matrix/siporax vs carbon dosing for sps

[Rybren]

Pumice is volcanic rock.

 

[las]

Is there any chance that the volcanic rock/pomace (matrix) can be dissolving minerals that are good for coral growth/coloration?

 

[Pife]

Is there any chance that the volcanic rock/pomace (matrix) can be dissolving minerals that are good for coral growth/coloration?

If it is, it's not effecting some of the best tanks on this forum.

 

[las]

I'm not understanding your reply.... Are you saying that some of the best tanks on here, that are trying matrix, aren't seeing any benefit if matrix is dissolving beneficial minerals into the reef water?

 

[dendrite]

Is there any chance that the volcanic rock/pomace (matrix) can be dissolving minerals that are good for coral growth/coloration?

On the other hand the pumice can contain entrapped gases, heavy metals , and anything else that might be burped up in molten lava from the Earth's mantle. I went with Siporax.

 

[reefmutt]

I don't know for sure, but I am fairly certain that siporax and matrix are not leaching anything into the water and that they are inert.
I am very much less sure that volcanic rock wouldn't be leaching something..

 

[Pife]

I'm not understanding your reply.... Are you saying that some of the best tanks on here, that are trying matrix, aren't seeing any benefit if matrix is dissolving beneficial minerals into the reef water?

Your previous post was difficult to follow for me. . I thought you meant that the matrix was absorbing (dissolving) key elements.

 

[las]

Sorry... I was just wondering. Some people are having such good results that made me wonder if there was something else going on besides large surface area

 

[gregkn73]

I don't know for sure, but I am fairly certain that siporax and matrix are not leaching anything into the water and that they are inert.
I am very much less sure that volcanic rock wouldn't be leaching something..

I thought that matrix is just "selected"....pumice!

 

[Mael]

Matrix is a blown glass material, inert and very porous. The success comes from matrix and siporax haven't the best surface for bacterial growth, more so than live rock does since it is purpose made for this.

 

[Pife]

Matrix is a blown glass material, inert and very porous. The success comes from matrix and siporax haven't the best surface for bacterial growth, more so than live rock does since it is purpose made for this.

What?

 

[Naptalene]

Think it's a type-o...
Should read "have the best surface area....."

Can someone chime in on this for me.... I always thought that you get your tank stable with L/R and then fine tune your final no3/po4 with carbon dosing to get it exactly where you want it.

So siporax/ matrix give you a fantastic media for tons of bacteria in a small space - win for our pockets and especially for very minimalist displays.

Now I start Carbon dosing ( if needed) are the bacteria feeding on the carbon source the same as the bacteria on the siporax/matrix? Can they outcompete the siporax/matrix colonies?

Thanks - I've been reading all these threads and picked up that gaping hole in my understanding.

 

[nemodan]

Think it's a type-o...
Should read "have the best surface area....."

Can someone chime in on this for me.... I always thought that you get your tank stable with L/R and then fine tune your final no3/po4 with carbon dosing to get it exactly where you want it.

So siporax/ matrix give you a fantastic media for tons of bacteria in a small space - win for our pockets and especially for very minimalist displays.

Now I start Carbon dosing ( if needed) are the bacteria feeding on the carbon source the same as the bacteria on the siporax/matrix? Can they outcompete the siporax/matrix colonies?

Thanks - I've been reading all these threads and picked up that gaping hole in my understanding.

Ok.... as it has been said many times. Matrix or Siporax are just a HOUSE for bacterias. There's no competition with any other HOUSE for Bacterias (i.e. rocks). You can add a ton of Matrix / siporax if you want. Only the amount of Bacterias needed by the,tank will growth, and that will be related,with the food they have to growth. You can increase the population by carbon dosing, if you want. All your Bacterias in the tank will feed from carbon dosing, doesn't mater where they live.

I hope this help.

Best
Daniel

 

[Naptalene]

Thanks, but if you read my post that's not what I was asking.

Are the bacteria floating in the water column the same as the population on the rock? No point loading up on LR/matrix/siporax if the water column bacteria outcompete the rock and it serves less purpose than. Then it's a waste of space and money if you carbon dose heavily.

 

[Reefvet]

Are the bacteria floating in the water column the same as the population on the rock?

Some are, some aren't.

No point loading up on LR/matrix/siporax if the water column bacteria outcompete the rock and it serves less purpose than. Then it's a waste of space and money if you carbon dose heavily.

The majority of the denitrification in your reef tank takes place on the rock or other surfaces supporting aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Very little takes place in the water column.

Siporax is sintered glass, molded to create an efficient water flow over it's surface. It's roughly 37 times as efficient at hosting necessary bacteria as live rock.

Bacteria don't 'compete.' Their population is in constant transition due to many variables in your tank. Carbon dosing is a way to stimulate the growth of a larger population of beneficial bacteria that consume nitrates along with the carbon.

 

[Naptalene]

Thank you.

I always thought we skimmed out the bacteria that had consumed the nitrate thus removing it before it could breakdown?

If most of that bacteria are on surfaces how does it get to the skimmer?

 

[Naptalene]

matrix/siporax vs carbon dosing for sps

Oh goodness.....
I think the penny dropped.
You hike the bacteria population so that it balances out the input of nitrate/po4 etc. and the system is in balance.

I thought you skimmed heavily to remove bacteria that was in the column before it died and thus released it back.

Have I got it?

 

[Reefvet]

Thank you.

I always thought we skimmed out the bacteria that had consumed the nitrate thus removing it before it could breakdown?

If most of that bacteria are on surfaces how does it get to the skimmer?

Skimming is one way we remove dissolved organic compounds, bacteria being one of the primary DOCs.

Bacteria are not static and are constantly reproducing, again the population fluctuates relative to the nitrogen sources they need to live. The bacteria colonize on porous surfaces, live rock and synthetic media like Siporax and their denisty is greatest there but they move throughout the water column.

Here's a good article on nitrates in the reef aquarium.

 

[Naptalene]

Thanks to both of you for your time.
Ill go through the link.

 

[russ13]

Questions
1: does having a deep sand bed give you the same area for large groups of bacteria to grow?
2: will they collect detritus and become a nitrate factory if not cleaned on a regular basis?
3: would they work better in an area that is well oxygenated the same way bio balls work??
4: has anyone had any experience having them leaking aluminum into the tank??