{"product_id":"seachem-matrixcarbon","title":"Seachem MatrixCarbon","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpherical activated carbon that keeps flowing instead of clogging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Seachem MatrixCarbon is a premium bead-shaped activated carbon for fresh and saltwater aquariums, sized from 100 mL spare-parts-drawer bottles up to 4 L for large systems. Seachem's own dosing guide states 250 mL treats roughly 400 L of aquarium water for several months, so every pack size scales in a straight line from a nano tank to a fish room.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpherical bead shape\u003c\/strong\u003e — resists compacting and channelling the way granular carbon can, so water keeps moving through the whole bed rather than finding one easy path.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow ash content\u003c\/strong\u003e — Seachem states this minimises the carbon's own impact on pH, unlike cheaper carbons that can leach alkalinity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRemoves organics, colour and odour\u003c\/strong\u003e — clears tannin tint, general odour and dissolved organics from the water column.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFresh and saltwater safe\u003c\/strong\u003e — one product across the whole store, no separate marine version.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTreats water from 5c per litre\u003c\/strong\u003e on the largest pack — see Specifications below for every size.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePack size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBarcode\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTreats (approx.)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCost per litre*\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e000116010504\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e160 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e$0.13 per litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e000116010603\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e400 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7c per litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e500 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e000116010306\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e800 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6c per litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e000116010702\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1,600 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5c per litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e000116010801\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3,200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5c per litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e000116010900\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6,400 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5c per litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e*Litres treated is calculated from Seachem's published dosing guide (250 mL treats 400 L for several months). It describes how much water the carbon is dosed against, not a guaranteed lifespan — actual replacement timing depends on bioload and flow, and Seachem does not publish a fixed number of months.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich size do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMatch the pack to the water you're running carbon on, not the whole tank volume, if you only run it periodically. A nano tank or a quarantine setup rarely needs more than the 100 mL bottle; a single medium canister filter is usually well served by 250 mL or 500 mL; multi-tank fish rooms and large systems are where the 2 L and 4 L packs earn their lower per-litre cost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSetup and use\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinse the carbon before use to remove any dust from shipping, then place it where flow through the media is highest — a canister filter media basket, a dedicated reactor, a chemical filtration module, or a mesh bag in a box filter, sump or the high-flow section of a trickle filter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e fresh and saltwater tanks that need water polished — clearing tint, odour and dissolved organics — in canister filters, reactors, sumps and box filters with reasonable flow through the media.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e replacing biological or mechanical filtration — MatrixCarbon is a chemical filtration stage only, and won't process ammonia, nitrite or nitrate, or remove suspended particles. It will also adsorb some medications from the water column, so remove it before dosing a treatment course and don't run it again until the course is finished.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCare and maintenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere's no fixed replacement calendar — Seachem's guidance is to watch for the signs the carbon is exhausted rather than count weeks. Replace when water discolouration, odour or general organic load starts to return, which is typically after several months of continuous use, sooner in heavily stocked or heavily fed systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-tidal-35-hangon-filter-135l\"\u003eSeachem Tidal hang-on filters\u003c\/a\u003e — MatrixCarbon fits neatly into the media basket of the Tidal 35 through 110 range for on-the-fly chemical filtration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA mechanical filter pad or floss ahead of the carbon, so debris doesn't foul the media before its chemical capacity is used up.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShips as a standard parcel with no special handling required. Covered by the consumer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law in addition to Seachem's own product guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow long does a pack of MatrixCarbon actually last?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeachem doesn't publish a fixed number of months — treat the \"400 L per 250 mL\" figure as a dosing guide, not a countdown, and replace when clarity, odour control or colour removal starts to fall away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan I use MatrixCarbon in a marine or reef tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — Seachem states it's safe for both fresh and saltwater, including reef systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes running carbon strip trace elements or medication from my tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt can adsorb some medications and organics from the water, which is exactly what it's designed to do for waste products. Remove it before starting a medication course and hold off running it again until the course is complete.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhich pack size is the best value?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe largest packs are the cheapest per litre treated — the 2 L and 4 L bottles both work out to around 5c per litre, against 13c per litre for the 100 mL bottle. Buy the size that matches how much carbon media you actually run, though, rather than the cheapest per-litre figure alone, since unused carbon doesn't keep working once it's exhausted.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seachem","offers":[{"title":"100 mL","offer_id":55244174590243,"sku":null,"price":21.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250 mL","offer_id":55244174623011,"sku":null,"price":29.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500 mL","offer_id":55244174655779,"sku":null,"price":49.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 L","offer_id":55244174688547,"sku":null,"price":85.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2 L","offer_id":55244174721315,"sku":null,"price":171.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"4 L","offer_id":55244174754083,"sku":null,"price":322.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/0109-matrixcarbon-4-l_ceb73e6f-e5a2-48bc-8591-6c5ca5a1f006.png?v=1782710725","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/seachem-matrixcarbon","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}