MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia and anemones -- good or bad?

[D-Nak]

I just finished my new anemone tank build and was planning to add a couple big blocks of MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia into the sump. However, after doing some research I'm concerned that the elevated aluminum levels that people are experiencing though the use of the biomedia could cause problems, specifically for my gigantea and magnifica. Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[smenkhare]

From what i've heard the ones that are leaking aluminium are counterfeit and that genuine marine pure is aluminium free.
admittedly this is from a store that sells it and could be biased.

 

[moatdaddy]

This has been gone over in many threads, in the short of it, i use it with sps, mushrooms, and zoanthids. I love it. I will never run another tank without it.

 

[D-Nak]

This has been gone over in many threads, in the short of it, i use it with sps, mushrooms, and zoanthids. I love it. I will never run another tank without it.

Lots of discussions yes, but not specifically when it comes to long term use with tanks with anemones. It sounds like you don't have any nems in your tank, is that correct?

 

[maxxII]

I just finished my new anemone tank build and was planning to add a couple big blocks of MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia into the sump. However, after doing some research I'm concerned that the elevated aluminum levels that people are experiencing though the use of the biomedia could cause problems, specifically for my gigantea and magnifica. Does anyone have experience with this?

Is this just with the MarinePure media or does it allegedly involve siporax as well?

I ask because I have 2 liters of siporax in my 120 sump and plan on moving my H.magnifica anemone's over to it sometime in the next few months....

 

[D-Nak]

Is this just with the MarinePure media or does it allegedly involve siporax as well?

I ask because I have 2 liters of siporax in my 120 sump and plan on moving my H.magnifica anemone's over to it sometime in the next few months....

My understanding is that Siporax is made of a different material that doesn't leach aluminum.

 

[maxxII]

Okay, thanks.

Dumb question though....If that's the case, why dont you go with siporax instead?

The object is more bio filter capability, right? Meaning more surface area and denitrification?

Or am I missing something?

 

[mcfa2403]

I don't remember where or when, but Randy Holmes-Farley posted somewhere that the aluminum detected by triton may not be in a toxic state. Triton can only detect amounts of an element, not what form/compound it is in. He posited that if they are leaking aluminum that it is likely not toxic. Furthermore, if my memory serves correctly it was never even shown with certainty that the marine pure was the source of aluminum for the reefer who had the high aluminum in his triton test. He did about 17 things to his tank between tests.

While bubble tips, soft corals and hard corals are not as delicate as magnifica or gigantea, I have been able to keep all with no issues in tanks with marine pure media. Considering that aluminum in the wrong state is supposed to kill all marine inverts and the amount of time I have kept these safely with it, I would strongly believe that it is safe regardless of sensitivity. Maybe it would kill magnifica faster but I see no reason that a toxin known to kill most marine inverts would only kill one and not the other given 1.5 years of exposure.

 

[nemmy]

I know it doesn't help much (since I just heard about marinepure this week somehow) but I put I plate in my tank last night without nem issues. Granted it hasn't been in long enough to leech much of anything lol.

 

[bif24701]

No one, NO ONE has ever linked MarinePure to any problems in our hobby. Only discussed it many many times. Only speculation has held it back, but anecdotal evidence has show the product is safe and highly effective!

 

[D-Nak]

Okay, thanks.

Dumb question though....If that's the case, why dont you go with siporax instead?

The object is more bio filter capability, right? Meaning more surface area and denitrification?

Or am I missing something?

Not a dumb question. I've considered siphorax, but it just reminds me of the old-school media that we used to put in canister filters, and while it works as it's supposed to, I like MarinePure's form factor and ease of use (not that siphorax is hard to use, especially when in a media bag). My plan is to use a large MarinePure block, which fits nicely within my sump. When it comes time to clean, I like that I can simply pull out the MarinePure block, rinse it, and put it back in place.

I don't remember where or when, but Randy Holmes-Farley posted somewhere that the aluminum detected by triton may not be in a toxic state. Triton can only detect amounts of an element, not what form/compound it is in. He posited that if they are leaking aluminum that it is likely not toxic. Furthermore, if my memory serves correctly it was never even shown with certainty that the marine pure was the source of aluminum for the reefer who had the high aluminum in his triton test. He did about 17 things to his tank between tests.

While bubble tips, soft corals and hard corals are not as delicate as magnifica or gigantea, I have been able to keep all with no issues in tanks with marine pure media. Considering that aluminum in the wrong state is supposed to kill all marine inverts and the amount of time I have kept these safely with it, I would strongly believe that it is safe regardless of sensitivity. Maybe it would kill magnifica faster but I see no reason that a toxin known to kill most marine inverts would only kill one and not the other given 1.5 years of exposure.

Thanks for this -- it's exactly the type of information I am looking for. My concern with gigs and mags is the consistent, low level exposure to aluminum, regardless of the form/compound. I would hate to have my nems struggle to survive and slowly wither away. Obviously our goal is to provide the best environment possible to have our nems grow and thrive and ultimately, reproduce.

The fact that you've been using it for 1.5 years speaks volumes, and that alone gives me motivation to try it.

I know it doesn't help much (since I just heard about marinepure this week somehow) but I put I plate in my tank last night without nem issues. Granted it hasn't been in long enough to leech much of anything lol.

Keep us updated on your tank and inhabitants, both good and bad experiences. This is the only way we'll know the long-term effectiveness of this product.

No one, NO ONE has ever linked MarinePure to any problems in our hobby. Only discussed it many many times. Only speculation has held it back, but anecdotal evidence has show the product is safe and highly effective!

Great -- the more positive things I hear about it, the more I want to try it. Unfortunately, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence in this hobby, but if we can tie it to science, a la Holmes-Farley then the more credible it becomes.

 

[m0nkie]

I use two 8x8x4 blocks per tank (~100-150gal) to keep nitrate down. Both tanks have anemones: BTA, Haddoni and Gig.

1 of them is an anemone dedicated tank.. it's running on a few live rocks and marine pure in sump. So far I haven't seen any issue. That tank has been up and running for close to two years now. BTAs been inside for 1.5 years.. Marinepure inside for about a year.

I've read a lot of good things about siporax. I think I will slowly switch out some MP for Siporax and compare results.

we had a recent discussion, someone said their rock flower anemone weren't so happy.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2570210

 

[nemmy]

Everyone's still happy from a webcam peak D-Nak. I did mess up and ordered a plate instead of a brick. I guess the brick is needed for lowering nitrate vs the plate. I'll probably order a brick and swap it out after the plate is seeded. I'm going to use it in a 20L for a pair of rowdy clowns I'm temp housing in my sump.

 

[D-Nak]

I use two 8x8x4 blocks per tank (~100-150gal) to keep nitrate down. Both tanks have anemones: BTA, Haddoni and Gig.

1 of them is an anemone dedicated tank.. it's running on a few live rocks and marine pure in sump. So far I haven't seen any issue. That tank has been up and running for close to two years now. BTAs been inside for 1.5 years.. Marinepure inside for about a year.

I've read a lot of good things about siporax. I think I will slowly switch out some MP for Siporax and compare results.

we had a recent discussion, someone said their rock flower anemone weren't so happy.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2570210

HAH! That was the thread that got me concerned about adding the blocks to my set up.

 

[nemmy]

I did get a maybe unrelated PH drop though.

 

[Postal]

I have used Marinepure blocks in my systems for probably 2 years without issue. That includes tanks with gigs, malus, and LTA's.

 

[D-Nak]

I just bought two blocks. DFS had a 25% off sale so I decided to buy some to try out. If anything strange happens, I'll let everyone know.

 

[nemmy]

I just bought two blocks. DFS had a 25% off sale so I decided to buy some to try out. If anything strange happens, I'll let everyone know.

Keep an eye out for a pH drop when you put it in. Just something to look for if you have a controller. My mag is still growing new tentacles so its obviously not mad. My hadonni is moving some but that's probably because my new vortech wetside came in and the flow is different.

 

[killagoby]

I use Seachems Purigen to control nitrate and it works great IMO

 

[Azedenkae]

I have my bubble tip in with a bunch of MarinePure cubes. It's loving life atm.