Hey everyone. I am writing to share my experience with MarinePure ("MP"). I realize that many of you will have had a different experience and I certainly respect that. First some background.
A month or so ago, I had a rocking frag tank, full PE all day and decent color. I have noticed that the tanks with the most color also have the most biological filtration. Thus, I decided to order a bunch of Pukani rock from BRS. Right before I did however, a friend pointed me in the direction of MP. After reading a lot of reviews, and fully acknowledging the Aluminum issue, I decided to order a bunch of it.
I received the MP but was very busy so it sat dry for a few weeks in my fish closet. Finally I had time to introduce it into my tank, but I didn't have time to do the usual water change and carbon change along with it. This turned out to be a good thing in that it eliminated variables.
Here is where this is partially my fault. I barely rinsed the MP before putting it into my tank. I had no idea that the word "Ceramic" refers more to a process than a material (don't believe me, look it up). I figured how bad could a little bit of clay dust be, considering I rarely rinsed dry rock before introduction. I placed the MP in a chamber of my sump where all flow had to go through it.
Within 2 hours of introduction of MP my SPS had all retracted polyps. The water was not cloudy. I did not think much of this and figured in a few days things would be back to normal. Lets just say a few days later nothing had PE or color. I decided at this point to do a large water change and remove the MP. I was positive it was the MP causing the issue because I had not changed anything in the tank other than adding the MP (remember the bit above about eliminating variables). I performed about a 30% water change and figured things would get better.
A couple of days later I began to see the first STN. Terrified, I performed another 50% water change and Changed the carbon. This had no effect. A few days after this I put PolyFIlter into the tank hoping it would eliminate any aluminum the MP had introduced. Again no effect.
So here we are 2 weeks later and MP has given me the privilege of watching all of my SPS slowly STN. I lose a few colonies each day. What is really strange is that I have confirmed that the tank water is fine. I did this by introducing a frag of the same type of coral I had when the MP was introduced, after the MP was introduced. The frag that was there when the MP was introduced died today while the frag introduced after the water changes etc has full PE and looks good. I also tried saving a few of my colonies by placing them in another tank that has never seen MP. They all died. It is like whatever MP released doomed the SPS immediately and nothing can be done to save them.
So in closing I want to reiterate again that I did not follow MP direction as well as I should have and RINSE thoroughly. That said, I wouldn't want something in my tank that if not rinsed properly is a ticking time bomb. Additionally, I am a biologist and am well versed in the scientific method. I would not call out a product like this if I was not nearly 100% sure. I actually have gone back and forth on whether to write this review, but I decided to proceed in hopes I save someones tank. I know many people have used this product with success, My experience was quite different.
A month or so ago, I had a rocking frag tank, full PE all day and decent color. I have noticed that the tanks with the most color also have the most biological filtration. Thus, I decided to order a bunch of Pukani rock from BRS. Right before I did however, a friend pointed me in the direction of MP. After reading a lot of reviews, and fully acknowledging the Aluminum issue, I decided to order a bunch of it.
I received the MP but was very busy so it sat dry for a few weeks in my fish closet. Finally I had time to introduce it into my tank, but I didn't have time to do the usual water change and carbon change along with it. This turned out to be a good thing in that it eliminated variables.
Here is where this is partially my fault. I barely rinsed the MP before putting it into my tank. I had no idea that the word "Ceramic" refers more to a process than a material (don't believe me, look it up). I figured how bad could a little bit of clay dust be, considering I rarely rinsed dry rock before introduction. I placed the MP in a chamber of my sump where all flow had to go through it.
Within 2 hours of introduction of MP my SPS had all retracted polyps. The water was not cloudy. I did not think much of this and figured in a few days things would be back to normal. Lets just say a few days later nothing had PE or color. I decided at this point to do a large water change and remove the MP. I was positive it was the MP causing the issue because I had not changed anything in the tank other than adding the MP (remember the bit above about eliminating variables). I performed about a 30% water change and figured things would get better.
A couple of days later I began to see the first STN. Terrified, I performed another 50% water change and Changed the carbon. This had no effect. A few days after this I put PolyFIlter into the tank hoping it would eliminate any aluminum the MP had introduced. Again no effect.
So here we are 2 weeks later and MP has given me the privilege of watching all of my SPS slowly STN. I lose a few colonies each day. What is really strange is that I have confirmed that the tank water is fine. I did this by introducing a frag of the same type of coral I had when the MP was introduced, after the MP was introduced. The frag that was there when the MP was introduced died today while the frag introduced after the water changes etc has full PE and looks good. I also tried saving a few of my colonies by placing them in another tank that has never seen MP. They all died. It is like whatever MP released doomed the SPS immediately and nothing can be done to save them.
So in closing I want to reiterate again that I did not follow MP direction as well as I should have and RINSE thoroughly. That said, I wouldn't want something in my tank that if not rinsed properly is a ticking time bomb. Additionally, I am a biologist and am well versed in the scientific method. I would not call out a product like this if I was not nearly 100% sure. I actually have gone back and forth on whether to write this review, but I decided to proceed in hopes I save someones tank. I know many people have used this product with success, My experience was quite different.
