Brightwell Aquatics XPort NO4 Brick Biological Filter Media Block

The company claims that 1 brick can handle up to 1000 gallons. That may be true if you have 1000 gallons, where it would take time for nitrates to build up. However, for the rest of us with smaller tanks, it depends on how many fish you have. Here's my experience. I dose carbon(ethanol aka vodka) daily. (I use biofuel vs vodka and I follow the regular maintenance dose for biofuel). Also, I dose weekly Microbacter 7. So I started with 1 brick and it kept my heavily stocked 125 Gallon reef aquarium's (about 20 fish and SPS, LPS, and soft corals) nitrates at about 40ppm. Even with regular water changes (20% every 2 weeks), I could not get nitrates lower than 40. So I contacted Brightwell, and they still claim not to add more than 1 brick without any real explanation. So I added another Brick anyways. It'll just harvest more anaerobic bacteria, I thought and what could be the harm. After about 1 week, the nitrates dropped to 20ppm. For many reefers, that would be okay. But I wanted lower. So after about 2 weeks of nitrates at 20, (I still kept my usual water changes), I added a 3rd brick. Again, after 1 week, nitrates dropped to about 15. I proceeded to maintain that for another few weeks. (With 3 bricks, the drop was not proportional to previous drop in nitrates.) So I added a 4th brick. My nitrates are now at 1-2ppm for the last 10 months. Now with this in place, I have switched to the Triton method, and have not done water changes for 10 months. So no Brightwell, you need to get back into the lab and readjust your claims about 1 brick for 1000g. I have had no bacteria blooms, nor hair algae problems, nor Cyano. problems. I think it's important to use a good protein skimmer though. I have a Curve 9 for my 125 G. My 125G is thriving and all Corals are growing and ready for fragging. Hope this helps all you reefers who want to achieve low nitrates and possibly switch to the Triton method.

This media is great, the brick it's self feels nice and thick and doesn't break apart like the other media blocks I've tried and it's a plus helps lower nitrates I got rid of my bio balls in my aquarium and replaced it with this

Ordered two of these, both arrived intact.

Good

I used to reduce nitrates.It worked better then I expected.

Great quality

Works like it should.

This item is not 19 inches, it is 9 inches. The product details should be edited.

Love this! Great for sump!

Très efficace

Arrived in perfect condition and is happily destroying nitrates in my sump as we speak. Nitrates now read zero after 3 days

Do not buy this product, it is supposed to be very porous and hence lots of area for bacteria. It’s supposed to absorb a lot of water and sink. If you see the pic it’s floating in my sump.

It was broker.