Okay, does this really work?

[BLEEDSALT]

I have the marine reef aquarium handbook, since I can't find the reef book for dummies . In chapter 4 it says that a Plenum System was used to rid Nitrates. I am about to get a 125 with a 55 sump. should I consider this method in the sump? Has anyone used or seen this set-up? Thanks for any help.
Chris

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Plenum system has been around for a long time. Its popularity seems to have waned over time. It is supposed to be installed in the main display tank. I believe Julian Sprung still runs his tank with Monaco system (a type of plenum system.) He has a very natural looking tank with many softies and gorgonians.

Tomoko

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Dr. Rob Toonen did a controlled experiment using sediment based systems (sandbed with or without plenum and also with coarse or fine sediment) and found that
there is no measurable difference between most of the common sediment filtration designs for maintaining suitable water parameters. He noted that there was no evidence for any of the espoused benefits of a plenum.

Here's his article.

 

[Mariner]

I think that most people's thinking on plenums these days is that, whether they work or not, they just aren't necessary. Most of us are able to keep nitrates to virtually nothing with LR, skimming, macro algae and water changes.
FWIW,
Mariner

 

[H@rry]

I had plenums on both of my tanks when I set them up in 99. I also had an 8 inch deep crushed coral bed. About 4 or 5 years later I couldn't control the algae and decided that the crushed coral bed was holding detritus because it was so "open". I broke the tanks down and removed everything down to the bottom glass. The crushed coral was filthy. I didn't put the plenum back in and put in 2 - 4 inches of Southdown sand. I'm very satisfied with the results.

Since I've been involved with reef tanks the "recommended" procedures have gone through:

Undergravel filters
Wet/Dry filters
Plenums
Deep Sand Beds
Shallow Sand Beds
and now - Bare Bottoms

Did I miss anything? What's next?

 

[BLEEDSALT]

The book was saying that you place an undergravel filter plate, or egg crate. Then sand and screen and sand or something like that. I dunno, so if I run bare bottom in the sump it should be okay? I haven't ran a sump, so it will be new to me, I have ran fluval and power heads. I was just wondering on this system.
Chris

 

[Mariner]

Yes, a bare bottom sump is fine.
You probably already know this, but just to clarify, we normally use the word sump to refer to a separate tank under the aquarium for keeping equipment like heaters, filter media and skimmers out of sight.
When you add a separate tank or compartment in the sump for additional bio filtration (macro algae, sand, etc) its referred to as refugium. A refugium is a great addition to a sump if you have the room, but many tanks run without one.
FWIW,
Mariner

 

[BLEEDSALT]

Ahh yes the fuge. That is my plan to put a sand bottom in the 55 and add macro with some crabs and such. See told you I was learning. I guess if you know everything it takes the fun out of it. I hope to have the new tank up and running by maybe mid March. I still have to support the floor cause my 75 shakes now, I can only imagine what a 125 will add to it. I have read about drilling a small hole in the tube to break the siphon in case of power outage, how and where exactly should that be done? I can't risk flooding my living room.
Chris

 

[KingRicky]

I have my hole drilled in the middle of the 90* fitting on my return line in the tank.

My tank is drilled in the top of each corner, the return line has a 90* fitting turned down towards the bottom of the tank. The end of the 90* is about 4" below the water line. Without the hole, I would end up with all of that water in the sump when the power goes out. Thats way more than the sump can handle.

My tank is a 55 with a 20 long DIY sump.

 

[dave3112]

Plenum systems are a matter of taste I think. You can read all about them at www.garf.org
I think that if one is run it should be plumbed inline before the water goes to the sump. It should be a dedicated system with LOW flow and nothing else in the tank (macro algea, hermits) just waterand sand. That is just my opinion. If you are new to the hoby the best thing anyone can tell you is to READ everything you can then you can make better choices. I would have saved alot of money and heartache if I would have done that a LONG TIME ago.

Dave

 

[atlantisaquari]

i used to think the idea of a plennum was cool. but i read guys here on reef central talking about methane gas bubble poppin up and crashing the systems. just sounds to scary. i think use of lots of cavernous live rock ,water movement, and a refugium would be more worth the trouble.

 

[BLEEDSALT]

I'll probably just do the fuge under the main tank. I dunno, there are so many ways to do things and set up everything, that is why I wanted to get everyones opinion. I'll see what is best suited for the tank needs. Thanks all.
Chris

 

[GARFVolunteer]

Plenums work very well. Only one of the systems in Rob Tunnens tests was set up correctly as a plenum. If you look at the data, that one system consistantly performed at the top of the list.

Another thing the Tunnen test did not cover is the longevity. IME properly constructed plenum tanks will last over 10 years before they start to degrade.

There are a lot of ways to do it right. I currently do not have any plenums and I am currently setting up my 150 with a DSB of dolomite...

Thanks,

Scott