Silicates & Marine Pure

[MadReefer]

I am trying to figure out where my silicates are coming from. I have Marine Pure bio balls in sump for a few years now and just found this about them.

"What is MarinePure made of and will it leach anything into my water?
MarinePure is an inert aluminosilicate ceramic that has been fired over 1000°C. It will not leach into tank or pond water."

Should I be concerned it's made of aluminosilicate?
Is this causing my silicate issue? Should I remove them?

I recently added Phosguard but It doesn't leach alumina or silicates as I did read that.

 

[Deleted member 27248]

I have plenty of marine pure in sump. No issues.the only time I ever had silicates is when I heavily disturbed the sand bed in my sump.

 

[MadReefer]

I have plenty of marine pure in sump. No issues.the only time I ever had silicates is when I heavily disturbed the sand bed in my sump.

I am wondering if I should replace them as they have been there a few years.

 

[hcker99]

As long as they are still solid you are fine. If they are degrading and falling apart then get rid of them. We've had them in the system for over 10 years and still fine.

 

[MadReefer]

Thanks everyone for the info.
Just cannot figure out why I have diatoms on the sand. TDS is reading zero.

 

[Deleted member 27248]

Just curious what’s your nitrate and phosphate levels?

 

[MadReefer]

Just curious what’s your nitrate and phosphate levels?

Last check phosphate was 0 and Nitrate around 20.

I just upload the flow on my powerheads a little to see if that helps. I moved them as before was blowing the sand and making a lagoon.

 

[Deleted member 27248]

I would raise your phosphate above zero

 

[eholceker]

Check out ICP testing. The marine blocks and postcard do leach small amounts of aluminum. Tends to make some.softies act a bit funny. Would take all of them out of the display.

 

[deepblue68]

Mix a batch of saltwater and test for silicate if it's elevated probably from your rodi and might be time to change resin/ membrane?

 

[MadReefer]

Check out ICP testing. The marine blocks and postcard do leach small amounts of aluminum. Tends to make some softies act a bit funny. Would take all of them out of the display.

I did look them up and I found Phosguard doesn't leach supposedly. Marine Pure not much info about leaching.

Mix a batch of saltwater and test for silicate if it's elevated probably from your rodi and might be time to change resin/ membrane?

I hope not it's only a few months old.

 

[eholceker]

I did look them up and I found Phosguard doesn't leach supposedly. Marine Pure not much info about leaching.

I hope not it's only a few months old.

Check out this link about the marineblock.

Aluminum leaching in MarinePure Blocks confirmed by Ryan at BRS

Ryan from bulk reef supply ran some triton tests on systems with Marine Pure blocks. See the results here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/is-marine-pure-effective-at-reducing-nitrates-we-learn-some-valuable-lessons-brstv-investigates.307515/page-4#post-3814988 So now the question is how...

www.bareefers.org

 

[diana a]

I'd believe the aluminum leaching from Marine Pure. I have 5 blocks 8"x8"x1" in my sump. 40B DT and 40B sump (with 25 gallon water). Did a 25 gallon water change from the sump. Ran the system for 10 minutes and took samples of water from the sump for a Triton ICP test that I got results back this past Monday. Got a yellow warning on Al. Al scale is 0-60 and I got a 60.

 

[MadReefer]

Thanks

 

[eholceker]

Thanks

This is from Randy Holmes Farley on Phosguard.

Aluminum oxide is the primary ingredient in several commercial phosphate binders, such as Seachem's PhosGuard™. These materials are always white solids, although not all white phosphate binders are aluminum oxide. Phosphate binds strongly to aluminum ions exposed on the surface of aluminum oxide solids. Phosphate is believed to bind to aluminum-containing surfaces through a direct ionic interaction between one or two negatively charged oxygen ions on the phosphate with the aluminum ions (Al+++) exposed on the solid surface. After exposure to the aquarium water for sufficient time to adsorb phosphate, the solids are removed and the phosphate is removed along with it. This process has been used historically in other industries as well, including phosphate binding in people, where aluminum use is no longer recommended due to toxicity concerns.

Unfortunately, aluminum oxide is not completely insoluble in seawater. I have shown experimentally that aluminum can be released from PhosGuard™, and I have also shown that adding the same amount of released aluminum back into an aquarium can irritate corals, causing them to retract their polyps and otherwise shrink. That effect mirrors what many aquarists reported (prior to this test) as a side effect of using these media. Rinsing the solids before use can reduce the likelihood that small aluminum-containing particulates are released into the aquarium, but it does not prevent the solubilization of aluminum ions from the solid surfaces.

That all said, many people use aluminum oxide effectively, and many never notice any negative effects. I have used it in the past without noticing harm in my aquarium, although I have used only small amounts. Rinsing it before use and not using large amounts all at once will limit any negative impact.

 

[MadReefer]

I just started with Phiosguard a few days ago and used the recommended amount. Will wait and see how it goes. If I still have diatoms will try peroxide dosing.

 

[deepblue68]

Thanks everyone for the info.
Just cannot figure out why I have diatoms on the sand. TDS is reading zero.

Are you sure there diatoms? I had a similar situation and I do believe I had a form of dinos but I never put them under a microscope to confirm. you have a microscope right mark? Check and make sure before you do anything

 

[MadReefer]

Are you sure there diatoms? I had a similar situation and I do believe I had a form of dinos but I never put them under a microscope to confirm. you have a microscope right mark? Check and make sure before you do anything

Its not slimy and I can stir the sand and they go away and comes back; Its only on the sand.

 

[eholceker]

Its not slimy and I can stir the sand and they go away and comes back; Its only on the sand.

Amphidium, a type of Dino, only grows on the sand bed so would definitely check under the scope. If it is Diatoms they will eventually go away once the silicate is exhausted in the tank.

 

[deepblue68]

Its not slimy and I can stir the sand and they go away and comes back; Its only on the sand.

I wouldn't be in a rush to do anything. Look at it under a microscope and confirm and if its diatoms let it go and see if they go away on there own .did you test new batch of seawater to check silicate reading?