plenum vs dsb

Neal359 · 05-26-2001, 08:38 AM

what is better at removing notrats and were can i get in on how to set a plenum up. thanks for all the help

popcorn · 05-26-2001, 12:49 PM

I'm going to agree with Perry. We have a plenum set up in our 90, and are going to switch to DSB in about a month. There is a lot more sand maintenance, and it doesn't seem to be working as well as the shallow sand bed we have in the 30. (We have had algae problems for almost the whole time in the 90, while the 30 hasn't grown much at all except at the very beginning.) I don't know if the sand bed/plenum is the reason, but it is the only significant difference between the two.

If you still want information about the plenum system, Bob Goemans' "Live Sand Secrets" booklet explains it in depth.

**Ninong** · 05-26-2001, 02:44 PM

Neal ~

IMO, a plenum is an unnecessary, unnatural, complication that you would be better off forgetting about. A fully functioning live deep sand bed will produce a lot more protein for the tank while providing natural pathways for the flow of energy and materials in the system.

Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

------------------

"I am mindful not only of preserving executive powers for myself, but for predecessors as well."—George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2001

FishKid · 05-26-2001, 09:09 PM

what is a plenum?

PerryinCA · 05-26-2001, 09:51 PM

A plenum is an outdated method of "natural" nitrification. Its call to glory was that it formed an "undersand" pool of oxygen deprivated water to allow nitrate converting bacteria to populate in anoxic/anaerobic environments. The stagnate pool was formed by a "plenum", something that elevated the sandbed above the bottom of the tank by an inch or so. This could be done by PVC pipe and fine mesh, by modified UGF...ect. Its main claimed benefit over a DSB was that it really decreased the hydrogen sulfide production by the sandbed. Most have found out by now that H2S is a very insignifigant threat to a reef tank, especially givin that it oxidizes so quickly. The Plenum method used sand grains in the 2mm range which is not very productive for sand bed fauna, thus the plenum requires sand bed cleaning via sand sifting animals, or human intervention. In any case, its not nearly as "alive" as a properly setup LDSB. A proper setup DSB is pretty much maintenence free, and more natural, as well as more beneficial to the tank.

-Perry

05-26-2001, 08:38 AM	#1
Neal359 Mayor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: richmond Posts: 558	plenum vs dsb what is better at removing notrats and were can i get in on how to set a plenum up. thanks for all the help

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05-26-2001, 12:49 PM	#2
popcorn Citizen Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Lenexa, KS USA Posts: 191	I'm going to agree with Perry. We have a plenum set up in our 90, and are going to switch to DSB in about a month. There is a lot more sand maintenance, and it doesn't seem to be working as well as the shallow sand bed we have in the 30. (We have had algae problems for almost the whole time in the 90, while the 30 hasn't grown much at all except at the very beginning.) I don't know if the sand bed/plenum is the reason, but it is the only significant difference between the two. If you still want information about the plenum system, Bob Goemans' "Live Sand Secrets" booklet explains it in depth.

05-26-2001, 02:44 PM	#3
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,691	Neal ~ IMO, a plenum is an unnecessary, unnatural, complication that you would be better off forgetting about. A fully functioning live deep sand bed will produce a lot more protein for the tank while providing natural pathways for the flow of energy and materials in the system. Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] ------------------ "I am mindful not only of preserving executive powers for myself, but for predecessors as well."—George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2001

05-26-2001, 09:09 PM	#4
FishKid Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Holbrook, NewYork, USA Posts: 1,799	what is a plenum?

05-26-2001, 09:51 PM	#5
PerryinCA Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 2,103	A plenum is an outdated method of "natural" nitrification. Its call to glory was that it formed an "undersand" pool of oxygen deprivated water to allow nitrate converting bacteria to populate in anoxic/anaerobic environments. The stagnate pool was formed by a "plenum", something that elevated the sandbed above the bottom of the tank by an inch or so. This could be done by PVC pipe and fine mesh, by modified UGF...ect. Its main claimed benefit over a DSB was that it really decreased the hydrogen sulfide production by the sandbed. Most have found out by now that H2S is a very insignifigant threat to a reef tank, especially givin that it oxidizes so quickly. The Plenum method used sand grains in the 2mm range which is not very productive for sand bed fauna, thus the plenum requires sand bed cleaning via sand sifting animals, or human intervention. In any case, its not nearly as "alive" as a properly setup LDSB. A proper setup DSB is pretty much maintenence free, and more natural, as well as more beneficial to the tank. -Perry

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