ceramic ring podominiums?

[Ben34105]

I have a soon to be 4 yr old daughter who loves to help me with the fish tank. I was thinking of buying bulk ceramic rings and sitting down with her and some marine epoxy to make affordable pod housing structures for the sump.

It seems on the surface to be a safe and fun project, but am I overlooking any possible negative side effects to the tank?

 

[uncleof6]

Depends on the purpose of your "fuge." If you do not rely on the "fuge" for nutrient export, use it as a "refugium," (safe haven so forth and so on,) and have another method that is strictly "export" (such as a Bucket DSB) then why not. Marine science (even at age 4 ) is a good learning experience, at a very simplistic level. On the other hand, if your "fuge" is intended for "export" then adding production to the mix negates the export... as far as harmful effects from the ceramics, there won't be any...

 

[Bryopsis]

As long as they're kept semi clean there probably wouldn't be a large effect.

On a side note, there is a concern about ceramic slightly leaching phosphates. Not sure to all of what that applies for brands, etc..

 

[uncleof6]

As long as they're kept semi clean there probably wouldn't be a large effect.

On a side note, there is a concern about ceramic slightly leaching phosphates. Not sure to all of what that applies for brands, etc..

Everything leaches phosphates, since phosphates are the current bad guy... acutally not...phosphate is a natural byproduct of life (an aquarium system) that is where it comes from, not mysterious sources...

Even if it were to "leach phosphates" the amount will be finite (short of the complete dissolution of the ceramic) and once that phosphate is "used" there will still be phosphates in the system, because it is a byproduct of life....it gets a little silly if you really think about it

 

[Willistein]

kind of like every time you add food to your tank...

Reef projects with kids are fun!

 

[Ben34105]

Thanks guys. I ordered 1,500 grams of rings. Not sure how many pieces that is. If she makes anything architecturally stunning I'll upload a pic.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

When you say ceramic rings, do you mean like bio rings? Just curious.

 

[Ben34105]

When you say ceramic rings, do you mean like bio rings? Just curious.

Yep.

 

[uncleof6]

kind of like every time you add food to your tank...

Reef projects with kids are fun!

That, and every time you do a water change (salt mixes are loaded with phosphates especially the expensive ones, don't let them fool you,) or everytime you stick your hands in the tank etc. etc. etc....but that is life

 

[khdlr]

How often do you all change out or clean your ceramic rings? I have two 12"x12"X2" bags with ceramic rings in the first chamber of my sump and not sure how often they should be changed out? I do a good cleaning of the chambers about once a year to remove sediment, but I don't take the rings out. Any advice? Thank you

 

[zachts]

How often do you all change out or clean your ceramic rings? I have two 12"x12"X2" bags with ceramic rings in the first chamber of my sump and not sure how often they should be changed out? I do a good cleaning of the chambers about once a year to remove sediment, but I don't take the rings out. Any advice? Thank you

You don't need to change them. Just rinse them off in a bucket of tank water after a water change every once in a while to remove detritus build up.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

How often do you all change out or clean your ceramic rings? I have two 12"x12"X2" bags with ceramic rings in the first chamber of my sump and not sure how often they should be changed out? I do a good cleaning of the chambers about once a year to remove sediment, but I don't take the rings out. Any advice? Thank you

I would think these should be in the last chamber essentially sitting on the return pump,in the cleanest water of the system, (or what should be the cleanest water) thus to avoid too much crap building up in them. .

As mentioned though they should be cleaned rather routinely. ..doing so with cleaner tank water will likely prevent you from killing all the beneficial bacteria growing on them. ..if you use tap or Rodi water you will Nuke any life on them