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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V2 #1111
Subject: RE: Plenum method
Charley wrote:
>I have this in my 180g plant tank. The goal in reef systems is to provide
>an anoxic layer under the substrate for denitrifying bacteria.
>
>I can't tell that it does anything. My nitrate levels are pretty much
>zero on all my tanks, including this one (but I have light fish loads).
I have moderate fish loads, and my nitrates are still unmeasurable.
>You might think about it for heavy fish loads, but I don't think it's
>worth the trouble.
Even so, I suspect you'll run into phosphate problems, and a plenum won't
help that. Many people (including myself) at least occasionally _add_
nitrogen products to their tanks.
>I did do some other "clever" things including establishing a nutrient
>drip-system that injects veeeeerrrrrrrry slowly under the substrate
>(one of my motivations for the plenum). I really like the result on
>that-- dosing is uniform under the substrate leaving a relatively
>nutrient poor water column.
I'm not sure it's necessary, but I think this is a reasonable reason to
decide to try using a plenum.
Karen Randall
Aquatic Gardeners Association