Seachem Pond Matrix is one of the better biological filter media you can put in your fish tank or pond filter. So, how long will this product last?
You can find out in this guide at Aquarium Blueprints.
Quick Summary
Seachem Pond Matrix should last a lifetime as it won’t breakdown in your aquarium or pond.
With that said, you need to regularly rinse any debris from the pebbles to keep the microscopic pores unclogged. Otherwise, this filter media will become less and less effective at filtering ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
If the pores of the pebbles get fully clogged up, then you can still regenerate or recharge it by using hot water.
What is Seachem Pond Matrix?
Seachem Pond Matrix does not directly add beneficial bacteria in your fish tank. Instead, it provides an ideal environment for these microorganisms to live on.
As the pebbles are highly porous, this product provides an abundance of surface area for the bacteria colonies that consume ammonia and nitrites to grow on. Inside of these pebbles are micro chambers that are devoid of oxygen, which will provide places for the bacteria that consume nitrates to colonize.
The beneficial bacteria colonies will grow on Seachem Pond Matrix over time in your fish tank or fish pond. If you want to speed up this process, you can add live bacteria.
If you are looking for a specific product for speeding up the colonization process, then we recommended picking up Seachem Stability.
What is the lifespan of Seachem Pond Matrix?
The pebbles of the Seachem Pond Matrix won’t break apart in your fish tank.
Therefore, it should last indefinitely as long as you perform regular maintenance. Even if you don’t perform regular maintenance, you will be able to recharge and regenerate this filter media.
How to perform regular maintenance for Pond Matrix
The microscopic pores of the Pond Matrix will get clogged easily. If you don’t unclog these pores in a timely manner, then the beneficial bacteria living inside of the pebbles will start to die off. The bacteria die-off could lead to spikes in ammonia, nitrites and/or nitrates.
To clear out the clogged pores, we recommend that you use the tank or pond water you plan on removing during a water change in order to rinse off any detritus and slime from the pebbles.
By using tank or pond water, you won’t risk potentially harming the beneficial bacteria living on the Seachem Pond Matrix.
To keep this filter media effective, we recommend rinsing it every single time you are doing a water change.
How to regenerate or recharge the Pond Matrix
If you ignore regular maintenance, then the pores will get so clogged up that it will be hard to remove the excess organic wastes through regular maintenance.
Instead, you will need to use hot water as it will do a better job at burning off the waste buildup.
To learn more about how you can regenerate or recharge the Seachem Pond Matrix, you can take a look at this comprehensive tutorial.
