I was just curious to see eveyone's input on what they think is a better filtration system. Plenum or DSB. I may have been a little confused but when I read about the plenum it is basically forming the same type of system as the DSB. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Plenum vs. DSB
- Thread starter BiGBOi
- Start date
More or less the results are the same with one major exception. A plenum in order to work properly must use the 1-3mm special grade aragonite reef sand whereas a DSB is going to use very fine grain sugar sized sands. The DSB will thus support much more diverse populations of life compared to the aragonite. Nitrate reduction is about the same, maybe even a slight edge to the plenum.
However, since the ultimate desire is as much bio-diversity as possible the DSB is the way to go.
However, since the ultimate desire is as much bio-diversity as possible the DSB is the way to go.
i do see one difference that may be meaningful.
When i ran a tank with a plenum (for 3 years) everything was running fine except in the last year grape caulerpa was taking over. i grew it like a farmer. in a 55 gallon tank i could fill a half gallon milk container in a week. It rooted in the aragonite and when i pulled it out, i disturbed the bed.
With a DSB using fine sand this would not be a problem because the roots wouldn't take a strong hold ,so easier to pull out.
When i ran a tank with a plenum (for 3 years) everything was running fine except in the last year grape caulerpa was taking over. i grew it like a farmer. in a 55 gallon tank i could fill a half gallon milk container in a week. It rooted in the aragonite and when i pulled it out, i disturbed the bed.
With a DSB using fine sand this would not be a problem because the roots wouldn't take a strong hold ,so easier to pull out.
randy holmes-farley
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Arlington, MA
BiGBOi
<< Well I have a plenum right now and a lot of my collegues use plenums with great success, but I was curious to see if a DSB was a better idea. >>
I think if you want to know whether plenums are more successful, you'd have to define what you meant as success. In other words, what do you want it to accomplish.
A sand bed is just a plenum system without the plenum. I've not seen any evidence that the plenum allows one to accomplish something that a sand bed alone cannot.
<< Well I have a plenum right now and a lot of my collegues use plenums with great success, but I was curious to see if a DSB was a better idea. >>
I think if you want to know whether plenums are more successful, you'd have to define what you meant as success. In other words, what do you want it to accomplish.
A sand bed is just a plenum system without the plenum. I've not seen any evidence that the plenum allows one to accomplish something that a sand bed alone cannot.
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