I think we all know that bio-media encourages the aerobic bacteria that converts ammonia to nitrites and another bacteria that converts nitrites to nitrates and our WWC removes nitrates.
Unless I'm reading this wrong, Seachem claims that Matrix removes nitrates.
Am I reading this wrong?
It's one of those "it depends" answers. Nitrate can be removed form the system by water changes, conversion and use by plants (they convert lots of nitrate/nitrite over time), and by anaerobic processes. This last process involves an anaerobic process converting the nitrate to gas and can be summarized by: NO3-
NO2-
NO
N2O
N2
Note this conversion to a gas requires anaerobic bacteria. Is it possible to get anaerobic conditions in the "pores" of the media? If so, many denitrifying bacteria are facultative anaerobes, which means they can break down both nitrates and nitrites, depending on oxygen levels. Since anaerobic conditions aren't optimal for aquaria, we normally use plants or water changes to get rid of nitrate.
This does get to something I've see mentioned in passing regarding substrates - since "complete" denitrification occurs only under anaerobic circumstances, denitrification can occur in deeper areas of a tank's substrate, thus supporting the idea that there is a benefit to small anaerobic areas in substrates.
Back to the original question - unless something in the Matrix produces anaerobic conditions (perhaps within the porous media itself?), I don't see how it removes nitrates.
Back to the original question - unless something in the Matrix produces anaerobic conditions (perhaps within the porous media itself?), I don't see how it removes nitrates.
Read further in the Q&A... Q: How long does it take for Matrix to grow the necessary anaerobic bacteria to remove nitrate? A: This all depends on the stage of biological establishment of your tank, placement of Matrix and flow rate. Generally you will start to see improvement in a couple of weeks but every situation varies.
Well the same method used in reef tanks to remove nitrates should work similiarly..
Adding sugar or vodka to a tank will reduce nitrates, since it sends the bacteria into an 'overdrive' of sorts. As far as I know, when you add sugar or vodka, it's actually the aerobic bacteria that do the work.
If I had to guess, I would say that 'Matrix' is a biological media that's somehow infused with sugar. There was a company a while back that sold some sort of 'bio balls' infused with sucrose.
Even the Aquaripure, which is a sponsor of this forum, used sugar or vodka to 'feed' their system. I would imagine they work similarly. but I have no idea how the price comparison would apply...
Matrix has to be replaced I think, while Aquaripure filter media does not.
Well Aquapure warns that the returning water from their filter has NO O2 so water must be oxygenated...so it would seem they are not using aerobic bacteria to do the deed...
If you "spike" the bacteria with nutrients, it would be possible to generate anaerobic conditions in the media due to the increased O2 uptake (depletion) by the bacteria bloom resulting from the nutrient influx.
Ask a question about this product Matrix bio media is a highly porous media designed to provide exceptionally efficient biofiltration for single site removal of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate from freshwater, marine, and reef aquaria. Each liter of Matrix provides over 160,000 cm2 (170 sq. ft.) of surface, equivalent to over 40 L (10 gallons) of typical plastic ball media! This product is sold by volume. Cited weight is minimal weight.
DIRECTIONS: Use 500 mL of Matrix for each 200 L (50 gallons*) of water. Matrix may be placed in any kind of filter, and is particularly effective in a canister filter. Matrix is sufficiently large that no filter bag should be required for most applications. Matrix works well in drip tray systems, but you may find that the larger Pond Matrix is better suited for such applications.
Its something I would take with some salt. I've never used matrix because I don't see a big difference in ceramics. I agree that anaerobic bacteria shouldn't be in the canister logically, it just has such a high flow rate it is much more focused towards aerobic. I believe that the bacteria in aquariums that consume nitrAtes are true anaerobes(obligate). They die in the presence of O2, this is why most people only notice them in the substrate, especially sand substrate. No flow and it goes anaerobic. I know that nitrAtes are only consumed in anaerobic conditions. The bacteria species itself may not be obligate anaerobes. If they are not, then its pretty clear that when O2 is present they don't consume nitrates...
If our bacteria actually consumed a reasonable amount of O2 from the water a canister would not work properly in a aquarium. If water exiting the canister is O2 poor, then how does a high tech planted tank maintain O2 levels high enough for fish? I mean its typical little to no surface movement and along with my pressurized CO2 injection. If bacteria were consuming O2 as fast as you suggest simple diffusion and plant respiration would not be enough IMO, considering a tank that has 6x turnover rate. If it was moving slower maybe, but thats the opposite of what canisters do.
ANYWAY.... the whole process is over complicated IMO. I'm still in school for biology major/chem minor. Its a fish tank! Its easy to get in-depth with the biological processes and what is "best". Doesn't change that the $5 DIY sponge filter is magical;-). No matter how super fancy you get with filtration keep in mind some sponge, bubbles, and physics can do it just as well.
AFAIK adding sugar or vodka to a FW aquarium causes a sever drop in O2 levels and usually it gets cloudier then cloudy. Vodka isn't nice to fish either.
As far as Matrix's claim, you could just test it yourself... Or send me some, My 55gal runs about 40ppm nitrates;-). My 15 gallon soil "el Natural' still eats 20ppm of nitrates a week out of my tap. I'll be the first to say high tech is fun, but the simplistics have a lot to offer:roll:. I named my bamboo shrimp Fluval and put him to shrimp labor :3
Matrix is said to be quite porous(so is lava rock), and deep inside the material, the lack of oxygen creates anerobic area and the anerobic bacteria then strip oxygen from nitrates(De-nitrification) leaving nitrogen gas which supposedly is precipitated out of the tank
Is also said that De-nitrification is more difficult in freshwater, as there is more oxygen available than in saltwater and low oxygen is what drives De-nitrification.( slow flow and low oxygen = best results ?)
Seems to me that oxygen rich water flowing through this material would not produce desired result's as effectively as water flowing around it.
In any event, I find it cheaper,faster,to perform water change to control NitrAtes.
Maybe I'm just too old school.
Nothing wrong with that....Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates ... it's good to have some beneficial bacteria working for us...just as it's good to have scavengers and snails (in moderation) to handle otherwise uneaten food and algae...But it seems to me there are compounds in fish waste that filtration systems won't handle, as well as water concentration from evaporation.
Periodic water changes (rain) is natures way of keeping waters fresh...and so should we in aquariums. :smile:
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