Setting up a reef tank bottom

[nudibranch]

First off I would like to say hi to everyone, I just joined! yay! I'm hoping I'll be able to help you all out as much as I'm expecting you will be helping me. LOL
I have an aquarium <yet to be set up> that I have already designated as a "reef tank" I have most of the equipment and/or know what I need to get. I was conversing with a gentelman one day about setting up a reef tank. He told me about a way to set it up that involes leaving a space between the bottom of the aquarium and where the substrate begins. I can't remember what he called it <jagersomething-or-other??>. If you could inform me about this with the actual name so I can do some of my own research, info pertaining to, pros, cons and anything else you can contribute to this would be appreciated.
Thx
~Nudibranch

 

[josh]

Welcome, Well to tell the truth I haven't ever heard of a space between the substrate and the bottom of the tank. I can't imagine how that would be done. Regardless, I would go with a deep sand bed, depending on how big the tank is I would go with atleast 3 inches of sand. Have you decided if you are going to keep fish with live rock or go for a true reef with corals, ect. If you choose the coral route there are many things to take into account. However, that is pretty far down the road.. sorry. Just be patient and ask lots of questions. Good luck

 

[nudibranch]

It's a 75 gallon tank, w/ a home built wet/dry, triple VHO, and some other bells and whistles. I was planning on just corals, or maybe a few fish <ie psuedochromis, pygmy angel and/or T.R. Hyb. cleaner gobies>, but I might not even get that far. He told me a lot about it, but I was busy at work so I only retained a few things. Setting it up is pretty easy, scatter 1-2in long peices of PVC around the tank, with a non metal type of screening above this to keep the sand up. he told me it helps to keep your tank running well and it had something to do withthe nitrite/trates in the tank. Like I said before I regretfully didn't retain as much of the info as I would have liked to.

 

[josh]

Well the substrate is home to nitrate decomping bacteria and animals, still I haven't heard about the "space issue", Let me do some more checking on another board, this has really gotten my interest. What is the total watts of the lights, for corals most need atleast 5 watts/gall. I'll get back to you.

 

[nudibranch]

I was plannign on useing 2 10,000ks and and an actinic all about 48" but...I might be way of, let me know..
~Nudibranch

 

[josh]

Well it just goes to show you learn something new every day in this hobby. It's called a pleneum. However, I understand it is not recommended. If it were to fail it will spell death to you tank. Hope that helps, like I said I would just go with a deep sand bed. Feel free to ask more questions if you have any.

 

[burnnspy]

Visit www.spyreef.homestead.com/home.html to view my website and Plenum reef.
It has been running for almost 2yrs, has no nitrates and has recently been moved 50 miles without water parameter changes.
My maintenance consist of changing 2 gallons of water every sunday, adding Aragamilk daily and adding makeup water. It doesnt get any better then that.
BurnNSpy

 

[josh]

Thanks for the info Burn. I had heard of it, but never really checked into it. Like I said if it fails I was told is could be a major ordeal, any particular reasons why?

 

[josh]

Ok, after checking it out I would see where it would be a large problem if it did fail. By the way, sweet ride.

 

[raymac]

Nudi, I'm setting up a tank right now...added the sand yesterday, and the LR last Thursday....
I've read Tullock's book....a GREAT book for beginner and expert reef keepers..."Natural Reef Aquariums"...he doesn't recommend plenums....for $20, you might want to pick this up...he does a great job of explaining the steps, the "natural" approach of using LR and LSand.....
Good Luck......Ray

 

[nudibranch]

Thank you everyone for responding!
Burn: I would like to find out mroe about the Plenum set up, anychance you could point me in the right direction?
Ray: Good luck with the tank! I wont be setting mine up until late sprinf early summer, but I will definately get the book ahead of time. I've added it to my list of books to get.
So so far no one has heard of the set up I am talking about? Hmmmm...I'd really like to figure this thing out. If anyone hears anything about it do let me know! It's driving me nuts, like the plenum system it's supposed to keep your nitrates way down and stable. Well I'm off to do some more research.
~Nudibranch

 

[broomer5]

Hi Nudibranch,
Use your search engine and type in
Jaubert Reef Systems
You'll find tons of information online describing this and other reef tank filtration techniques.
There are many ways to design, set up and maintain a saltwater reef tank ... and all are exactly right... depending on whom you talk to
Broomer

 

[burnnspy]

A plenum will only function corretly with 4" of sand (I recommend Caribsea Seaflor for grain size), it woun fail if the sand is as specified above. I maintain a backup battery driven air pump in case I lost power for an extended period of time as a precaution also.
I also recommend purchasing Live sand secrets(~$7.00).
BurnNSpy

 

[nudibranch]

Jaubert! That's it! Thanx a lot Broomer! I'll definately be doing a lot of research on it before I get to into it, but now I know where to start looking!
~Nudibranch