cellpore

[don-n-sa]

Just wanted to let everyone know that Fin-addict is carrying this product. I am trying some in my wet/dry.

Hopefully is helps complete the cycle better than bio-balls.

http://www.cellpore.com/

[NaCl_H2O]

Donny, let me know how this works?

Are you having trouble with Nitrites/Nitrates? You have a LOT of water volume, and not a HUGE amount of Live Rock in the tank - Have you considered adding LR in your sump?

[GaryP]

Donny,

I too would be interested in the the role you see the bio-pore filling in your system, as well as the result you see. Of course one problem is that we can't always test for a lot of things that a product like this may help with. I'm thinking in terms of reduction of things like total organic carbon (TOC). There is a test kit for TOC but I don't know of anyone that uses it.

Gary

[don-n-sa]

Donny, let me know how this works?

Are you having trouble with Nitrites/Nitrates? You have a LOT of water volume, and not a HUGE amount of Live Rock in the tank - Have you considered adding LR in your sump?

I will keep you posted...I don't have major problems, amonia-0, nitrites-0, nitrates btween 10-20. I am trying cell pore to see if I can get nitrates to 0. Remember I have messy eaters.

I do have live rock rubble in my sump...but I need some more. This cell pore stuff seems really good to me. 8)

[Richard]

I think this is the stuff that Richard was talking about wasn't it?

Wasn't me. How does cellpore get rid of nitrates?

[Richard]

Oh..just saw the link.

[Ram_Puppy]

Richard is using tri-pellitized carbon in a deep carbon bed. I did a little test with it today (totally anecdotal) I put an equal amount of kent reef carbon, and the tri-pellitized stuff into some glasses and then measured out a cup of water, and filled each glass simultaneously. held each glass to my ears, and the Tri-pelletized seemed to 'sizzle' significantly louder, which tells me it's more porous.

As far as I have been able to research, this carbon is made up of three different types, and absorbs across a wide spectrum, it's used in the medical industry and in nasty places like slaughterhouses. As far as use, I have had a Hot 250 running with it on my 110 for over a week and the water is crystal clear, but then, that water is less than a month old as well, so that's not saying much. :) All my readings are "0" or as far down on the scale as my test kits will go.

Oh, and my velonia is dieing... but I expect that has more to do with the phosban cleaning the water, and the fact that I squirted joes juice all over it... but none the less, it makes me happy.

Off to read the cellpore website now.

[GaryP]

Cellpore won't reduce nitrates. Nitrates are removed by bacteria in an anoxic environment (low oxygen). These conditions exist in a DSB, deep pores of LR, and in the pores of carbon like Richard has talked about in his carbon bed. Two important steps in the nitrogen cycle do occur in highly oxygenated steps like the cellpore. Those are conversion of ammonia to nitrite and conversion of nitrite to nitrate. As I said the final step, conversion of nitrate to nitrogen takes place in an anoxic environment of by the absortption of the nitrate by plants in the main tank or fuge.

Gary

[don-n-sa]

Cellpore won't reduce nitrates. Nitrates are removed by bacteria in an anoxic environment (low oxygen). These conditions exist in a DSB, deep pores of LR, and in the pores of carbon like Richard has talked about in his carbon bed. Two important steps in the nitrogen cycle do occur in highly oxygenated steps like the cellpore. Those are conversion of ammonia to nitrite and conversion of nitrite to nitrate. As I said the final step, conversion of nitrate to nitrogen takes place in an anoxic environment of by the absortption of the nitrate by plants in the main tank or fuge.

Gary

Gary,
I understand the cycle that you are talking about.
Here is a quote from their site

Tests have shown that once the aerobic biofilms are established, ammonia and nitrites drop to zero. In a closed system that contains Cell-Pore submerged in water, the nitrates also begin dropping. This reduces water changes normally needed to reduce nitrates.

...I am not saying that they are right...this is what they are claiming. That is why I am testing it.

[GaryP]

Please keep us informed.

I think there is a possibility that they are referring to. Its based on the biofilms they are referring to. What happens is that the anoxic bacteria will establish colonies under the aerobic bacteris biofilm. The aerobic bacteria act as an oxygen filter. This is basically what happens in a DSB. The aerobic bacteria in the upper levels of the DSB use the majority of the oxygen before the water gets to the deeper levels of the DSB where the anoxic bacteria set up housekeeping. The only problem with that theory IMO opinion is that the turbulent flow through a bio system is constantly causing sloughing of the aerobic biofilm. This doesn't necessarily kill the anoxics, but it would cause them to shut down their metabolism. This all comes down to what are called micro environments. Small locations where specialized bacteria can exist very happily. Another example would be in deep pores of LR and in the pores of activated carbon.

There is something else I picked up from your post. They say "submerged" in water? So, what they are referring to is not a highly oxygenated environment such as in a wet/dry trickle system. That makes sense. This is similar to the granular "nitrate sponge" type products. You are just providing additional surface area for bacterial colonization. The deep pores could have lower oxygen levels and would be shielded by the aerobic bacteria colonizing the surface of the brick.

I am very interested in your results and will be looking forward to an update.

Gary

[don-n-sa]

Please keep us informed.

I am very interested in your results and will be looking forward to an update.

Gary

I will...one other thing. The ones that fin-addict are selling are not little cubes that are pictured at the website. The are selling blocks that come in two sizes. I bought the thicker one. It is like a very large brick, I think the dimensions are 9"x5". They are very porous and seem like the perfect environment to grow bacteria.

[GaryP]

I'm starting to see logic with this.

Gary

[Ping]

What if I took some, broke it up into smaller pieces and put it in the mix for Arogocete home made rock. Hmmm. Any thoughts.

[GaryP]

I doubt it would do any different than just using aragonite that you used to make aragocrete.

Gary

[rocketeer]

I've heard cellpore provides a good place for copepods to breed. I've got a couple blocks in my tank and one in my refugium. I haven't really seen copepods around them but I do see many amphipods and the usual mysis that are everywhere in my system.

Jack

[Instar]

Why is this porous man made rock any different than porous live rock so far as bacteria and nitrates are concerned? Perhaps its just cheaper than live rock? Bacteria colonizes both in about the same way.

[GaryP]

Why is this porous man made rock any different than porous live rock so far as bacteria and nitrates are concerned?

Larry has a good point. Structurally this stuff seems to be similar to LR.