[tomt]

Is seeding your DSB necessary if there are pods already living in the tank/refrugium? I did not seed my tanks...., unless you consider live rock in the tank seeding. Whats your opinion? {The bed consist of aragonite only)Using the the "Secret of the Sea" plenum method}

[Sker]

Tomt, I think you should still seed it with an ipsf or inland aquatics detritivore kit. You really need the worms and diverse life that comes in those kits. (IMO)

Sker

[SPasse]

Tomt,

I agree. Live rock does not contain sufficient varieties of life to properly seed a DSB.

I use detrivore and live sand starter kits from both Island Aquatics and Indo Pacific Sea Farms. (One of each)

Bio-diversity is one of the key elements to a properly functioning DSB.

Tell me about your “Secret of the Sea" plenum method” i.e. sand depth, particle size, and other construction details. In other word how, if at all does this system vary from a classic Jaubert Plenum?

Regards,

Scott

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The definition of an expert is a washed-up drip under pressure.
You can see my reeftank at http://www.homestead.com/spasse/

[tomt]

I agree with your opinions. After I wrote this on the bulletin, I did some research and agree that what is on my live rock and in the tank is only a small quantity of life and not the the full spectrum that I could have.

Spasse,
to answer your question about the "Secrets of the Sea", I'm looking for the book which has the Author's name, soory...
I'll do my best to explain it and you can tell me if it compares to 'Jaubert plenum'
It consists of: A 2" nitrate plates made from egg crates, I used light panels from Home Depot. The size (lenght/width) of the crate should be about the same size as the base of the tank. I did about 4" less on all sides. These plates should have a height of est. 2". The plates are then wrapped in screening, like window screening.Again bought at H. depot. With plates on the bottom of the tank, add 1mm to 2mm size aragonite, point is not to be to fine of grain size to clog or to big that it that plenum doesn't work properly. Spread the argonite about 2" layer, add another piece of screening,the (LxW) by itself to prohibit animals from desturbing the plenum. Last add another 2" layer of aragonite on top of screen. Total is est. 4" to 5" layer inc. the plates.Also recommended that pvc piping used to lift base rock off the plenum to prevent dead spots...

Sorry so long.. Is this like the Jaubert plenum? I hope I answered your question... let me know

[SPasse]

Tomt,

Sounds pretty much like the “classic” jaubert.

If you haven’t built it yet, you might want to consider a DSB with no plenum.

The 2mm particle size that is good for a plenum system is not optimum for a DSB fauna community.

And a properly set up DSB hosts nitrate reduction as well as a plenum system.

No attacking plenum systems, I was one of the early plenum system “pioneers” in the early 1990’s. But this would not be my system of choice, today.

Regards,

Scott

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The definition of an expert is a washed-up drip under pressure.
You can see my reeftank at http://www.homestead.com/spasse/

[tomt]

Spasse,
Thanks for the update on the plenum info. This plenum is in my 60 gal. reef tank its been in operation for over a year. I do however have another tank in the works that is designed to hold sps. ie. the question I posted earlier about 'too much current possible' I was asking on the bulliten board, but thats another subject. Anyway I was planning on a plenum in that, but you are saying to use just a dsb. There is no plates? what about grain size? and whats this I hear about people using southside? sand or something like that ? thanks