plenium

[97dodge]

Can anyone tell me how to set a plenium up? I have read about them, and some where it describes how to set them up but I can find the web site any more. Thanks

 

[anynamewilldo]

I can't no longer have the links I used, but here's one...
http://saltaquarium.about.com/pets/s...Feggshell.html
For about $10 you can pick up a great little book called "live sand secrets" by Bob Goemans. This book comes with clear directions and illustrations.
hope these help - and good luck

 

[sonny]

You go to a home store and buy the plastic "egg crate" light diffuser material and some fiberglass screen. Cut the eggcrate so that is is about 1 inch smaller than the inside of the tank. Make sure to cut out for internal overflows! Use cable ties to connect 3/4 inch PVC elbows or slip adapters (or use pieces of 1 inch PVC all around the edge and cut small pieces for in the center of the plenum) so that it forms a platform. Make sure to put enough PVC parts to support the weight of the sand and live rock. Now take this structure and wrap it with the plastic screen. Use the plastic cable ties to hold it in place if you want to. When you put it into the empty tank, let the screen go all the way to the bottom of the tank to keep sand from under it. Now you can add the sand on top. Put a total of 4 inches on top of the grid. You may want to put in about 2 inches then another layer of screen to keep digging critters from disturbing the anoxic area under the plenum, then the other 2 inches of sand. If you add a good bit of real live sand, it will get seeded really quickly. Bacteria will also move from the Live rock to sand, but you may want to get some live sand for the other critters that will be in there.
The book mentioned earlier is worth every penny!
Good luck,
SOnny