Plenums??

[MightyMike]

Does anyone have any perspective, personal or otherwise, on the use of a plenum under their sand-bed? I'm curious to hear about users success' with this type of filtration system, let me know if a good, solid DIY is easier said than done, yerself, , thanks for any input always
Mike

 

[herman]

Check out GARF . They are all about plenums. I am a barebottom kinda guy.

 

[MightyMike]

GARF? Good?

Herman, Have you purchased anything directly from GARF? has anyone?

 

[Josh]

I have purchased many things from GARF over the years. I think plenums are great, but I will probably go BB or light sand bed for my next tank. When I took apart my tank, the sand bed was so dirty, it made me think about how much waste was trapped in there.

GARF has great livestock (some very rare) and decent prices.

We had a group buy from them about 2 years ago. From what I remember it worked out well. I have personally bought their 6-10 pack of frags on two different occasions and everything lived in my tank for a REALLY long time. All of their corals are aquacultured and extremely hardy.

 

[jackson6745]

I have purchased many things from GARF over the years. I think plenums are great, but I will probably go BB or light sand bed for my next tank. When I took apart my tank, the sand bed was so dirty, it made me think about how much waste was trapped in there.

This should also make you think of the amount of maintence and equipment you'll need in a BB system since the waste has no were to go anymore.

I've been BB for 5 months and it is more work keeping up with this tank than my DSB tank. Hopefully in time my tank will become more self sufficent.

 

[maxpower2112]

Well Rich they say at first it is a lot of work but after a while you do less and less. should be worth it though. how are you liking your BB after your old DSB?
Don

 

[herman]

In the past I have purchased a couple of things from frags to their "garf grunge" to seed my tank. Overall I was very satisfied with what they offered. My first reef tank was with a plenum. Everything worked out great until one day - CRASH!!! All that crap and everything in the sand just got the better of the tank I guess. After that I went bare bottom. Sure its more work in the beginning but after a while it almost cleans itself up. Key is good circulation to get the crap into the water column and into the filter. The second thing is a good skimmer. My next tank will be again bare bottom. I like the fact that I can see what is going on rather that having the "undercover crap" in the sand bed. But then again after all is said and done its just a preferance. Everybody is different cause at this point in time there is no evidence that saysTHIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT. Also if you like sandsifters, you dont want to go BB.

 

[MightyMike]

I'm reading some things here on the GARF site about the man-made live rock or aragocrete they use, anyone have any thoughts on, or experience with, this stuff?

 

[MightyMike]

crash?

My first reef tank was with a plenum. Everything worked out great until one day - CRASH!!! All that crap and everything in the sand just got the better of the tank I guess.

Do you mean that something actually broke, or shattered "crash" or that your ecosystem just fell apart "crash?"

 

[herman]

My ecosystem crashed and everything died over night. But that was probably my fault. With immaculate husbandry that will not happen. The only thing I am immaculate about is beer.

Aragacrete is basically aragonite or crushed coral mixed with cement and shaped into whatever you want. Its a great way to save money but you need about a month for the cement to "cure" Otherwise you will be in PH hell. There are plently of people that sell the ready cured ones on ebay. A good way to go if you want to save money is to get Reeferrocks basically base rock and seed it. You will save a lot this way. But it takes time though, like everything else in this hobby.

 

[maxpower2112]

Hermangareis, how did your ecosystem crash overnight?

 

[herman]

Somthing about way to much crap in my sandbed. I am still not sure. Maybe someone here can explain why a plenum tank would crash. Ahh who am I kiiding. Too much beer and I got sloppy

 

[herman]

All in all that is why I will always go barebottom. Anything gets dirty in ther and my wife will see it and make me clean it. Who needs aquarium controllers when you have a wife.....

 

[marrone]

The Group buy on Garf 2 years ago was good, atleast the corals were, dealing with them wasn't the best epxreince. They'll setup a 1-800 # now so they're alittle easier to get on the phone. You used to be able to tell them what you wanted from the pictures on their site but the pictures are some what old now so you get what they can find for you, though it's still good stuff. They also throw in some free thing with your order like corals, glue and plugs.

 

[House of Laughter]

Mike,

I have had the best of tanks over the past 4 years with a mutitple filtration system (plenum, sand bed and skimmer). This time in the 180 (in the wall) I am going with a shallow sand bed. In the event I used a plenum again, and it did crash, I would have a heck of a time getting the gunk out without trashing the whole damn thing.

I have seen many, however, successful tanks that have been up with plenums for years (some 10)

ONe recommendation I found, that was the only one that made sense was to insert an airline tube below the plenum so that once a year or so, you could suck out the nasty water from under the plenum.

Anyhow, they worked great for me. I have one in my 92 corner and stuff grew out of control in that tank. It is still up - 2 yrs this past July.

House