Seachem recommends that you prewash Matrix before adding it to your tank filter. To keep the filter media effective, you also need to regularly rinse these stones.
You can check out this guide at Aquarium Blueprints to see how you can properly wash and rinse Seachem Matrix.
Why you need to pre-wash Seachem Matrix before adding it to your fish tank
If you don’t pre-wash the Matrix filter media before adding it to your tank, then you will be adding dust particles to your tank. While these dust particles should be harmless to the fish and other inhabitants in your aquarium, your tank water may end up looking cloudy or milky.
To see how you can quickly get rid of the cloudiness if you already put Matrix in your tank without pre-washing the filter media, you can take a look at this tutorial.
How to pre-wash Seachem Matrix
In order to pre-wash Seachem Matrix, we recommend taking the following steps:
1. Remove the Matrix filter media from the package and then put the stones in a bucket or container that can hold water.
2. Next, you can either add distilled water or tap water to the same bucket or container.
3. You can then stir the filter media around the bucket or container to make the dust particle waterborne.
4. After stirring the media for a minute, you can carefully poor out the water from the bucket or container.
5. We recommend adding a new round of water to the bucket or container and then re-stir the media to make sure that you get as much as the dust out as possible.
6. Keeping repeating these steps until you see no more waterborne dust particles when you pour out the water from the bucket or container.
7. You should now be able to add Seachem Matrix in your fish tank without making the water cloudy.
If you use tap water to pre-wash the filter media, we recommend adding a drop of aquarium water conditioner, like Seachem Prime, to prevent chlorine and chloramine from the tap water from getting into your fish tank. Otherwise, you will end up harming the existing beneficial bacteria in the aquarium.
Why you need to regularly rinse Seachem Matrix
Seachem Matrix contains microscopic pores that provide surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize. These bacteria colonies will help reduce ammonia, nitrites and nitrates compounds that come from decomposing organic matter in your aquarium.
The microscopic pores of Seachem Matrix will get clogged over time due to fish wastes and other debris. The blockage will prevent the beneficial bacteria living inside these pores from being able to feed on the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Without food, these colonies will eventually starve to death, causing water quality issues.
Therefore, it is very important that you regularly rinse Seachem Matrix.
How to rinse Seachem Matrix without killing the beneficial bacteria
In order to rinse Seachem Matrix without killing the beneficial bacteria living on the filter media, we recommend doing the following:
1. To begin, we recommend rinsing Seachem Matrix any time you decide to do a water change for your fish tank.
2. Remove the Matrix from the filter (or tank if you added it directly).
3. Put the removed filter media in bucket or container that can hold water.
4. Next, add the tank water you plan on taking out of the aquarium to the same bucket or container.
5. Stir the Matrix stones for a minute to knock off debris to the water column.
6. Pour out the debris-filled water.
7. We recommend that you add more of the tank water to the bucket or container and then re-stir. Pour out the dirt water once again when you are done.
8. You can repeat this process as much as you like to rinse debris off of the filter media.
9. Once you are done with thoroughly rinsing the Seachem Matrix, you can put the stones back into your filter or directly in the tank.