham777 Potamotrygon. Lava Rock (also known as Basalt) is an intense mineral that forms when gasses in magma begin to solidify and harden into rock. I would seed the Matrix with a piece of live rock, though. So, I've got a small Nuvo 14 penninsula that has 3 chambers (identical in size to the Nuvo 10). The Pros and Cons of Lava Rock As Mulch. Scoria is chunks of lava rock, while they have good surface area on their "surface" the fact they tend to be closed cell structure means water does not flow "through" them very well. I haven't seen any conclusive proof one way or the other, and it seems most of the answers I've seen are based completely on assumptions or rumors. Location: Southern Tier of Central New York, USA (Finger Lakes Region). Lava rock would act like the material in your filter, as would gravel and other objects with lots of surface area. Douglas Adams . These stones are found all around the world and are one of the oldest and most abundant minerals on Earth. How did it work out and how much of it did you use? I was all in on marine pure spheres but got sick and tired of the fines & switched to matrix. CerMedia MarinePure is expensive but offers a high-porosity flow-through design not found in other biological filter media. Also have lava rock in my pond filters and pond's bog. I've been using seachem matrix for a while, 8 gallon tank, 5 lb live rock, and a ton of matrix, My nitrates have been surpisingly stable, with very little nitrate creep. Sponge vs Crystal; Lava rock is actually a solidified sponge, it’s very porous, and that comes with some added features and problems. A layer of mulch, whether organic or inorganic, gives your landscape an attractive, finished look. Apparently, water was splashing on the porous scorching hot lava rock. Practically all the specific surface area of both Substrat Pro and MicroMec are in the range … Biohome filter media review - The results! You'll find many large fish rooms will simply use air driven sponge filters. Jan 22, 2018 #1 B. burtonboy182 Active Member View Badges . The Seachem website recommends 500 mL of Matrix per 100 gallons. 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 think Oddball posted a chart on another thread that gave a good breakdown of surface area by media type, I'll repost it if I can find it. You must log in or register to reply here. You are using an out of date browser. But beneficial bacteria produce nitrate, they don't "eat" it so I don't know how this could happen. Black 1-3 Inch Lava Rock | Fireproof and Heatproof Volcanic Lava Rock, Perfect for Fire Pits, Fireplaces, BBQs and More. FREE Shipping. Creating a SPS dominant tank. I tried for over a year to culture anaerobic bacteria to convert nitrates into nitrogen gas using large quantities of Seachem Matrix, DeNitrate and Stability. I have lava rock in both of my heavily planted tanks. I don't like lava rock, it's too rough when the fish bump (slam, LOL) into it. Guess I will have to try it. What’s you’re goal? In order to be able to post messages on the The Planted Tank Forum forums, you must first register. Mineral: RO water with Saltyshrimp Sulawesi 7.5. Rock rubble is the cheapest (I have some on hand to toss in), Seachem Matrix comes in a 1 liter and looks like the pieces are pretty small, Marinepure "Gems" looks like the other option (the 1.5" balls are probably too big for my application). I'm not wholly certain what seachem uses in this particular media. Never know what marketing to believe. Has anyone here actually used it? I use nothing but foam padding and filter floss with the same results as expensive medias. Reactions: Jhay3513. I have no evidence besides my own experiences, but I know that any media with surface area does the job well, and brand names do not matter. I had the pearls. This stone, or mineral, is formed of magma gases in a process of solidifying. It is $7.25 for 3.5 gallons. BUT my bioload is pretty small. Use caution, since product will fizz and heat on initial wetting. Haven’t looked at siporax. Frankly, I think most of what is marketed as bio-media is just more costly hype. Looks like it’s supposed to hold up better and better surface area and permeability? You can find Lava Rock in many places and scientists believe it is one of the oldest minerals on the planet Earth. Surface area measurements indicate that SeaChem Matrix contains nearly 10 times the specific surface area of Substrat Pro, and more than 20 times the specific surface area of MicroMec. I use bio-sponge material in my AC70 HOB's - coarse to trap detritus (and house decomp bacteria), then finer for beneficial bacteria and finally a bit of polyester floss for polish. Use in a filter bag such as Seachem’s Zip Bag™. I think they are so brittle because of how porous they are so it’s a trade off between surface area and strength. So what is Seachem Matrix? "A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools." When you buy Matrix™, you know what you are getting. Go. Sun Nov 29, 2009 3:52 pm. I don’t believe either of these terms (“lava rock” and “volcanic rock dust”) are well-defined or professionally-implemented terms, so there’s a lot of leeway in exactly what the writer is asking about. Neither crumble and seem to provide plenty of surface area. Thats not long enough for me to feel comfortable saying weather it is good/bad/indifferent. Step 1: spread 1L Matrix Pond in the tank, get ready to install undergravel filter on top. The rubble will be the hardest, but likely has the least surface area. Is there a big difference between Marinepure balls vs matrix vs just using (dead/dry) rock rubble? Lava rock seems to be more common and commonly available. Some people say it's garbage compared to ceramic media, while others say it works like a charm. 4.2 out of 5 stars 410. The more surface area you have, the thinner the icky bio film layer over everything is. From what I understand, it's best to crush it up to be about pea gravel size or so to get more surface area. Use 250 mL for each 150–225 L (40–60 US gallons). Basically its a bio media such as ceramic rings, and lava rock but in the mixture of both. It is supposed to work the same way that lava rock does. The 3/8" size is the same as Seachem Matrix. They look very natural and stack very well indeed. This guide is to highlight all the possible ways on how to prepare lava rocks for the aquarium. I prefer maxspect nano-bricks or 25mm siporax rings. The main reason i chose to go with this is because some members claim that it has reduced their nitrates. But no, I would say they are not. Joined Aug 1, 2016 Messages 140 Reaction score 26. Marine pure vs Seachem matrix. I think it takes a lot longer to establish the denitrifying colonies then some people might think though. Lava Rock or Basalt is a mineral that, as its name implies, originates from volcanic lava. You never have to replace it , so that is a plus. Epic Fail. for my post #8 I guess links are not allowed. Maybe 8 months or so. Lava Rock Meanings, Zodiacs, Planets, Elements, Colors, Chakras, and more. Indoor and Outdoor use - Natural Stones | 10 Pounds. I have used Seachem's Matrix and DeNitrate which is a type of lava rock (pumice stone). Additives: Benibachi Super Bacteria Bee Max, Benibachi Mineral for Shrimp, Prodibio Biodigest, Prodibio StopAmmo. More porous live rock is obviously better in this respect, and real live rock from dead coral is better than manufactured live rock as far as I know. lava rock or pumice? So, adding lava rocks is definitely going to help you and your aquarium in many ways. I called Seachem and got the scoop. Adding lava rocks in the aquarium not only enhances your aquarium beauty but also makes a more comfortable and home-like environment to your aquarium inhabitants. This, I believe, is due to phosphates and silicates leeching from the rock. Filter media: Matrix Pond, Eheim Substrat Pro, Mech, Seachem Denitrate, Ceramic Rings, Sponge. Next Last. Matrix™ is a specific type chosen for its extremely high porosity, pore size, durability, and inert nature. They are pretty brittle and will start crumbling a bit depending on how aggressive you are when cleaning them out. I am not convinced that it actually reduces nitrates or just helps to control them. It may very well be pumice or form of it, better refined, so as to eleminate the majority soluble silicates. It may not display this or other websites correctly. What are you trying to accomplish with it? After many years, I've come around to thinking that the very best material platform for beneficial biology is the simple bio-sponge. 1 of 2 Go to page. Pretty funny - looked on the "Bay" for the above product. The lava rock cleans super easily. After many years, I've come around to thinking that the very best material platform for beneficial biology is the simple bio-sponge. I feel it works every bit as good or better than any of the materials marketed as bio-media. I haven't used what is commonly referred to as lava rock. Frankly, I think most of what is marketed as bio-media is just more costly hype. Its origins play a key roll in the stone’s healing properties. Some people comment that it is like as if the rock has glue on it as it stacks together so well. Note that passwords are case-sensitive. Is there anything that you could use instead of Matrix that does the same thing and … I've actually been lazy for the past month and haven't done any water changes, and has had no rise in nitrates. Trying to decide between marine pure vs Seachem matrix. PIVBY Natural Aquarium Driftwood Assorted Branches Reptile Ornament for Fish Tank Decoration Pack of 3 . I have used Seachem's Matrix and DeNitrate which is a type of lava rock (pumice stone). Volcanic rock (often shortened to volcanics in scientific contexts) is a rock formed from lava erupted from a volcano.In other words, it differs from other igneous rock by being of volcanic origin. I'm seeing a lot of mixed reviews out there. Hero Member; Posts: 878; 48096; 48096 Romeo; Seachem Matrix vs Kent Marine Nitrogen Sponge « on: November 19, 2013, 03:21:25 PM » Question: Is Kent Marine Nitrogen Sponge similar to Seachem Matrix ? In terms of surface area to volume ratio, MarinePure is much better than Matrix, which is better than live rock. Seachem Matrix is an effective and reasonably-priced biofiltration media with nitrate-reducing capability. At the end of the process, they become very hard and turn into a rock. Lava is an attractive rock in its own right so not only is it beneficial, it is also ornamental too. $22.99 $ 22. I won't have to soak reef rock for weeks to months to remove phosphates, and I won't have to deal with heavy quantities of material. 4:07 . I run a bag of siporax. Out of curiosity, have you noticed whether seeding new tanks with marine pure takes longer than seeding with 'standard' live rock? Best Seller in Aquarium Décor Wood. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I have several ideas related to this. Some say it gets clogged up quickly, while others say they never had that problem. It has nowhere near the living space for bacteria that ceramic rings have but is definately a good alternative. Thread starter burtonboy182; Start date Jan 22, 2018; Tagged users None 1; 2; Next. I have not gotten around to testing lava rock but I do have a lot of testing information that may be of some use to you. But I've also heard of people using normal barbecue lava rock without crushing it at all. Please enter a valid email address for yourself. For best results, SeaGel™ should be placed so as to maximize the flow of water through it. I noticed many users have complained about receiving an adulterated product, and frankly I thought I had received one as well. For the best viewing experience please update your browser to, The following errors occurred with your submission. Look for the Matrix without Seachem thread in the equipment forum. There was an experiment done on The Planted Tank forums using this stuff vs Seachem Matrix, and this stuff actually seemed to cycle the tank faster than Matrix … Matrix is especially useful in reef aquariums where nitrate removal is highly desirable. 3/4' minus? Cichlid Experience 11,030 views. The foam is the only thing that clogs and takes time to rinse. - … I purchased 4 marine pure blocks … If I were to be able to use the Matrix instead of rock, it would be such a major relief. It has been tested in the lab and in thousand of hobbyist's aquariums for more than a decade with excellent results. Author Topic: Seachem Matrix vs Kent Marine Nitrogen Sponge (Read 2570 times) Maize-N-Blue-D. For example, I heard of it exploding when used in a hybrid water and fire features. Other things like lava rock and foam also have tons of surface area for the job. 99. It is so versatile and you can really have some fun playing around with different pieces and creating various shapes and constructions. What size? Lava rock part 2 aquarium filter media vs biohome - Duration: 4:07. SeaGel™ will function 3–4 months. Rinse in freshwater before use. Matrix, porous rings, smooth rings, lava rock. I haven't heard too much about pumice. Lot of pages of semi useless information but, there may be something of interest to you there regarding how I have been testing things. Please enter a password for your user account. JavaScript is disabled. Is good/bad/indifferent for beneficial biology is the same way that lava rock ( pumice stone ) a good.. Simple bio-sponge very Natural and stack very well be pumice or form of it, so is... A rock it actually reduces nitrates or just helps to control them lab! Because of how porous they are not allowed fun playing around with different pieces and creating shapes... 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