r45t4m4n Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 I have seachem matrix under my substrate and I am attempting to cycle my tanks via a fishless cycle. I am worried that the Matrix is removing the ammonia before the bacteria get a chance to metabolize it. I dose 4ppm at night and about 24 hours later it is practically 0ppm (tank has only been filled for a week). Has anyone ever cycled a tank with matrix in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamashack Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Have not used Seachem Matrix so cannot speak from experience tho it makes sense to me that if it removes the ammonia then the bacteria are left with nothing to thrive on. That or you've just broken a world record for fastest aquarium cycle in history! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesHe Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 You can always cycle the filter alone with NH4/NH3 dose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 LOL One guy used to pee on his filters to get them started. Cottaball 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r45t4m4n Posted November 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 haha, I was actually thinking about that while dosing the aquarium on my third bourbon. Unfortunately I cannot cycle the filter separately as I am using a HMF and UGF. I may grab some media from my planted tank during this weeks water change. Put it in a net bag and drop behind the HMF. I'll keep dosing ammonia daily until then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMG Aquatics Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 That's super fast. Make sure to measure your Nitrite as well. I find that Nitrite takes 2-5x longer to colonize vs Ammonia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r45t4m4n Posted November 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 hmmm, reread the Matrix tub and it says its inert, so it should not affect the ammonia in the tank.... "Matrix™ is a high porosity biomedia that provides efficient biofiltration for the removal of nitrogenous waste. Matrix™ is a porous inorganic solid about 10 mm in diameter. Each liter of Matrix™ provides as much surface (>~700 m2) as 170 liters of plastic balls! Plastic bio-materials provide only external surface area, whereas Matrix™ provides both external and internal macroporous surface area These macropores are ideally sized for the support of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria. This allows Matrix™, unlike other forms of biomedia, to remove nitrate along with ammonia and nitrite, simultaneously and in the same filter. Matrix™ is completely inert and will not breakdown. It need not be replaced. Since the majority of the bacteria are internal, Matrix™ may be rinsed when needed without damaging the filter. Matrix™ is compatible with all types of wet or wet-dry filters." Going to check nitrates tomorrow evening if ammonia has dropped quickly again. My substrate consists of a layer of Seachem Matrix on top of my UFG, then some Aquasand, then mironekuton powder + bacter AE + prodibio and then more AquaSand to top it all off (about 5" in total). Also added another vial of prodibio to the water column after about 5 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenteam Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 I have matrix in two HOB and never had it do that during cycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamashack Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 This is the advice I was given by a cycling expert and when I say that, he can be a pain in the butt with his research, but he doesn't half know his stuff. Trying moving the bag of media as far away from the filter as you can so that the bacteria have to migrate to the filter for flow and oxygen. If the bag is left next to the filter the bacteria may stay where they are whilst enjoying the benefits of the flow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r45t4m4n Posted November 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 makes sense, thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 I only use Matrix. If your tank handles 4ppm in 24 hours, it already has more than enough filtration power for ammonia (AOB). Do listen to Poopian as nitrite is another story, it can take longer as the bacteria for nitrite (NOB) doesn't start to grow until AOB start to convert ammonia to nitrite. Ammonia (NH3/NH4) is consumed by AOB and nitrite (NO2) is produced. Nitrite is consumed by NOB and nitrate (NO3) is produced. So, your tank should have enough AOB colony, but you need to test nitrite to ensure it has enough NOB to form a compete (half) nitrogen cycle needed for aquatic life. Matrix is just filter media, it doesn't do anything to ammonia or nitrite, but the bacteria colony grown on it does. Cottaball 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimpzoo Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 It would be Seachem Purigen that would remove the ammonia before the bacteria get a chance to metabolize it. You are good to go in terms of cycling, in fact the matrix is probably helping you colonize bacteria allowing your tank to cycle faster (: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r45t4m4n Posted November 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 tested the water just now, ammonia at .25ppm, nitrate at 5ppm and nitrite to .25ppm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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