Old school Jaubert Plenum

[revclyburn]

Anybody remember the old school Jaubert Plenum style of filteration? That's when deep sand beds were the thing, at least for me it was. Going to do it again in my 55 gallon. Anybody have or doing a deep sand bed now? Used to use Southdown, Old Castle or Yardright sand. Used to get it at Home Depot. Is any of those sands around anymore?

 

[griss]

Anybody remember the old school Jaubert Plenum style of filteration? That's when deep sand beds were the thing, at least for me it was. Going to do it again in my 55 gallon. Anybody have or doing a deep sand bed now? Used to use Southdown, Old Castle or Yardright sand. Used to get it at Home Depot. Is any of those sands around anymore?

The Jaubert/NNR/Plenum system actually pre-dated deep sand beds. My 200 back in the 1990s was set up as a Jaubert/NNR/Plenum system and was my first truly successful reef tank. I grew Acros and Montis like weeds. I'm sure you know but, the system was designed to have an empty (plenum) space under the sand. I used eggcrate laid on top of PVC couplers and then window screen to create the plenum. Next I had a 2" layer of crushed coral, more window screen and then a 2" layer of Caribsea Special Grade Reef Sand.

As I mentioned in the other thread, back when DSB started becoming popular, Southdown wasn't available in my area. We had a reefer who's relative worked for HD who got a couple pallets shipped in and we all split it.

 

[griss]

Adding, I don't thing you want to use fine sand for a Jaubert system. The grains are too fine and will fill up the plenum.

 

[mellotang]

What are the benefits of plenum
Based filtration?

 

[griss]

What are the benefits of plenum
Based filtration?

Supposedly, the nitrates were contained in the plenum. I tend to think it was more the DSB (4-6”) of sand on top of the plenum that reduced the nitrates.