Light Weight Kiln Brick vs MarinePure

GaryO · Nov 13, 2014

I am new to aquariums and considering a DIY sump for my 29 gal tank. I have seen advertisements for Cermedia MarinePure blocks to reduce nitrates. I have a couple of lightweight refractory kiln bricks which appears to be of a similar material. Has any one else has tried using a lightweight refractory kiln brick as a MarinePure block in a refugium? Also a second question, is a MarinePure block better than a deep sand bed in a refugium? I appreciate your thoughts and insightes, thanks Gary.

hawkinsrgk · Nov 13, 2014

Hi Gary. Welcome to R2R. I dont know the answer to either one of your questions... Just wanted to say welcome to the BHM forum

bmoore92 · Nov 13, 2014

I don't know much about the ingredients that make up a refractory kiln brick but if it is ceramic then I would assume it would be inert after being fired. As for your second question, I'm sure you'll get arguments supporting both deep sand beds and the biomedia. The idea behind the ceramic biomedia being used for nitrate reduction is that the huge amount of inner pores creates an environment of anoxic(low or negligible oxygen) surface area deep inside the media that is prime real estate to grow the anaerobic bacteria that converts the nitrate to N2 gas. I have tried neither the DSB or the biomedia but I've been doing a lot of research and these are my understandings...Hope it helps!

Britt

GaryO · Nov 13, 2014

Partial answer to my own question

I tried dripping water through the kiln brick and the water ran over not through the brick... so while similar being foamed ceramic products the refractory brick will not allow water to penetrate the same way. First question answered, now second question which is better for nitrate conversion a DSB or MarinePure block? Which will Pods like better in the refugium?
Gary

eagle · Dec 12, 2014

I would say the blocks. I just removed a dsb from a fuge. I'm fairly certain it was leaching gunk back into my tank.

GaryO · Dec 12, 2014

Thanks, I like the idea of blocks in the fuge.

eagle · Dec 17, 2014

I'm thinking about trying them in my sump.

Chameleon · Dec 17, 2014

Hi Gary,
Unless you are having a problem with nitrates I wouldn't consider using either. Many of the successful tanks I have personally seen are not doing anything special for nitrate reduction other than water changes and a skimmer. If you are struggling with nitrates then I would consider the things you mentioned. DSBs are particularly effective in my experience, but I dont have experience with the other one you mentioned. Unless you are superstocked on fish and have an undersized skimmer I dont think you should go into building a sump with a focus on nitrate reduction.

Also its good to see another reefer from Hoover!
-Tyler

eagle · Dec 19, 2014

If you can keep everything low without them then that's great. I had a remote dsb refugium and I wasn't very impressed with the results. It eventually turned into a detritus trap. When I took it down it was a stinky mess. I wouldn't mind trying out one of those bricks for my setup as I have a lot of sump space and I don't want to load the display tank up with rock. As long as it don't become a detritus trap they look like they would work well.

beaslbob · Dec 19, 2014

I'm from HARC so feel free to just ignore.
To me it is macro algae that reduces nitrates. Even the algae in live rocks.
my .02

hawkinsrgk · Dec 19, 2014

beaslbob said:
I'm from HARC so feel free to just ignore.
To me it is macro algae that reduces nitrates. Even the algae in live rocks.
my .02

Everybody knows you cant ignore Bob.

eagle · Dec 19, 2014

It just seems to me that the sand and detritus traps were worse than not having anything.

eagle · Dec 19, 2014

Oops, accidentally sent that. Like I was saying, I had a remote dsb and sand in my display. I was always having issues. I removed both and setup a biopellet reactor and I've never had a tank this easy to maintain. My orp immediately shot up into the high 400's. Nitrates stay at 0, running much less gfo than ever before, and the water is crystal clear. I'll never go back to the sand. At least not any kind of dsb. It was night and day difference.