Plates and bricks

[norfolkgarden]

Does anyone have a preference for a certain ceramic media product?

Main goal is to reduce nitrate.

Do the Marinepure and Brightwell thick bricks work better than their plates?

Any other manufacturer suggested?

We currently have a plate of each cut in half and setting inside the HOB filters we have. Instead of the carbon/floss pads.
No sump.

Nitrate still around 80.

Contemplating adding another cut plate and stacking them together or replacing them with the 4" thick bricks.

Thanks!

 

[Scooter.B]

Whether it's bricks or plates it doesn't matter, it what fits in the space you have.
I know "seeding" the media is a great kick starter, using MicroBacter7 from Brightwell.
They also now have cubes as well, FYI.

 

[AcroNem]

I love the ceramic media, I use the big blocks and bricks, as well as the big tubes that can be found on ebay. But for reducing nitrates I don't think you'll really see any improvement with them in hang on back filters. They'll get too much flow/ oxygen, and also get packed full of detritus very quickly.

 

[SPR1968]

I’ve personally used Marine Pure Blocks, Brightwell NO3 bricks and also Seachem Matrix

The Brightwell Bricks just disintegrated into sand and after around 3 months it started to break down. I had 6 including 2 replacements and they all broke down eventually making a sandy mess in my sump.

The were replaced by Seachem Matrix which is basically stones so can’t break down.

I still have the Marine Pure Block which is still good after about 18 months, but I also have 6 litres of Matrix and that would be my choice if I need any more. It shouldn’t ever need replacing and works very well.

You need them in a slow flow area really to encourage anaerobic denitrification

Whatever you use ‘seed it’ first with something like microbacter7 as already mentioned by @Scooter.B and it will work faster