In all aquaria, it is prudent to establish a stable nutrient budget in which the rate of nutrient export is not greatly exceeded by the rate of nutrient input, and vice versa; in the proper physical and chemical conditions, the former imbalance leads to increased presence of nuisance organisms such as filamentous algae and cyanobacteria, whereas the latter leads to malnourished aquarium inhabitants.

The nutrients of greatest concern to most aquarists are nitrate and phosphate, both of which require active removal and/or remineralization in aquatic habitats to ensure that they do not exceed concentrations that are deemed as safe for the ornamental organisms inhabiting those systems, or that would otherwise impact the appearance of the system, itself.

Katalyst provides a static surface for colonization by beneficial microbes, while at the same time providing them with a source of organic carbon, which is required for the uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds (including nitrate and phosphate, respectively). In this fashion, Katalyst improves nutrient-uptake efficiency relative to systems employing only live rock, live sand, and/or inert plastic material as a substrate for microbial colonization.

The colonization of Katalyst with the appropriate types of nutrient-remineralizing microorganisms, such as those found in MicroBacter7, serves to deplete existing concentrations of dissolved organic material from the aquarium. The ultimate goal in employing this system is to maintain a balance between the rate of nutrient-addition and -removal/uptake; this balance is different for each individual aquatic system and takes time to dial-in and obtain the desired results. The reward for investing the time required to attain this balance is improved water quality.