DSB and Plenum sumps reducing Nitrates

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lemcc

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 1, 2005
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Deep Sand Beds and Plenum sumps have been used to reduce nitrates with a good deal of success by saltwater keepers

Why no interest from freshwater keepers? :confused:

Everybody is concerned about nitrates and hoping to jump on any and every magic bullet in a can well this seem pretty legit

I run a mild version of a DSB and a planted sump my nitrates don’t get above 10ppm even without W/C
 
sorta the same but below the sand or substrate theres a open space

i have seen some using old UGFs not hooked up of course most use eggcrates with a fine screen to hold up sand
 
johnptc;895359; said:
dsb should work fine...they must be sized correctly.....which makes them large for a large tank as the flow rate is very low.....

what is a plenum sump ???
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Plenum system was pioneered by Juabert. If you google that name you will find a lot of info.

Jaubert was never able to get this working how he believed it would. It was a big fad about 6-7 years back but has died down due to the fact that the plenum much as an UGF becomes a chemical sink under the substrate and is hard to clean out of maintenance in a reef setting.

Kory
 
Jaubert was never able to get this working how he believed it would. It was a big fad about 6-7 years back but has died down due to the fact that the plenum much as an UGF becomes a chemical sink under the substrate and is hard to clean out of maintenance in a reef setting.
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I read what’s available on the web and I don’t have a problem with it becoming a sink (thats what i want) and I am sure as hell not going to clean it and don’t know why I would

It takes some time to establish the microbial community i am not screwing it up

I haven’t vac'ed my DSB ever (been setup for about a year)
 
You have to eventually clean it because it will clog up. There is no getting around that. I also speak form experience on this. I never ran it in sump only as system directly in tank.

Also everyone do what works best for you. Not everyone will have the same experience and many people swear by different methods. I also do not believe in the deep sand bed in tank. I only run about an 1" but I have a very deep sand bed in my sump along with a large caulerpa refugium. Like I said though if it works for you run with it!

Kory
 
your talking salt iam thinking fresh

why not have a DSB in the tank i know plenty of reefkeepers who have 5"
of layered substrate that doesnt get touched

we are talking anaerobic bacteria clogged is not going to happen in a sump or tank i will move or breakdown the tank before that happens (2-3 years)

Also everyone do what works best for you. Not everyone will have the same experience and many people swear by different methods. I also do not believe in the deep sand bed in tank. I only run about an 1" but I have a very deep sand bed in my sump along with a large caulerpa refugium. Like I said though if it works for you run with it!
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sorry, but if its not repeatable, its not working
 
lemcc;895509; said:
your talking salt iam thinking fresh

why not have a DSB in the tank i know plenty of reefkeepers who have 5"
of layered substrate that doesnt get touched

we are talking anaerobic bacteria clogged is not going to happen in a sump or tank i will move or breakdown the tank before that happens (2-3 years)



sorry, but if its not repeatable, its not working
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what are you saying? My method is not repeatable?? I have had tank running for over 5 years! The way I run my reef is a staple in many homes but there are variations. Like I said you use what works best for you. There is not one set way to do things and be sucessful.

I was not trying to be confrontational just stating my beliefs on the subject. Nothing more.

My point was simple plenums are not widely used by reef keepers any more. Deep sand beds still are and they are proven. Plenums I feel are a pipe dream. If you look at book "The Ultiamate Marine Aquarium" it profiles 25 modern home set ups that they feel are the best. n this they list equipment , lighting filtration and so on. Not one uses a plenum.

Kory
 
I found the same sort of thing some sources say DSB and Plenums work about the same but DSB are easier and work a little better other sources don’t even acknowledge Plenums work

I don’t doubt your method why would I (don’t know it)

When people say there’s alot of ways to do something
Their usually all doing the same thing just on a continuum from simple to elaborate
Simple being the most efficient

So once someone elucidates the root mechanism this should be repeatable
 
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