does anyone run a plenum?

[starr]

i just started reef keeping and found a local dealer that i liked.so i would like to stay with. i dont like going to to many places at once. to many tell you difrant things.the way they do things vs. others. but he has me running a plenum and a 4" sand bed of aragonite #1, 22lbs.live rock,and i put on a aquaclear 300 that i had around for a partickle filter and 2 zoo-med powersweep 214's he performs all my water checks 1 time a week for free. and says that my water is in good shape. i do not have to add mutch but a little reef builder when i add fresh water. it's been up for about 4 months. every things going good and i've been checking around and all the other locals don't like plenums. why? i am going to keep it this way because it's working for me now but maybe later if it quits working then i will change.

thanks: starr

 

[2poor2reef]

Hi starr, welcome to the hobby. You have come to the right place to do some research and ask questions. I know practically nothing about plenums but I see you have received no responses in 24 hrs so at least I'll give you a bump.

Plenums were more popular several years ago but nowadays most people seem to feel that you can obtain the same benefits from a deep sand bed which is easier to set up and maintain. There is more than one way to do things and I have seen very successful reefs set up using plenums. I myself use deep sand beds.

I would caution you though that it is very beneficial to research these things for yourself rather than relying on one persons opinion. It's also a lot more fun. Then you will be a much better consumer as well as a better hobbyist. If you make use of this board you're going to get different opinions. Becoming knowledgable for yourself will help you to pick through the various opinions and determine what is best for your system. Enjoy.

 

[fsa]

starr, I will give you my two cents worth. I have a plenum setup now for about two years (my second plenum setup after going to a new tank). I set it up this way as per Tom Miller's articles in the late 90's in Marine Fish Monthly magazine (his "Handy" system) and also Bob Goemans book "Live Sand Secrets". It is a good system. I've never had any major problems with it (although I do not run tests).

But I currently am thinking (debating) whether to change over to a dsb as that is the way most everyone's going to these days on the internet. There's a saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and that's is sort of my feeling right now. 2poor is right with what he has told you. My main problem with not having a dsb is not having the diversity of life in the finer grain sand. The larger sand that I have on my plenum is not as condusive to the small critter life that one normally has in the real fine grain sand. And I really enjoy sitting next to my aquarium looking for life in the sand (I hardly have any). I find not having any a real downer.

In fact, I commend your LFS for having you set up a plenum. Most haven't heard of it or a dsb. They try to sell you a wet/dry system, etc.
Enjoy your tank, sounds like things are going good. fsa

 

[danmhippo]

I have plenum in my tank, in addition to DSBs. If I were to do it over again, I would probably ditch plenum and go with DSB only. From experiences I accumulated over the years, a properly setup DSB can do as much as, if not more, then a plenum setup. Just my 2 cents.

If you ask why I still have the plenum? Well, I am too lazy to break it apart. Besides, If I were to do the change over now, I would have to recycle the already established reef tank. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[JerseyReef]

Don't say that to Tom Miller or Bob Goemans, they go out their way to discredit DSB's...

 

[suckair]

I run a plenum on my 120 and have had no problems with it. It is built well and sealed. I aslo run DSBs in my other systems and have had good sucess there too.

I think either system works. I have heard horor stories with plenums but in each case I am sure they were not properly built.

 

[MFisher]

There is no difference in most cases between a DSB and a plenum system. Don't waste your time installing a plenum. It doesn't hurt but it doesn't help either. Simplicity is key.