brick in your toilet tank is not a good idea. bricks tend to crumble and might damage the toilet's flushing mechanism. instead, use a glass jar, a plastic bag, or a jug filled with water. because some toilets require a certain volume of water to work right, be sure to test the toilet to make sure it is still flushing well after any change.
never use your toilet as a garbage can. using several gallons of water to get rid of a tissue or a cigarette is very wasteful. also remember that toilet tanks can leak. to check, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, wait about 15 