Brightwell Xport-BIO Brick — Ultra-porous biological media brick Reef Marine Aquarium - Brightwell

Brightwell Xport-BIO Brick — ultra-porous ceramic bio media, ~100,000 sq ft surface area

The Brightwell Xport-BIO Brick is a brick-shaped, ultra-porous ceramic biological media designed to host a massive bacterial colony in marine or hard-water freshwater aquariums (pH ≥ 7.5). Made in the United States by Brightwell Aquatics, it provides more than 71,000 sq ft (6,596 m²) of useable surface per litre of media — the highest porosity and largest useable surface per unit weight or volume of any filtration media available, according to Brightwell.

A single brick delivers about 100,000 sq ft of surface for bacterial colonization. Doped with aragonite to buffer pH at the bacterial layer. Properly colonized, the brick knocks ammonia and nitrite down to near zero, and also targets phosphate and dissolved organics.

What Xport-BIO Brick is for and when to use it

• Aerobic nitrification — mounted above the water line with a small stream, ideal flow 40 to 80 L/hr to maximize oxygen exposure.
• Anaerobic denitrification — mounted beneath the surface in a low-flow sump area to minimize oxygen and let anoxic bacteria tackle nitrate.
• Dual purpose — beneath the surface with medium flow; surface bacteria consume oxygen, creating internal anaerobic zones to combine nitrification and denitrification in the same brick.
• High-performance reef tanks — when live rock is no longer enough to host the biology a heavy load demands.

Brightwell official use

• Basic dose: 1 Xport-BIO Brick per 1,000 US gal (3,800 L) of system capacity.
• Maximum: do not exceed 1 brick per 100 US gal of capacity — past that, bacterial surface exceeds actual need.
• Bricks can be cut in half for smaller systems; recommended minimum is a whole brick in systems down to 100 US gal.
• Preparation: rinse the brick in tank water or purified tap water to remove dust.
• Seeding: place the brick in a container of tank water with a bacterial seeder (MicroBacter Start XLM or MB7), let it stand overnight before introducing.
• Upstream protection: install mechanical filtration (sponge, fine floss) ahead of the brick to keep it from clogging.
• Carbon source: Brightwell recommends supporting with a carbon source (Katalyst bio pellets or Reef BioFuel liquid) to feed the bacteria.

Specifications

• Brand: Brightwell Aquatics (made in the USA)
• Dimensions: approximately 9" x 4.5" x 2.5" (each brick hand-cast, slight variations)
• Useable surface: ~100,000 sq ft per brick, ~71,000 sq ft (6,596 m²) per litre of media
• Compatibility: marine and hard freshwater (pH ≥ 7.5)
• Composition: ultra-porous aragonite-doped ceramic

Why choose Brightwell at ReefSolution

• Brightwell Xport-NO3 Brick — the elemental sulfur-doped brick aimed at denitrification, a complement to Xport-BIO.
• Brightwell MicroBacter Start XLM — the bacterial culture to seed the brick before installation.
• Brightwell MicroBacter7 — the maintenance bioculture to reinforce the colony over time.

Frequently asked questions

How many Xport-BIO Bricks does my aquarium need?

Brightwell publishes a simple ratio: 1 brick per 1,000 US gal of system. On a 100 US gal tank, one brick is enough — do not exceed 1 brick per 100 US gal to avoid bacterial oversizing.

Do I need to seed an Xport-BIO Brick before use?

Brightwell explicitly recommends seeding the brick with a bacterial product (MicroBacter Start XLM or MB7) in a container of tank water overnight before adding it to the system. That kick-starts active colonization at installation.

Where should I place the brick to maximize denitrification?

Beneath the water surface in a low-flow zone of the sump. The brick's internal zones go anoxic, activating denitrifying bacteria that go after NO₃. A high-flow placement favors aerobic nitrification instead.

Can I run multiple bricks in the same tank?

Yes, provided you respect the 1 brick per 100 US gal maximum. Past that, bacterial surface exceeds need and can drive nutrient uptake beyond what the tank's biology produces.