Bio bricks/blocks Vs Lava rocks

[AfaceInTheCrowd]

thoughts appreciated

 

[Jseimo]

I’d stay away from lava rocks. They generally contain metals and other potential hazards that could leach into your tank.

 

[AfaceInTheCrowd]

I’ve never used them personally, as always had better live rock years ago. These days with the majority of rock being much denser than years ago the need for biological filtration in sumos seems more necessary. Years ago bio sumps were seen as bad.

Seen lava rocks used in past but seems to of fell out of popularity now, metals must be why..
wasn’t there an issue with aluminium in the blocks before also?

 

[BirdGuy21]

I run Seachem Pond Matrix in the Bach chambers of my AIO. Had biobricks when I first started the tank but they ended up becoming a nutrient trap due to poor planning on my end/ difficulty accessing them to clean the chambers. The pond matrix is nice as it fits in my InTank media baskets and is easy to remove for cleaning. If I had a sump though I would probably go with some type of bioblock. I wouldn’t use lava rock.

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

The only rock in my tank is black lava rock, and I don't keep any rock in my sump. It's been working just fine for over 2 1/2 years.

 

[Orm Embar]

I personally wouldn't use either; MarinePure and similar are aluminum containing ceramics that have reports of both aluminum leaching and turning to powder in the aquarium/sump. Lava rocks also have multiple reports of leaching problems.

If you want to go with dry rock, I'd pick a calcium carbonate based option. I'm not sure if there are truly inert options out there, however.