MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia Plate
- Thread starter Drewl117
- Start date
shifty51008
12-5 Chiefs record
I use one in my clownfish growout tank. They work ok, basiclly the same thing as lr but more compact.
soulpatch
New member
Only difference between the two is ease of use for your application. IE if you want to seed QT tanks then the sphere would probably work better as they are easier to grab. If looking for more filtration in a sump the blocks are probably better.
I totally intend to line the base of my new sump with the pads to greatly increase my filtration. I also assume that they will catch detritious over time and need to be rinsed out like rubble rock so ease of removal will be key for me as well for my quarterly/semi annual sump cleanings.
I totally intend to line the base of my new sump with the pads to greatly increase my filtration. I also assume that they will catch detritious over time and need to be rinsed out like rubble rock so ease of removal will be key for me as well for my quarterly/semi annual sump cleanings.
jason2459
Well-known member
There's a long running thread on it here somewhere. Basically there's evidence it may contribute to some kind of aluminum leaching but nothing definitive on the kind and if it's actually harmful or not. Reports of leathers reacting negatively to aluminum based products but nothing definitive to MarinePure. There's lots of reports it helps. Which makes since as it's just a place for bacteria to grow and if you are lacking in that area then yes it will help.
Personally, I'll stay away until more definitive proof.
kinnadian
New member
I've read a lot of the threads about this media this week because I'm looking at getting the ceramic blocks.
Some users noted their leathers closing up within hours of adding the ceramic blocks. For this to occur they either had a faulty manufactured block or, more likely, they didn't rinse the block before putting into the tank and any manufacturing dust or dust created while shipping (eg block rubbing against freight container) is what cause the aluminium spike.
Randy proved that over time the blocks leach a form of aluminium that is picked up by a Triton (ICP) test but never proved if the form of aluminium (possibly alumina) in the water is actually harmful or irritates coral, which I find a bit unusual as he spent a lot of time on the tests but only technically did half of them.
After reading it all, I am going to use them and if I see any adverse affects I will take the ceramic blocks out. I think it will be fine, if you do regular water changes you will more than likely keep the aluminium levels manageable even if they did appear.
Users who reported high aluminium levels never mentioned any other contributing factors, such as other aluminium in their tank (could be as simple as a washer somewhere, or other ceramic media), if they did regular water changes to export the aluminium, etc, so you kind of have to take it at face value.
Plenty of people use these blocks with no issues.
Some users noted their leathers closing up within hours of adding the ceramic blocks. For this to occur they either had a faulty manufactured block or, more likely, they didn't rinse the block before putting into the tank and any manufacturing dust or dust created while shipping (eg block rubbing against freight container) is what cause the aluminium spike.
Randy proved that over time the blocks leach a form of aluminium that is picked up by a Triton (ICP) test but never proved if the form of aluminium (possibly alumina) in the water is actually harmful or irritates coral, which I find a bit unusual as he spent a lot of time on the tests but only technically did half of them.
After reading it all, I am going to use them and if I see any adverse affects I will take the ceramic blocks out. I think it will be fine, if you do regular water changes you will more than likely keep the aluminium levels manageable even if they did appear.
Users who reported high aluminium levels never mentioned any other contributing factors, such as other aluminium in their tank (could be as simple as a washer somewhere, or other ceramic media), if they did regular water changes to export the aluminium, etc, so you kind of have to take it at face value.
Plenty of people use these blocks with no issues.
Tigerdragon
New member
I am using it in my current tank so far all my corals and i am heavily mixed are growing fine. Triton testing shows supposed elevated alum but the issue with triton testing is that it does not differentiate between the toxic form and non toxic form i have read through all the threads on this and everyone that has used it has had great success but have let the triton testing spook them. I for one will continue to use because it does allow the use of less rock in dt
jason2459
Well-known member
My concern is more so the reports of them crumbling and dissolving over time. Good or bad form of aluminum don't think I want either and not knowing what all else is being released at that point. There's inert particulates and precipitations that can still cause irritation in different species. HLLE potential comes to mind as well. NOT saying this causes that at all.
Being just a home for bacteria I'm just not sold on them yet as being more safe then say porous rock. Sure it may have the surface area of a standard football field but I will settle for a few more regular rocks of arena football fields in my sump and tank.
That said I'm sure they work great at housing bacteria. AFAIK that's all they do.
jason2459
Well-known member
FYI, here is that thread on marinepure in the reef chemistry forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2453931
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2453931
Probably a good idea. I wish someone would cycle a tank bare bottom with only a power head, then dose nitrates and raise nitrates to 20 ppm or perhaps higher, then add a block, and record day by day nitrate levels.
The claim is the the thicker block can reduce nitrate since its deeper pour network works like a large piece of live rock. Lets find out. Might post on BRS's youtube to see if they would test this.
The claim is the the thicker block can reduce nitrate since its deeper pour network works like a large piece of live rock. Lets find out. Might post on BRS's youtube to see if they would test this.
