Plenum Projects
Contents:
by "Roger S. Miller"
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999
On Tue, 2 Mar 1999, Scott Matkosky wrote: > Hi all, this is my first correspondence, I'm currently a student at St.
No Plenum Tanks
By Albert Thiel
This document was updated to add more detail on Aug 3, 1997 For some time now, hobbyists have been using the Live Rock and Live Sand methods to set up their reef aquariums.
Plenum-based systems gained widespread acceptance after Dr. Jean Jaubert worked with the Monaco Aquarium in transporting a complete live portion of a coral reef from the Red Sea for display at the Aquarium. Dr.
Plenum - A space between the aquarium bottom and substrate, created by supporting the substrate above the bottom using UGF plates or some other support structure. Used to keep Nitrate levels low in a saltwater aquarium.
A plenum is a gap or void space underneath the one to four inches of live sand at the bottom of the tank. Typically this void space is 1 inch deep and this area becomes anoxic, or an area low in oxygen.
If you happen to have a plenum under the substrate in your tank, the deep levels of your substrate and the plenum under it will be relatively anaerobic - lacking in oxygen.
Ideal for deep beds, plenum systems, reef or fish tank bottom cover. Removes nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and other wastes. Unsurpassed buffering capability: keep more fish and invertebrates healthier, longer.
The Jaubert Method (also called plenum method) is one in which thick beds of substrate (crushed argonite, shells, coral, or live sand) and large amounts of live rock allow the aquarium ecosystem to "naturally" break down wastes, ...
The jaubert style of filtration uses a thick layer of live sand on top of a plenum to provide a small void under the sand, this does a roughly similar job as the deep sand bed, encouraging anoxic conditions to be developed, ...
Can a turned-off UGF function like a "plenum"? That's a tough question. Whether or not the "Natural Nitrate Reduction", "Jaubert" or "Plenum" systems will turn out to be a short-lived fad or a long-term institution remains to be seen.
I employ a plenum system, and this is supposed to give some calcium but not much, so… the coralline slowed down, and detritus started to build up in pockets in the rocks and in the substrate.
That nitrate would then need to be reduced (via anaerobic bacteria such as in a plenum or denitrator) to nitrogen gas, N2, and returned to the atmosphere to complete the loop of the cycle.
The usual recommendation is to have between 1-3 inches depth in a tank without a plenum. If a plenum is included in your system, consult a detailed reference, such as Live Sand Secrets, by Bob Goeman.
Inside the sump, I built a standard Jaubert-style plenum (1.5" high) and placed a 3" layer of the sand mix over this. I also constructed a prototype protein skimmer which sits in the sump on a few stilts.
Care must be taken with the DSB because of toxic gases also produced by these bacteria. Several variations exist, including the Plenum sand bed and remote deep sand bed (RDSB; kept outside aquarium, in a sump).
 See also: Aquarium, Water, Fish, Marine, Algae
  
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