New tank... Bare Glass bottom or Plenum????

[tauga]

Reading all the columns concerning bare glass reef tank bottom or plenum is confusing to me. The plenum articles seem to be dated around 1990 to 2002. The bare glass tank bottoms articles are more recent. Are there any members out there that have used both and could add there comments on the plus or negatives.
I'm starting up a 90 gallon tank in two weeks. My rock is in the curing stages now and having a heck of a time deciding what path to take. I'm planning on a 20 gal refugium with adding a skimmer in time.

thanks Paul

 

[papagimp]

Are we talking about an actual plenum system or just having a sandbed vs. barebottom. Cause there is a difference. I would not have a plenum in my display tank at all, I would save that sort of thing for a large sump. Just due to the amount of space required for a proper plenum to be set up. But I would definatly not want my display tank to be bare bottom, just looks unnatural to me. May as well go with fake corals and artificial plastic rocks to go with the unnatural substrate . Just my personal view though.

 

[Mirage2521]

Re: New tank... Bare Glass bottom or Plenum????

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9749572#post9749572 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tauga
Reading all the columns concerning bare glass reef tank bottom or plenum is confusing to me. The plenum articles seem to be dated around 1990 to 2002. The bare glass tank bottoms articles are more recent. Are there any members out there that have used both and could add there comments on the plus or negatives.
I'm starting up a 90 gallon tank in two weeks. My rock is in the curing stages now and having a heck of a time deciding what path to take. I'm planning on a 20 gal refugium with adding a skimmer in time.

thanks Paul

Ok, cal me a thread thief........whats a plenum?

 

[HBtank]

Re: Re: New tank... Bare Glass bottom or Plenum????

Re: Re: New tank... Bare Glass bottom or Plenum????

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9752344#post9752344 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mirage2521
Ok, cal me a thread thief........whats a plenum?

A deep sand bed

 

[reefshadow]

Ok, cal me a thread thief........whats a plenum?

A deep sand bed

Not really. Actually a true Jaubert style plenum utilises a UGF plate without the risers to create a dead water space underneath the sand bed. They are pretty out of fashion now, and not really a good idea anyway IMO. The plenum will eventually get filled up with detritus, no way to remove it unless you tear it down. A PITA to say the least.

I would either just go with a sand bed or bare bottom. Remote sand beds are nice, that way you still get the nitrate reducing capabilities but can disconnect from the display to replace or remove. I wish I had gone this route.

Good luck whatever you decide!