Comparison of Eheim Substrat Pro VS Seachem Matrix: Which Bio Media is Better?
If you are looking forward to
adding bio media to your aquarium filter, then two of the top Bio Media
available in the market are Seachem Matrix & Eheim Substrat Pro.
As compared to Eheim Substrat
Pro, more surface area is available with Seachem Matrix. Hence, Seachem Matrix
is more efficient in wiping out ammonia byproducts.
In addition, Seachem Matrix has
very tiny pores where denitrifying bacteria grows that wipe out nitrates. Eheim
bio media is only effective at wiping out ammonia & nitrites.
Seachem Matrix is a better
product when compared to Eheim Substrat Pro because it offers more surface area
for growing good bacteria for consuming ammonia & nitrites. Seachem Matrix
also houses anaerobic bacteria for removing nitrates while Eheim Substrat Pro
only wipes out ammonia & nitrites.
Packaging Sizes:
Have a look at the available
package sizing of both Seachem Matrix & Eheim Substrat Pro below:
EHEIM Substrat Pro:
- 180 gram
- 720 gram
- 1440 gram
- 3600 gram
Seachem Matrix:
- 250 mL
- 500 mL
- 1 L
- 2 L
- 4 L
Compatible Aquarium Water:
Both Substrat Pro & Matrix
are compatible for freshwater & marine fish tanks.
Nitrifying Bacteria:
Good bacteria is useful for
wiping out ammonia & nitrites, & making aquarium water safe for fish.
Fish waste & other detritus will over time poison water. They leach out
ammonia, which is dangerous for aquarium pets. After the nitrogen cycle
completes, good bacteria grow in abundance that break down ammonia into
nitrites & nitrates. Nitrates are less dangerous than nitrites &
ammonia. Fish can live with nitrates in the water. If fish are exposed to
ammonia & nitrites, they will get stressed & even die.
Good bacteria grow everywhere in
aquariums. Hence, both Seachem Matrix & Eheim Substrat pro offer heaps of
room for the growth of good bacteria.
Eheim Substrat Pro is effective
against ammonia & nitrites in low-stocked aquariums. They offer low surface
area when compared to Seachem Matrix. Matrix is highly recommended for heavily
stocked aquariums.
Denitrifying Bacteria:
The final product of the nitrogen
cycle is nitrates. Higher numbers of nitrates are harmful for fish. Some fish
like Discus are very sensitive to nitrates. Presence of even small amounts of
nitrates can stress Discus or other sensitive fish. Therefore, it is important
to control nitrates.
Denitrifying bacteria grow inside
pores of bio media where oxygen is not present. They can wipe out nitrates from
the water. Otherwise, nitrates level can be reduced with frequent water
changes.
The Seachem Matrix has tiny pores
where oxygen is not present. Therefore, Matrix houses denitrifying bacteria
inside these pores, which consume nitrates. On the other hand, Substrat Pro
cannot house denitrifying bacteria.
Maintenance:
It is important to clean bio
media as overtime the pores of the media are clogged with debris. If the pores
of the media are clogged, then the bacteria living on these surfaces can die
off.
It is important to wash bio media
when performing water changes. You can simply take bio media out of the filter
& wash them with aquarium water to remove detritus.
Both Eheim Substrat Pro &
Seachem Matrix need maintenance.
Water Chemistry:
Both Eheim Substrat Pro &
Seachem Matrix are inert so they should not change the pH or release anything
in the aquarium water.
Life Span:
If you clean Eheim Substrat Pro
& Seachem Matrix occasionally, then they will last a lifetime. If they somehow
start to break apart, then it is recommended to change the broken parts.
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