Opinions: Seachem Matrix vs Kent Marine Nitrogen Sponge

[Deleted]

Greetings All,

I know AAP sells Seachem Matrix for lowering Nitrates. What differences - if any - do you see between Kent Marine Nitrogen Sponge and Seachem Matrix?
I got a "good deal" on Kent Marine Nitrogen sponge -- just to try.... I don't expect wonders (and do plan to order the Sand Filter in the future). I needed another item so I could get free shipping from that online retailer (all products that are not available through AAP -- smile) -- plus I had a $10.00 gift certificate, so the Nitrogen Sponge was basically "free". 

I have really appreciated your responses when other products for comparison were posted. No rush now for an answer....I do have a list started for another AAP purchase. 

Cheers,

Judy D.

[Carl]

I have used both companies product quite extensively over the years, although Kent Marine not so much as of late.

The SeaChem product is definitely more porous and has a better capacity for both nitrification and de-nitrification.
These companies have different approaches.
SeaChem is more research based while Kent has always been much more about the marketing than research.
In fact, many of their products are not even produced by Kent Marine, not that this makes the products bad either, but certainly there is not the development costs and knowledge that goes into product.

As an example, Kent's popular marine salt is made by Instant Ocean.

I sold a lot of Kent products in my "Brick & Mortar" store as they had nice packaging and Kent did a nice job creating demand for their products.
However my aquarium maintenance personnel used far more of the SeaChem products for their own use, which says a lot.

In summary, my opinion and experience is that Kent makes a good product (AAP sells some), but when compared to SeaChem, they generally come up short (sort of how I feel about EcoTech LEDs versus TMC AquaRays; one is about the flash and marketing and one is more about the science)

Carl

[Deleted]

Thanks Carl,

My son has been using Matrix to help lower nitrates.... He wasn't as diligent about water changes - only doing about 20% once a month. Matrix may have been keeping the nitrates from going sky high. Since I have been helping him - now doing the water changes every two to three weeks (he lives almost 3 hours away) - nitrates have come down to about 60 ppm. Now there are three pouches of Nitra-Zorb between two Rena filters (one new and two recharged). There is still some Matrix in one Rena.

I have a large media bag that I will use for the Nitrogen Sponge - and will place it in the Aqua Clear 100. I will still do my water changes every two weeks, and will post here how the product performs for me (the price was too good to pass up). I have been using a Deep Blue Professional Nitrate Remover Pad cut to fit the Aqua Clear 100.... I have seen no change in Nitrates. It was worth a shot... Not too expensive.

None of the fish in my 75 gallon are overly sensitive to nitrates, but I know it is better for them to keep the level below 50 ppm. I have some Peacock Gudgeons now in my 20 gallon so will have to step up water changes there. From what I read, those are a bit sensitive to nitrates. Peacock Gudgeons do better in planted aquariums, but I thought I would give them a try. They are such pretty fish.

Judy D.

[Deleted]

Greetings All,

I got my Kent Nitrogen Sponge today. I know a pet store that used to be in my home town used this product to keep nitrates low. As I wrote before, I sort of got it for free (on sale, plus I had a Gift Certificate for the retailer). I am not sure I will like it. I looks pretty much like API Ammo Chips (although Nitrogen Sponge isn't rechargeable - Ammo Chips are). It is Zeolite - and does need to replaced - while Matrix does not need to be replaced. Matrix has larger pieces and is probably more porous. After reading up on Matrix, I am ordering some of that, too. They are very different products.

Cheers,

Judy D.

[devonjohnsgard]

Oct 29, 2014 19:12:08 GMT -5 @judy4fish said:

Greetings All,

I got my Kent Nitrogen Sponge today. I know a pet store that used to be in my home town used this product to keep nitrates low. As I wrote before, I sort of got it for free (on sale, plus I had a Gift Certificate for the retailer). I am not sure I will like it. I looks pretty much like API Ammo Chips (although Nitrogen Sponge isn't rechargeable - Ammo Chips are). It is Zeolite - and does need to replaced - while Matrix does not need to be replaced. Matrix has larger pieces and is probably more porous. After reading up on Matrix, I am ordering some of that, too. They are very different products.

Cheers,

Judy D.

Maybe you can measure how effective it is? Nitrates before and after use for a while. Might help determine which you like better.

[Carl]

Kent Nitrogen Sponge, SeaChem Matrix & De-Nitrate, Aqua Clay, and similar products do not work the same way as Zeolite (Ammo Chips).
These before mentioned product simply act as surfaces to attract de-nitrifying bacteria in an environment that is very low oxygen.

The structure of the product makes a large difference in effectiveness.
I think you will find that once established which takes at least 8 weeks, Matrix is superior to Kent Nitrogen Sponge or their own de-nitrate products.

Here is a picture of the structure within Matrix:


For further information, please read:
www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2007/05/aquarium-filter-media.html

Carl

[parker002]

I use Seachem Matrix and won't ever use anything else. My daughter's 14G tank only needs 1.5 cubic inches of Matrix for complete biofiltration. Yeah, that's approximately 14-15 pebbles total.

[Deleted]

Thanks Parker/All,

I am replacing some round bio-balls in my Rena Filter with Matrix. I hate those bio-balls (smile).

When I got the 75 gallon, Rena filter and all of the fish (in 2006), my son had Volcanic rocks and Matrix (or a product similar to it) in the filter. The filter kept crashing.... It wasn't the fault of the filter media though (but I didn't know that at the time)... the local water supply had such low KH. I had to buy Fritz Turbo three times to recharge the filter. I replaced all of the bio media with ceramic rings, API "Stars" and the bio balls (over the course of one summer). That same summer, I switched to Seachem Alkaline buffer (which also helped the KH). I haven't had a filter crash since - even during the medication treatments.

I am ready to give Matrix a try.

[parker002]

I have a Filstar XP3. I originally loaded the bottom half of the middle tray with the included BioChem Stars and the upper half of the middle tray with Matrix. I have since just loaded the entire tray with Matrix and put the Stars in storage.

[Deleted]

Greetings All,

Correction: My son was using De-Nitrate - not Matrix. He should be using Matrix since his filters have a high flow rate (xP2 and xP3). I am taking some Matrix to replace the De-Nitrate. De-Nitrate needs to be replaced anyways (if it is like Nitrogen Sponge).

I am not ready to give up the API Stars -- but have no problem getting rid of those annoying balls (smile). My son still has some of the balls in his xP3, too...and those will be replaced with Matrix. He has ceramic rings on top of some of them - but there are several that float to the top.

At first, I liked the idea of the balls and stars because the filter wasn't as heavy....but I replaced one batch of balls with ceramic rings soon after I got them. Matrix is far superior to ceramic rings, too -- so I will gradually replace those in my filters.

Thanks for all of your input on this topic.

Judy D.