running out of room in sump. marine pure vs live rock question.

[PirateLove]

I have a marine pure block and two rocks full of life that are the same size.

Why does the rock grow all sorts of sponges, tube worms, etc, while the marine block does not?

I need to get rid of something in the sump to add a media reactor. Should I get rid of the marine pure block or the live rock? Which do you think is more beneficial?

Thanks for any opinions. :dance:

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I reckon its a no brainer

 

[Mr.Shrimps]

I reckon its a no brainer

Soooo, get rid of the marine pure block and leave the live rock?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Soooo, get rid of the marine pure block and leave the live rock?

Of course

 

[PirateLove]

Cool. Thanks guys. I will take it out now and leave the nice live rock. I wonder is marine pure is even that beneficial to reef tanks.

 

[Slarti]

Cool. Thanks guys. I will take it out now and leave the nice live rock. I wonder is marine pure is even that beneficial to reef tanks.

In theory I would think the marine blocks will give you more surface area than live rock. Suppose this depend on the shape of the rock but it will generally have a bigger solid piece i.e. cutting down on surface area. Otherwise I look at mine and it looks like nothing at all other than a porous piece of nothing!

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Cool. Thanks guys. I will take it out now and leave the nice live rock. I wonder is marine pure is even that beneficial to reef tanks.

Well there was always concern that it would leach aluminium into the water & ICP testing confirmed it.

Apparently sponges don't like it either?

 

[steved350]

I removed my marine pure blocks for that exact reason. ICP testing showed elevated aluminum levels. Running GFO now to remove the aluminum and will test again after a couple more water changes.

 

[HBtank]

Why would marine pure be designed to grow sessile invertebrates? That would clog the filter... it’s simply a substrate for bacteria, not really a complete analogue for live rock. Working as intended.

 

[PirateLove]

Why would marine pure be designed to grow sessile invertebrates? That would clog the filter... it's simply a substrate for bacteria, not really a complete analogue for live rock. Working as intended.

But why won't anything grow on it? I don't understand.

And to the point of it leaching things... BRS uses it on their 160 gallon videos and have an awesome tank. I think the leaching was rumored from knock off marine pure.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Things do grow on mp.

BRS took it out of their system yonks ago.

Yes? mp was shown to leach Al