Plenum or no plenum?

[robbiej]

Hi,

I'm setting up a new tank. It is 30-gal. I want to have soft corals and a couple of fish. Have been voraciously reading...everything I can. I have been reading Tullock's book, "Natural Reef Aquariums"(1997), I got from the library. In it he describes seveal live filter methods including live rock and live sand.

The question I have is: do you need a plenum?
How much substrate do you need with or without a plenum?
How much of it should be live sand?

Thanks,

Rob

 

[Angelscrx]

Most people would say no plenum and go bare bottom. I started with a plenum and a DSB (Deep Sand Bed) the was mostly crushed coral. After dealing with cyano for way too long I tore down the tank got rid of the plenum and the crushed coral. I left about a one inch sand bed and have not had anymore cyano. A Sandbed would also depend on the flow you have in your tank? Too much flow and you get sand storms and bare spots on the bottom. Not enough flow and you get dead spots and detritus build up.

My opinion is no plenum and sandbed of about 2-4 inches. I keep a shallow one becasue I have it more for the look than for filtration. HTH?

 

[mojoreef]

I am much more of a fan of a plenum then a DSB. For the tank critters that you want it could be very viable. A plenum has to be set up properly though, most folks dont do that and dont get the full benefit of the plenum. One of the big mstakes folks seem to e making is to use sand for the plenum instead of the large gravel that it was designed to use, that and blacking out the plenum space.
Set it up properly and it will tank a ton of flow and it should serve you well for some time


Mike

 

[bradreef]

If you live in Idaho then go plenum. If not, dont (J/K)



Garf is in Idaho. They seem to be the most pro-plenum people out there and If you do decide to set one up then check out there web site

 

[robbiej]

Thanks for the tips, everyone!