Ceramic Biospheres

[Fieryfrog]

Has anyone used these? I am thinking about throwing a gallon of these in my sump. Any thoughts?

MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia 1 1/2? Spheres - Bulk Reef Supply

 

[palindrom5]

I haven't used those but I like fluval bio-max which is a ceramic bio media, I felt they did a great job and still have it in my fuge and sump (no room for large pieces of live rock) hope that helps some.

 

[fishroomlady]

how is that possible? to have 240 square feet of surface area on a ball?

 

[Fieryfrog]

how is that possible? to have 240 square feet of surface area on a ball?

I was wondering that also. I watches the video and water just ran right thru them. I am thinkimg they are cou timg any hole lining as surface area.

 

[fishroomlady]

I'm sure it's probably got more surface area than a piece of live rock of the same size so I would think it would be fine to use in your sump. That just seems like an awful lot of surface area that they claim.

 

[palindrom5]

how is that possible? to have 240 square feet of surface area on a ball?

yes they include on a microscopic level every single hole and dip and rise and pore etc I don't know if those claims are valid but I do think that you get more surface than you would with natural rock and it doesn't breakdown. it also doesn't trap junk like a bio-ball (plastic) does

 

[fishroomlady]

and no possible unwanted hitchhikers

 

[Fieryfrog]

I have a 150 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank as a sump. I could put live rock in, but for the price and possible performance, this seems to be a great option.

Although I don't know if I will need them. I run a protein skimmer and an Algae scrubber.

 

[palindrom5]

I have a 150 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank as a sump. I could put live rock in, but for the price and possible performance, this seems to be a great option.

Although I don't know if I will need them. I run a protein skimmer and an Algae scrubber.

never enough bio-mass for filtration

 

[palindrom5]

and no possible unwanted hitchhikers

absolutely !!

 

[tonymission]

I have some of the plates in my frag 80g frag tank sump with no rock and 10 fish. Absolutely love it. Cycled it with a cured rock and handles all the bioload I throw at it. Obviously super high energy BB with good skimming too.

I wouldn't bother unless you're going with a minimal aquascape in your DT or a frag type setup.

 

[bloopergrooper]

I picked up a box of these at the Frag Swap in NYC yesterday - I can't use them anytime soon as 1. my tank isn't set up yet (we moved and I'm doing my own set-up separate from my husband) and 2. it requires a decent amount of mechanical filtration before you an start using it.

That being said, I'm super excited to try them out - seem like a way better option than bio-balls

 

[Squishie89]

I got a 1 gallon box of the balls to put into my display sump as I am using tonga branch as the main rock.

This video is VERY helpful- Which rock has the most surface area? - YouTube and is what urged me to get the ceramic media.

 

[Fieryfrog]

I am a little excited to hear what you both think when you get to use them.

 

[Fishinwall]

Let me know if they go on sale

 

[bigtslape]

I have use the large block in my sump on 2 tanks now love them I have also seen them use by coralguy.com witch is a local store for me

 

[ethridge78]

I am going to try these on my next build

 

[Fieryfrog]

It's funny, I didn't even know about the blocks until I watched the video Squishie89 posted above.