I just stumbled upon a video from BRS about fragging a bubble tip anemone and the guy mentions using a ceramic biomedia block like this one http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/sumps-and-refugiums/bioballs-and-biomedia/marine-pure-ceramic-biomedia-8x8x1-plate.html#
to use as an attaching surface for the anemone that is easy to remove them but also as a bio filter. So this got me to thinking I see a lot of frag tank that are bare bottoms. Now instead of going bare bottom would it actually be worth layering the bottom of the tank with these 9x9x1" slates so we get basically the benefits of having live rock in the tank minus the aqua scaping?
This is what got my thinker thinking. whats your thinker thinking on this?
Oh that foam glass block/slab material has been around a long time. its meant to work just like bio balls, only with more surface area. its porous foam glass. its a nitrification bacteria media. makes nitrates. but if a soft coral attaches to it, the media is so soft and brittle, you can easily snap off or cut out the bit of foam glass its attached to and glue it where you want it.
I might have a small slab here in the drawer, if you want it.
[quote=“kaptken, post:2, topic:5167”]
Oh that foam glass block/slab material has been around a long time. its meant to work just like bio balls, only with more surface area. its porous foam glass. its a nitrification bacteria media. makes nitrates. but if a soft coral attaches to it, the media is so soft and brittle, you can easily snap off or cut out the bit of foam glass its attached to and glue it where you want it.
I might have a small slab here in the drawer, if you want it. [/quote]
That would be great Ken. How big is it and how much do you want for it?
In this video BRS talks about using it to basically take place of liverock. The tank they show the example on you can tell there is no sump hooked up. That is what got me to thinking.
If someone were setting up a frag tank without a sump or maybe even with a sump would this make more sense to use considering its a flat piece so technically you could still add your egg crate on a stand and have a successful frag tank. I am interested in the idea of having a tank for my frags so I am not cluttering my main system with ugly frag racks. My 20g tank I would like to turn into all softies.
found it. still in the box. Cell-pore biocartridge. no it doesnt replace live rock. it replaces bio balls. this was a cartidge insert for a marineland bio wheel type filter. water flows right through it like a very porous sponge. which is what it looks like. 6" x 8" x 3/4" thick. It is a nitrification bacteria media af great interior surface area. converts amonia to nitrite to nitrate. it cant denitrate, is an aerobic filter media. nobody really sells it anymore. it was a fad 7-10 years ago. but didnt pan out. but you can have it. more room in the kitchen drawer for me.
it works better in fresh water, but is also an algae magnet. i used them in my SW sump trickle filters, but the carbonates and buffers soon turned it into a solid brick . so useless.
I would be interested to look at one of these up close. From the description I would be a bit worried little parts of sharp material could easily end up floating through the tank, trapped in a coral and harm it. (From the description, never having seen them)
You shouldn’t need biological assistance in a frag tank. Only feed the tanks little bits and do frequent water changes out of your display into the tank and that should be enough. If it isn’t enough then you’re feeding the tank too much.(shouldn’t have to feed the tank at all for most corals and if you have an issue with feeding too much then just stop feeding all together)
Also keep in mind he had a “spare” one laying around. “How can we sell more of these? We’ve never been able to move them and always have them on sale.” “Let’s find a different way to use them besides their intended use and put them on YouTube!” Just a possible scenario.
