Pond matrix n Purigen

[phish]

Are these products similar?

[supadave]

Naw.....they are completely different . The Matrix is just a regular bio media similar to the Eheim Substrat and any of the biological rock type media . The Purigen is a synthetic absorbent that removes impurities from water . Purigen is AWESOME !!! Purigen also goes by a nickname on the box called........"The Magic Beans" . Lol !!

[phish]

Thanks Dave.

[steveparish]

Purigen is designed to pull organics from the water before they break down, whereas Matrix is more of a biological media. Matrix is reportedly so porous that it is capable of supporting larger populations of Anaerobic bacteria than "normal" media (think nooks and crannies that are deep and don't transfer much water in some areas, allowing for different bacteria populations than the areas that do "turn over" more water.

I've recently started using Purigen in my tanks and I've been very happy with it. I'll be starting to use Matrix very soon in a couple of filters - I'm interested in seeing if it actually will lower Nitrates (I've read good things, but looking to find out firsthand!).

[morpheus]

i started using purigen and matrix in my canister filter on my 75gal when i started the tank up. definitely has done a great job thus far and i probably will be adding the matrix into my HOB filters in other tanks. just went through my first recharge of purigen this weekend and will be putting it back in tonight.

i will probably also be phasing out carbon in favor of purigen in my HOBs seeing that its reuseable and seems last a lot longer. wirth the investment.

[SunnyHouTX]

Ken, have you noticed a reduced level of nitrates than you expected while using Matrix?

[morpheus]

I actually havent tested nitrates in a little while, but they were zero last time i checked. i have no live plants either.

I was treating for a bacteria up until yesterday, so i took out everything from carbon to purigen to the stones. i will be putting in fresh stones tonight and testing the nitrates too. not sure if the stones would harbor whatever bacteria caused the illness, so just being safe.

fish seem happy and healthy. there never was any ammonia or nitrites, so the purigen is doing its job for sure

[SunnyHouTX]

Bacteria on rocks aren't the kind to hurt fish, but who am I.

Yeah, I wanna know what you find out about the nitrate situation.

[morpheus]

yeah i am debating because the matrix should have good bacteria buildup on it too. dont want to essentially restart cycling from scratch, but i do have some stability i can use to seed the new media.

will report what my nitrates are tonight and going forward

[SunnyHouTX]

Cool man. Thanks

[SunnyHouTX]

Also, check nitrates before you take things apart.

[morpheus]

there has been no filtering media in the tank at all until last night. but last night i did do a 30% change and i put carbon back in the HOB upon finishing the melafix treatment cycle.

have not reintroduced matrix/purigen into the canister yet. will be taking nitrates tonight before adding that back, but the WC definitely would have lowered any nitrates present at that point.

also having only a few fish in there, its nowhere near bio-load capacity, so the levels may not have moved much to begin with even without the media.

[SunnyHouTX]

Gotcha

[morpheus]

Well I tested everything before putting matrix and purigen back and nitrates were definitely elevated to around 40ppm.

I hate these color charts cause 40 is red and 80 is like very dark pink...almost the same color. but I am going with 40.

I added matrix stones also into my HOB filter cartridges with the carbon.

When do you want the next test Sunny? Honestly I have no idea how long is enough time to notice a drop in nitrates.

Ammonia and nitrites were at zero.

[SunnyHouTX]

It will take about a month or two for the denitrifying bacteria to start working so just do a weekly check before and after WC till you see a noticeable drop in the reading before WC.