Matrix works!

[Ronniethewitch]

I bought a business last week so have just been too busy with admin and working to see to my twice a week water changes. After 2 weeks (four missed water changes). I expected the water to be really bad. So I checked.

0's across the board!! I added matrix about 2 and a half months ago and already I am seeing denitrification.

This is amazing to me. I am considering just doing bi-weekly water changes now.

Curious how often every else does their water changes?

 

[mattgirl]

Congratulations on your new business. I wish you lots of good luck although I do realize the good luck depends on the work one puts into the business.

I am curious as to how you used the matrix to have it work so well for you. Is it in you filter? What kind of filter? HOB? Canister?

I normally change out no less than 50% of the water in all my tanks each week. The smaller ones get more and the pleco fry grow-out tank gets at least a 50% change every 3rd day. Just for grins I ran the nitrate test on my 5.5 gallon well planted tank yesterday and they were down to about 5 a week after my last water change. I have to think the low bio-load and the fast growing plants are the reason for the low number.

I also ran the test on my 55 gallon tank at the same time. They weren't as low as the 5.5 but were lower than normal the day before it was due for a water change. In my case it is the fast growing plants that are keeping the nitrates down. This tank has a fairly high bio-load so seeing the nitrates higher in it than in the 5.5 gallon didn't surprise me.

Running nita-zorb in my HOB filters helps to keep my nitrates down but I wanted to see what they would be without it so removed it after last weeks water change. It seems the plants are doing the job the nitra-zorb was doing.

 

[Ronniethewitch]

Congratulations on your new business. I wish you lots of good luck although I do realize the good luck depends on the work one puts into the business.

I am curious as to how you used the matrix to have it work so well for you. Is it in you filter? What kind of filter? HOB? Canister?

Thankyou!
I am running two internal 3in1 filters with matrix, sponges,floss and air flow but I also mixed some matrix into my gravel substrate. My tank is fairly heavily planted as well.

I have been doing two 40-45% water changes a week since changing tanks, but I think I'm going to slow this up. My plants are doing well. My fish are happy enough to continue breeding. Water looks gorgeous and now I know it's also healthy... it was just such a surprise!