MarinePure MerMedia - Blocks vs. Balls

[RyanHoan]

Hello!

I have both the 8x4" block as well as the 1.5" balls in my tank.

Simple Question:

Which do you guys think is more valuable to keep? As my tank matures and I'm learning the value of having some nitrates around, I don't think I need both of them.

Some of my own opinions:

BLOCKS:

Pros- they don't attract detritus

Cons- They seem to be more crumbly than the balls.


BALLS:

Pros- you can fit them anywhere in the sump. They make a good habitat for pods.

Cons- they create an area of low flow, which attracts detritus

 

[Hemmdog]

Balls are easier to fit into random spaces. I actually ended up getting rid of all my marinepure though and just use real ocean rock that some LFS’s have laying around. So many pores and it doesn’t deteriorate like marinepure. Don’t use quarried fake rock.

 

[Plecosam]

I am one of the few who dislikes marinepure, the positives are out weighed by the fact marinepure is incredibly brittle, any movement and the balls grind themselves to dust. The evidence of nitrate reduction is anecdotal at best and when I ran marine pure I did not see evidence of any nitrate reduction.

There is also evidence suggesting marine pure leeches aluminium, marine pure has great surface area but how much surface area does a tank really need?

My vote goes towards definitely removing the balls and looking at removing the plates later on down the track.

 

[Hersheyb]

i have 2 slabs of the 8x8x4 in my sump, never had an issue with them, and i prefer them over the smaller size one, easier to clean around them, moving 2 slabs to vacuum the sump is easier than trying to vacuum bunch a little blocks/balls of marinepure.

 

[siggy]

I had 1.5 gallons of the spheres in my corner overflow, it was highly effective and never seen alum. using Triton testing.
This system I am using 2 brightwell bricks, its only been 6 months but seems just as effective but does take up space.

 

[Mikedawg]

Balls are easier to fit into random spaces. I actually ended up getting rid of all my marinepure though and just use real ocean rock that some LFS’s have laying around. So many pores and it doesn’t deteriorate like marinepure. Don’t use quarried fake rock.

Yep, it is all about surface area.

 

[lakai]

I use two plates which aren't brittle but decided to not put the blocks in my sump. I decided to put a fat bag of siporax instead.

 

[RyanHoan]

Thanks for all the input!

I ended up keeping the big block and giving the balls to my friend who just started a new tank.

The block sits in a corner of low flow in the sump and doesn't bump into anything, so I figure it will last longer than the balls, which get moved around every time I vacuum my sump. I'm liking the cleaner look to my sump