Has anyone tried Marinepure blocks yet?

[glb]

I'm thinking of adding these to my new build and would like to hear from others' experience. Are they worth it?

 

[d2mini]

They work as advertised.
And I use the sphere's in the filter compartment of my nano tanks.

 

[jsker]

Using the sphere's in my sump no issue

 

[Jimbo]

Using an 8x8x4 block in the sump of my tank. No problems that I know of although I have read that they POSSIBLY leach Aluminum which may or may not harm your tank. Leather corals are supposedly sensitive to this. If you have a lot of Soft Coral you may want to read up on this.

 

[FlyinBryan]

Yes!! I HIGHLY recommend these for all tanks!! I packed the right column of my 29g biocube and I'm growing sps like crazy and fish and lps are all doing great!
It's like adding tons of live rock, imo.

 

[Scott.h]

I cut the big block in half a put half in each of my 2 sumps. It's hard to say if they really take the place of several pieces of live rock as advertised, but I believe in them. Both tanks run zero detectable nitrates and phosphates with help from these. No noticeable issues to softies. I would absolutely include more in another build.

 

[tom reilly]

I have read that the bio balls part of wet dry filter is not good because it can build up debris that can increase nitrates. How are these bricks different?

 

[Scott.h]

I have read that the bio balls part of wet dry filter is not good because it can build up debris that can increase nitrates. How are these bricks different?

These are more like rock. They have more surface area then rock though. I still use bio balls too, but instead of a trickle like a wet dry I keep them submersed in a sump instead. I think the problem with bio balls is junk making it through the filter and settling on them verses being submersed.

 

[glb]

So if I have the space are the bricks better than the balls?

 

[MRRBW]

So if I have the space are the bricks better than the balls?

Insert childish joke here [emoji23]

All jokes aside, been thinking of adding this to my 30g too

 

[120reefkeeper]

Using the spheres and have 1 block... So far no problems.

 

[Scott.h]

Surface area is surface area. I figure it's easier to stick a block in there and it stands tall so more water can pass though it.

 

[120reefkeeper]

So if I have the space are the bricks better than the balls?

I think if you use either you'll be fine... If you use the spheres get a lot of them ....

 

[glb]

I think the brick will make more sense in my setup.

 

[Bunnee911]

There is a thread on them leaching aluminum.

 

[Scott.h]

There is a thread on them leaching aluminum.

more then gfo?

 

[DMan]

more then gfo?

There is no aluminum in GFO. I use two of the Blocks in my sump. No issues. There have been a few posts of people using the product and sending in Triton tests that come back showing elevated aluminum. And there are just as many that have sent to Triton and come back showing no aluminum. So far nothing concrete.

 

[Scott.h]

Certain phosphate media release small amounts of aluminum. The problem with that is you are always changing the media. Although there is no known harm to excess aluminum in an aquarium it has long term effects on people. My thoughts are eventually the dissolvable aluminum in the marine pure will become less and less over time, and will get removed with water changes.

 

[alyee5]

I have one of the large Marinepure blocks in my sump (see below). Since at this time, I am not planning on having a refugium; so I use the space in the sump for extra biofiltration. I only have fish and inverts in my tank so I can not comment on whether there is a measurable impact on corals.

I would recommend the block vs the spheres because the Marinepure is quite brittle and I would image the spheres would create quite a bit of particulates if there were rub against one another.

 

[blacktippr]

I was able to lower my nitrates considerably using the large blocks.