Brightwell Aquatics - Xport NO3 Brick ?

Reefiness · Aug 11, 2017

I just ordered one no3 and one bio brick to add to my tank. Usually run 10-15 ppm no3 but want to try getting back down to around 5ppm. And I have a pretty heavy hand about feeding.

SPR1968 · Aug 11, 2017

schooncw said:
I added an Xport NO3 brick to my 120 a few months back and it crumbled. Brightwell sent me another, no prob and yes, it sounds like quite a few of the bad ones got out. My distributor also sent me one N/C and I added another, for a total of three,which I have had in the tank for 3 weeks. Seeded with Microbacter 7. Time will tell!

How big is your tank ?

SPR1968 · Aug 11, 2017

Reefiness said:
I just ordered one no3 and one bio brick to add to my tank. Usually run 10-15 ppm no3 but want to try getting back down to around 5ppm. And I have a pretty heavy hand about feeding.

I'm in the same position. My fish currently hate me for starving them! Trying to get from around 12 to 5ppm

Reefiness · Aug 11, 2017

But my fish definitely don't hate me. I've been feeding extra the past 2 weeks because I got in some new fish that are still pretty skinny. So I'm trying to fatten them up with multiple feeds a day.

jimdip55 · Aug 13, 2017

I was told by to either wrap it or use a sock over it and place in a low flow area...right now mine is in bucket wiith bac8..putting it in tonight

Orly20 · Aug 13, 2017

I wrote to Jack Kent and he said he'd replace the brick that was falling apart on me. I even sent him a video of it falling apart to the touch and he has yet to respond. Definitely lost a customer
A sock? Wrap the brick in what? Seems that I'd rather not use a product that needs that type of care, just weird

schooncw · Aug 13, 2017

I called Brightwell and the person was very pleasant and sent a replacement right out, no pics needed. So far, my bricks are soild, having been in for a few weeks now.

Reefiness · Aug 14, 2017

Just got my brightwell bricks in. Rinsed the NO3 under the tap and suds came out like there was soap in it. Is this normal? It kind of freaked me out as the bio brick didnt do that.

gus6464 · Aug 14, 2017

I got my bio and no3 bricks when they first came out and they definitely have the breaking apart issue. I called brightwell last week and they sent out new ones of both no questions asked. Figured I would do a complete cleaning of the sump anyway and install the new bricks as I have a neptune cor-20 arriving tomorrow anyway so the manifold has to be redone.

Tautog · Aug 14, 2017

I have 2 bricks in my sump for the past 5 months, mine haven't broken up yet, but I do suck any stuff around them when I'm cleaning the sump during a WC
They take a few months to work well, they need to get established

SPR1968 · Aug 20, 2017

It's just about 4 weeks since I installed the seeded brick. No change whatsoever so nitrates!

I'm not sure if I need to be a bit more patient with it but as I seeded it so supposed to work from the start

I'm thinking of adding a second one for a bit of extra help but.......

schooncw · Aug 21, 2017

I'm going to test water tomorrow.

SPR1968 · Sep 5, 2017

I added a second brick a few weeks ago. Just to give an update they seem to be working. I tested a few days ago and Nitrate was 4ppm so I've reduced NoPox dosage and will see were we go from here.

Hopefully once everything balances I'll be able to feed the fish a bit more.

schooncw · Sep 5, 2017

I have not tested water in weeks but I will this week. They are still solid.

mta_morrow · Nov 28, 2018

SPR1968 said:
I added a second brick a few weeks ago. Just to give an update they seem to be working. I tested a few days ago and Nitrate was 4ppm so I've reduced NoPox dosage and will see were we go from here.

Hopefully once everything balances I'll be able to feed the fish a bit more.

Hi Shaun...….I know this is an old thread, but I am looking into these bricks now. Are you still running these? any advice to offer?

Thanks

Mike

schooncw · Nov 28, 2018

I took my "new" ones out. Was not seeing any serious nitrate reduction and tho not breaking apart like the first ones, felt very delicate. Someone mentioned a sock....that may work in reducing O2, which would be good.

SPR1968 · Nov 28, 2018

mta_morrow said:
Hi Shaun...….I know this is an old thread, but I am looking into these bricks now. Are you still running these? any advice to offer?

Thanks

Mike

Hi Mike

I believe they work yes, I had a total of 6 BUT......

They are very fragile and basically over a period of 6 m0nths or so start to disintegrate. Brightwell replaced the first 2, which is why I had 6, but they all over a period started breaking down and leaving a right mess in the sump. I removed them all around 2 months ago and I’m still getting the sand out of the sump!

I still have the Marine pure block in place which is still in good condition and working as far as I can tell, but for reasons below, if it’s ever needs replacing it will be replaced with Matrix.

So I’ve tried Marine Pure, Brightwell NO3 and now Seachem Matrix

Now the Seachem Matrix I can highly recommend as my media of choice after trying all 3. It’s basically stones, I added them in the Seachem Zip bags but you can just add in your sump. As they are stones they won’t break down or need replacing

I have around 650 litres, but I added enough Matrix for 4800 litres as I have a high bioload, so around 6 litres of Matrix. Originally I added 4 litres and it dropped nitrates from 18 to 7ppm in about 2 weeks whilst continuing dosing Nopox originally at 24ml and I’m now at around 16ml per day.

It seemed that good I added another 2 litres so 6 in total as your can’t really have to much bio filtration

They are best used in areas of low flow like a sump for denitrification (anaerobic).

Matrix is relatively cheap, so just add much more than you need and certainly for me it worked very well and better than the 2 other options

mta_morrow · Nov 28, 2018

SPR1968 said:
Hi Mike

I believe they work yes, I had a total of 6 BUT......

They are very fragile and basically over a period of 6 m0nths or so start to disintegrate. Brightwell replaced the first 2, which is why I had 6, but they all over a period started breaking down and leaving a right mess in the sump. I removed them all around 2 months ago and I’m still getting the sand out of the sump!

I still have the Marine pure block in place which is still in good condition and working as far as I can tell, but for reasons below, if it’s ever needs replacing it will be replaced with Matrix.

So I’ve tried Marine Pure, Brightwell NO3 and now Seachem Matrix

Now the Seachem Matrix I can highly recommend as my media of choice after trying all 3. It’s basically stones, I added them in the Seachem Zip bags but you can just add in your sump. As they are stones they won’t break down or need replacing

I have around 650 litres, but I added enough Matrix for 4800 litres as I have a high bioload, so around 6 litres of Matrix. Originally I added 4 litres and it dropped nitrates from 18 to 7ppm in about 2 weeks whilst continuing dosing Nopox originally at 24ml and I’m now at around 16ml per day.

It seemed that good I added another 2 litres so 6 in total as your can’t really have to much bio filtration

They are best used in areas of low flow like a sump for denitrification (anaerobic).

Matrix is relatively cheap, so just add much more than you need and certainly for me it worked very well and better than the 2 other options

Thanks so much Shaun. I currently have 2 liters of Seachem matrix and 2 liters of Seachem denitrate (just bigger stones) In my sump. I will just add to that! Thanks and I hope you’re enjoying your vacation!

SPR1968 · Nov 28, 2018

You

mta_morrow said:
Thanks so much Shaun. I currently have 2 liters of Seachem matrix and 2 liters of Seachem denitrate (just bigger stones) In my sump. I will just add to that! Thanks and I hope you’re enjoying your vacation!

Your more than welcome Mike, and I am!

Still can keep off here though I must be an addict!!