Plenum or not?

kasayre · 10/11/2010, 05:33 PM

Greetings! I'm new to RC and reef keeping. We currently have a 55g Sea Max up and running for a year. We thought this would be a good starter tank for us. All I can say is... WE'RE HOOKED! My two kids are enthralled and we really enjoy taking weekend trips to the local FS. OK, so here's my newbie question, What is everyone's opinion on a plenum? I have read split opinions and am now turning to you all for input. We currently have a plenum in our Sea Max, but our nitrates always run high (20) regardless of amount and frequency of water changes. I have read that a plenum can be a harbor for nitrates. Could this be the cause of our high nitrates? Our goal is to have a 150+ up and running by Christmas but I hesitate to include a plenum in a new setup unless I get some positive feedback. Thanks for all the help!!!
Amy

philosophile · 10/11/2010, 05:50 PM

Hrm. I don't have much experience in using a plenum or a DSB. Heck I don't have much experience in reefing in general, since I started in August..... But.... I vodka dose and that brought my nitrates down pretty quick to zero, and I've become a strong believer since. In my 30 gallon tank, it takes 5 drops of vodka a day, and thats it. So in terms of maintenance, its something I can do when I'm feeding my fish and coral, and take almost no time, and I get the benefits of zero nitrate. I wouldn't vodka dose without a skimmer though.

jarrett · 10/11/2010, 06:44 PM

i think that there are other ways of controling nitrates that are better recieved than a plennum filter. the drawbacks and skepticisim of keeping a plenum deserves hesitation on keeping one. weather the rumors are true regarding h2s buildup or solidifing substrate or mass bacterial die off i feel the unsightly deep brown sand layer and maintnence of one isnt worth it. a good fuge, bio pellets, vodka dosing, w/c, all imo are better fixes for nitrates than a dsb or plenum

jenglish · 10/11/2010, 06:49 PM

A plenum is not popular for a reason. They don't offer any real advantages over a more natural DSB. Even though I run a DSB I run it differently than most people. TO me a DSB is like an old flathead V8, it may not be the most efficient means but has it's own unique charm. I would admit that the traditional, no siphon clean DSB is probably not the way to go.

10/11/2010, 05:33 PM	#1
kasayre Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 7	Plenum or not? Greetings! I'm new to RC and reef keeping. We currently have a 55g Sea Max up and running for a year. We thought this would be a good starter tank for us. All I can say is... WE'RE HOOKED! My two kids are enthralled and we really enjoy taking weekend trips to the local FS. OK, so here's my newbie question, What is everyone's opinion on a plenum? I have read split opinions and am now turning to you all for input. We currently have a plenum in our Sea Max, but our nitrates always run high (20) regardless of amount and frequency of water changes. I have read that a plenum can be a harbor for nitrates. Could this be the cause of our high nitrates? Our goal is to have a 150+ up and running by Christmas but I hesitate to include a plenum in a new setup unless I get some positive feedback. Thanks for all the help!!! Amy

10/11/2010, 05:50 PM	#2
philosophile Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,149	Hrm. I don't have much experience in using a plenum or a DSB. Heck I don't have much experience in reefing in general, since I started in August..... But.... I vodka dose and that brought my nitrates down pretty quick to zero, and I've become a strong believer since. In my 30 gallon tank, it takes 5 drops of vodka a day, and thats it. So in terms of maintenance, its something I can do when I'm feeding my fish and coral, and take almost no time, and I get the benefits of zero nitrate. I wouldn't vodka dose without a skimmer though. __________________ 90 gallon mixed reef XPS1000SSS skimmer, 2 radions gen 1, tunze osmolator w/ kalk dispenser, 70 lbs pukani, mp40w x2; 1 tomini, 1 clown 2 mandarins. Vinegar dosing, and micro bubble scrubbing.

10/11/2010, 06:44 PM	#3
jarrett Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 231	i think that there are other ways of controling nitrates that are better recieved than a plennum filter. the drawbacks and skepticisim of keeping a plenum deserves hesitation on keeping one. weather the rumors are true regarding h2s buildup or solidifing substrate or mass bacterial die off i feel the unsightly deep brown sand layer and maintnence of one isnt worth it. a good fuge, bio pellets, vodka dosing, w/c, all imo are better fixes for nitrates than a dsb or plenum __________________ we cant stop here this is bat country!! Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef. 45g sump

10/11/2010, 06:49 PM	#4
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	A plenum is not popular for a reason. They don't offer any real advantages over a more natural DSB. Even though I run a DSB I run it differently than most people. TO me a DSB is like an old flathead V8, it may not be the most efficient means but has it's own unique charm. I would admit that the traditional, no siphon clean DSB is probably not the way to go. __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

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