Biome-Matrix Reef Block
Modern dry-rock and sterile starts lack the complex carbon cues that drive the full spectrum of beneficial reef bacteria. Without those cues, opportunistic pathogens and nuisance films can take over before a balanced community establishes itself.
Place one block in the sump and, over 30 days, it builds a resilient biofilm that:
- Crowds-out harmful microbes
- Increases the microbial biodiversity
- Accelerates the “maturation” period new systems need
How It Works
- Sea-Derived Matrix A compressed scaffold of reef-safe marine and bio-polymers feeding specialised bacteria and boosting their growth
- Selective Feeding Only beneficial microbes that can secrete specialised enzymes can tap into the Biome-Matrix block. Opportunists and cyanobacteria can’t.
- Living Bio-block Within one week the block’s surface is coated in a dense, protective biofilm; fragments naturally slough into the water column and colonise rock, sand, and plumbing.
Simple dosing
- One block per 100 L (26 gal)
- Halve the dose for nano reefs by cutting the gel in half and storing the unused piece in the fridge
- Position vertically in a shaded, moderate-flow sump chamber, not in direct display light.
- Replace when the block shrinks to ~20 % of its original size
Key Bacterial Groups Cultivated by Biome-Matrix
| Ecological Role | Representative Genera It Promotes | Why They Matter |
|---|---|---|
Surface bio-protectors |
Pseudoalteromonas, Ruegeria (Roseobacter), Alteromonas |
Produce natural antibiotics & quorum-sensing inhibitors that suppress pathogens |
Organic-matter recyclers |
Flavobacterium, Cycloclasticus |
Break down proteins, lipids & detritus before they fuel nuisance algae |
Slow-acting denitrifiers / redox balancers |
Paracoccus, Shewanella |
Remove excess dissolved organics inside the block’s oxygen-limited core |
Hard-to-cultivate diversity boosters |
Planctomycetes, Oceanobacillus, Marinobacter |
Fill ecological niches absent in sterile starts; promote coral holobiont stability |