The difference between an under-gravel filter and a Plenum also a dirt-magnet and a sponge-filter.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- The difference between an under-gravel filter and a Plenum. It’s like knowing the difference between a dirt-magnet and a sponge-filter.
Roland Wilson
• 17 minutes ago (edited)
Seems like people in the U.S. aren’t giving you a lot of credit to use an anoxic filtration system but rather stick to buying expensive biological media. I’m one of those folks, but I did give your system a try on my 125-gallon by using two BCB bags in my sump with other biological media. My results have been very positive on lowering NO3 and fish behavior. “If it’s not broken why fix it” works for now on this tank. Tank is running just freaking great will not change a thing.
• 12 hours ago
It sounds like to me you are using an under-gravel filter with lots of gravel and sand on top using no or a small air stone in like under the void under the UGF is that all it is
Some viewers are not watching your older videos. Everything is in details. They just have to watch ALL your videos. Thx doc 💥
Hi Kevin. . . I had no clue about the final stage of nitrates to nitrogen gas until I came across your channel and I've been into the hobby for years ! Building my plenum next in my tall tank, it's all cleaned and ready to go . It's all thanks to you . Thanks again . John .
I have actually heard of the dirt filter, my grandfather always called his sponge filters just that. Great video, lots of info for sure.
Dr. Novak, I very much enjoyed this video. With my parent's I walked into a Pier One Imports in 1977. I was 8 years old. As I remember it, they had isles and isles of aquariums with tropical fish. I thought it was so cool. Somehow, I ended up getting my parents to buy a 15 gallon with really cool orange gravel. Fish would be my first pets. Your video brought me back because inside that aquarium was a Jungle Dirt Filter. I remember it well. By age 10 I was managing two aquariums, both with Dirt Filters. They had a little charcoal cartridge in the middle of the foam that the riser tube set into. You can see the cartridge as the ad in your video. I'm in the process of building a plenum for my current tank. I plan on using my current sponge filter and 1/2 my current water, plus some api starter to help get it established fast. After it's established, I'll ditch the sponge filter. Thanks.
Sounds great, at least you know how to seed the bacteria by using an old filter.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums I've torn down and set up my tank. I used about 1/3 of my old water. I used a penn plex UG filter over small bio balls and a few pieces of sponge that I cut up. Next a very thin layer of gravel then kitty litter and laterite. Then Stratum and a few plants. I put a thin layer of pea gravel from the hardware store on top of the Stratum. Water was grey colored because of the gravel even though I washed it. I let it settled and it cleared to crystal clear in a few hours. My son added a little castle thing (lol, but it helps his interest and that's great). Then I put my fish back in. For now, I'm still running my old sponge filter but that's it. No other filtration. It's been up a week and no issues. Water parameters are stable and good, but ph is a tiny bit high at about 7.2.or so Most of the fish are small tetras. Also have a bristle nose pleco and two algae eaters and 5 shrimp. All fish are activity swimming around. So far so good. I'm looking forward to NOT gravel vacuuming and fewer water changes.
Ah Dr Novak- it brings back memories from long long ago in the mid 60s. Then there was the internal air bubbler filter, and not forgetting using an hydrometer for SG. I am now back as a hobbist and it is not a cheap persuit these days. You are right to say Follow the Money. I am now going back to the basics tied in with the BCB basket improvement. Keep up the good work Doctor.
Interesting video. Here's my question. I have a 20 gallon tall tank. With fairly high full spectrum light, consistent 24 ppm CO2, 3 inches of Eco Complete substrate and medium growing speed Root Feeding live plants. I have a classic old school 1/2 inch high Under Gravel Filter Plate. My lift tubes are on both corners in the back & go all the way up to the water surface. l have a small power head on their lowest flow setting on each tube. That makes good circulation through the entire tank with no dead flow spots. I have 20 medium size fish and feed mostly frozen foods. I have very little, normal amounts of algae. My water is Cristal clear. My plants are healthy. And my fish are healthy, colorful and active .. so after all that. Here's my question. Why would I even want to think about creating Anaerobic - Anoxic conditions? How would that be better? Is it just about Complete Redbox & less or no water changes? Or is there more to it than that ? I have no problem using fish food and waste as a measured, controlled nitrate source for plant fertilizer & doing a 50% water change about every 2 weeks .. Please reply, I'd like to hear your take on all that ..
Great distinction, thank you!
My pleasure!
I have had nothing but great results using undergravel filters from Lee's as well as the top fin and Penn plax models. All plate styles of course. In my current tank I have about 3 inches of gravel (seachem flourite and natural gravel pebbles mixed) in a 30 gallon running a Lee's plate.
Under gravel filters were a staple when I started in the hobby. I think a couple of things worked to move people away from using them. The 1st was, someone decided to show the build up that occurs under the plate, and convinced us that it was bad. That we had to get that out of there, and a great way to do it was with a power head. Increase the flow so that you didn’t have as much build up. The second was we started using less gravel to cover the plates. Down to an inch or two, which when combined with the power head, reduced the build up even more. Form there it wasn’t a great leap to, “Why not keep all of that crap out of your tank in the first place by using our (insert name here) external filter?”
The squeaky wheel always gets the most attention. But that doesn't mean it was wrong to begin with.
I'm currently running a couple of experiments, including a Jaubert type aquarium with an inorganic enhanced CEC substrate as well as some control aquariums.... My results have been quite eye opening so far.
I do believe that a great deal depends on the source and quality of the bacteria culture in any aquarium. Even poorly set up aquariums do surprisingly well with fast growing plants and a good bacteria culture. I also suspect that the reverse is true... If you don't introduce the right bacteria, and provide it with a reasonable environment to thrive no aquarium has a ghost of a chance at working properly. I do believe that's why some BCB or plenum type systems take forever to cycle up or fail while some very basic aquariums seem to run forever for some people even when they shouldn't work.
In any case... I have been collecting data and have some theories I'm working on, but I'm pretty confident in my early results that different bacteria colonies will yield massively different results right from the get go. I'm tweakng my designs and I hope to be building my new gen 2 and gen 3 bc filters soon and let you know how they work out or possibly how they don't..
What is the substrate you're using?
Keep us up-to-date on your results.
Wow, you read my mind! I just watched your plenum video, and that was my question.
Thanks! I am very happy that I was able know that after hours and hours of watching your channel I had a very accurate idea about what the plenum is and how to explain it. 😅👌
nice now it makes sense
Hello. Newbie here. Will the dirt, mulm, et cetera be under the plenum after a while? Do we need to clean it then?
Simply put...
Dirt magnet before
Sponge filter now
As to
Under gravel filter (plates not tubes) before
Plenum now.
Pls Correct me if I'm wrong.
Should we have powerheads on our UGF with a plenum?
Only if they're less than 50 gallons an hour output.
Why don’t we use plenum or under gravel filters in marine tanks?
Good question. WHY?
hi doctor, i stir up my gravel with a gravel vac while i do water changes. i hear other aquarists say that detritus in the substrate is the bio filter and they don't vacuum gravel. since i don't use a plenum, i think i'll keep vacuuming the gravel during water changes. thoughts? also i am glad you got a lot of new subs, but i can't see your sub # under the channel name. is you tube hiding that?
You're keeping on the right track according to the professional aquariums like for example the Florida aquarium in Tampa which does the same thing as you do.
Thank you for the many videos you have made addressing the evolution of underground filters to that which you are referring to as plenums. My question is quite simple and perhaps I have missed something. Is the water circulation through the plenum and active or passive phenomenon? That is, does the plenum require an air pump to facilitate the circulation of water through the void created by the plates or does the water just passively diffuse into the void created by the plenum and then find its way back into the aquarium passively? You emphasized that the water circulation needs to be slow. In that case, does the addition of a pump increase the rate at which the water diffuses thus abrogating the benefits of a plenum? Thanks for your time and thoroughness.
I was about to ask a similar question but see you didn't get a response to yours. I too was wondering why an uplift tube is required at all? Many years ago I set up a large 7' x 2' x 2' marine aquarium with a plenum approaching 2" deep. This plenum did not have any uplifts and was isolated from the main body of water, the only movement being passive through the substrate. The aquarium was still operating very successfully 10 years later when I sold my business and lost contact.
Now I am no scientist and am about to do further research of the Dr's work to try to find the reason we need to assist the water through the gravel by an uplift at all. My reservation about the uplift is that we may be in danger of introducing oxygen into the plenum that could be disastrous.
A dirt magnet is exactly what a sponge filter looks like. Sponge filters look terrible in tanks. They just don't look nice. If I were to go down that track, I would buy one of those plastic corner filters you pack with filter floss and carbon. Looks better, likely more effective. The corner filters were popular in the 90s.
Hi Kevin,
The void under the gravel filter is where the fish waste is saved. If it is used to flow into the gravel using water pump will this method improve plant health and growth.
I did see your video about the Oxidation levels depend on the depth of water. And since the aquarium having adequate aeriation when flows throw the gravels back into the void due to under gravel filter should improve the oxidation process and promote health and growth of the plant.
Waiting for your suggestion.
Thanks & Regards.
😊
Fish waste? This is a misconception that people have that the bottom of the Plenum is full of fish waste and that is not the case. It will collect some detritus but that will take years and years before anything would have to be done to the Plenum. Once again a lot of these misconceptions were developed from people trying to keep their tanks as clean and sterile as possible thinking that would work better. If you watch some of my earlier videos I do talk about how a Plenum now is filled with negative and positive ions which are oxidizers for the aquarium.
Hi, is it correct to say that an aquarium with an established plenum does not need any other filtration system like sponge or a canister filter?
You got it. I'm running my antique aquarium 100% off of a canister filter with a BCB basket in it.
I used to used under g fiber and it keep my tank keep my 55g tank clean than some of the hang on back i used now that just my aquarium
Not sure if my comment got through or not but if find your information the most interesting to watch, I have always wondered why you can convert ammonia and nitrites but never nitrates
And completing the fill cycle. Nature does it so surely there has to be a way so your videos are awsome , and I think people are stuck on the whole underground filter instead of the actual process of how it works 👍🏼
Hello dr.novak Wanted to know your thoughts on pre charging the substrate with calcium and epsom salt before setting up plenum i am currently in process of my tank set up using safeTsorb. by the way thank you for all the information you are putting out there for us your work is making a difference in the hobby
It is good as it is, the only thing I heard of people doing is actually baking the kitty litter in their ovens and this made it harder.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums I listened to your video
& I'm on the fence about something that made
me think of it, does it make a difference if you
use pipe with holes like a diy type or a plate
with slits in it maybe you can answer that.
The reason why I asked is I'm thinking about
making 1 for my 110 gal stock tank just to
grow my aquarium plants in with a small
amount of fish in it to fertilize them all.
Yeah, it’s still an undergravel filter. I can’t go buy a “Dirt Magnet” from Junco today, hence the name change. Because you know what a UGF does better now doesn’t mean everyone else has to call it by a new name.
It’s a slow UGF. Cool. I use one myself. I don’t think that there’s an issue with me calling it a UGF. 😎
You need to watch my video on what is a under gravel filter and how it's different from a Plenum. It's no different than people calling a rifle and assault weapon. A new name to make something sound a lot more dangerous.
Im new to this so, if you have a "planted" tank with a plenum and say stratum and gravel as substrate, if I lightly to moderately stocked with white cloud minnows would I need an additional filter or would a plenum suffice
An external filter like hang on the back or canister or basically mechanical filters that help keep the water clean and provide for carbon use. So that's totally up to you if you want one or not.
Hello,Dr novak, I have watch so many of your videos and learn so much from you,,,I would like to know is it ok for me to put a bcb baskets on my 125 gallon tank and not use plants ,cause I have sevrems, geos and other big fish that love to eat plant ,,,,would that work for me and should I use the same other ingredients with kitty litter,,or just do it as you say,,,thank you for sharing your skills and teaching us all that follow you ,,you fan mg,,
Yes, you can
Dr Kevin hope you are doing well. I live in Singapore and would like to try a BCB basket. The issue is we do not have kitty litter made of clay which are unscented and nonclumping. Do you have any suggestions for an alternative product to be used instead of kitty litter? Thank you in advance.
Oil-Dri or safety-sorb sold at hardware stores to clean up garage oil messes. Same thing as kitty litter.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums found it. Thanks a lot for your amazing work
I admire your enthusiasm, but the problem I see with this system is that it's horribly inefficient. It takes up space in the tank and I have a feeling that it wouldn't remove enough nitrates for anything but a very lightly-stocked aquarium. Have you done any side-by-side tests to find out how much nitrate is actually being removed? I know it would probably take a whole year and lots of resources to do, but I would like to see a quantitative number for how many ppm/week an example setup actually removes. Something tells me it won't be enough that you don't need water changes. Also, there's other stuff that builds up besides nitrate, so unless you also have enough plants to take the other elements of tds out of the water, your water will start to build to a higher and higher gh.
The questions you are asking have been answered over 30 years ago.
My mom yoused to call me a dirt magnet when I was a boy 😆
Doc great information, but man you’re redundant…
Tomato or Tomatoe? I am 70 years young, and I cant tell ya, it dont matter. But you promise to tell "the difference between an under-gravel and a Plenum" ---- but all that yap yap yap, you never got around to clearly just saying, what is the difference. Get with it man. You talk to much without saying anything except what-used-to be. Who cares what used to be? Just answer the question that your headline promised: "what is the difference between a under-gravel filter and a Plenum." Please. Thank you.
Hi doc, As all this appears to be a matter of ionization, should nod we obtain the same results with a pair of probes plates driven by a little polarization current (something like 1v (as water decompose by 1,2v)) ???
I have been watching a number of your videos because I am interested in your plenum filters and the use of anoxuc bacteria in them. I am retired and a lifelong aquarium hobbyist. Being a retired factory worker I have to cut many corners in my aquarium hobby. I have a basement aquarium room where I have created a number of tanks from clear plastic storage containers. I made my own undergravel filters from egg crate ceiling sheets covered with fine plastic screens and PCV pipe lift tubes. I have a number of shallow tubs where the lift tubes are very short so I am wondering if perhaps I have created a Plenum filter without knowing it. They are long filter beds with 3 lift tubes in one of the systems and 4 lift tubes in the other system. The lift tubes are only a few inches high. I notices that you have a fairly strong air flow going through the single lift tube coming out of your plenum plate but if I understand you right it is the short lift tube that causes the lower amount of water being pulled through your plenum. Even though I have more than one lift tube it is a large filter bed. What if I reduced the bubbles going up the lift tubes, would I then have a plenum filter? I would really like to hear your thoughts on this if you have the time.
An an analytical chemistry technician and instrumentation specialist and I don't get why negative or positive ions would do anything in aqueous solution. Not saying it doesn't work, I'm just curious about the process. And within that 18 minutes video, I feel you repeat yourself a lot, but never hit the nail.
Still thumbs up, it might be the language barrier (I'm french). And I will watch more of your video to know better on that topic.
When you were in school, did you ever have a math teacher and you asked her about a problem and she just repeated the same way as she did before and you still didn't understand? I do repeat myself, but you have to remember there are people in other countries that do have a little trouble with the English vernacular. So when I repeat myself, I try to do it in a different way, so maybe it will click for them. In the future, I'm trying to make the video, so I do not repeat myself.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Oh yeah, I was that boy and still I am!
To be honest, when I explain something, I usually ramble in different direction up to getting lost in explanation. Then, at the end, I make a more compact summary so people get my point! Not perfect, a bit confusing/long, but this is how I work.
Have a great day and thank you for sharing your experience!!!
🤔 common sense isn’t very common anymore and way too many retailers, companies and TH-camrs are lying for personal benefits.
The information that’s been scientifically verified by multiple sources should encourage modifications in the hobby. You Sir are the only TH-camr actually explaining a proven system and the history of the equipment in our hobby.
This is just my opinion but undergravel filter both the tub and the plate variants are best used either in a pet shop or a home aquarium that uses gravel and doesn’t have live plants.
The plenum in either form is best for hobbyists who want to take the best care of the live plants in their aquarium and who don’t have destructive fish like cichlids or catfish.
It just makes sense to combine science and nature for the best results.
Thank you for your informative videos.
I am getting back into aquariums after 25 years, and I am planning to set up a 750 litre (150cm x 100cm x 50cm) planted tank using an undergravel filter (UGF) system for discus and angels. I want to use a coil heater under the the UGF as my experience with planted tanks in the 80s was very positive using a coil heater. Although I did not use the coil heater with a UGF.
My daughter lives in Holland and they use coil heaters under the substrate and achieve amazing plant growth and low maintenance tanks. They never vacuum the substrate and do automatic water changes. The only maintenance they have is cleaning the glass and cutting the plants from time to time.
"Under substrate heaters" appear to be a taboo subject these days.
From you extensive knowledge and experience what is your opinion on using a coil heater especially under a UGF? Are there any benefits?
regards Bill from Australia
Under the gravel heaters sounds like a great idea and I did use them in the 90s but unfortunately the heater element failed. Other words you have to have a very reliable under gravel heater. Another problem I ran into using under gravel heaters is in the summertime they would never turn on.
I stick with father fish channel
You mean to say: "I'll stick with father fishes channel." Anyway, good luck and thank you for watching.
Well said people like at think they know it all but won't even use a plenem n won't get all the benefits there lose
Your video made me feel brilliant. I am 59 - got my first tank at 13. Was told we use under gravel filter because it works closest to how nature works. As I have gotten older and new science I’d always adding or correcting its self it’s obvious no one understands nature. Nature does a lot. Iv had fresh and marine tanks. Always Iv used the under gravel filter. It’s not just my fish that are alive or the plants. In my tank nature/life is everywhere. You could even say my water is alive. And the maintenance is so so easy compared to anything else. Thank you for smart video.
Have applied this information to my aquariums four years ago fitting out another one soon. It works so well. Thank you !
I love useing Undergravel filters useing the methods youve talked about. Ive been able to achieve a perfect cycle in a few of my tanks just recently after finding your channel a few months ago. I just started getting into the hobby again and youve shown me the best methods imo. Thank you for all the time youve invested. Ive used it well to save me money. Really all a tank needs electricity wise is a light and Air Pump now.
Great to hear!
Oops sorry about my comments they didn’t go through in my end now the whole 3 of them have gone through 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hi doc....the problem in Italy is not to find laterite but the correct clay....all the kitty litter seems not good...they melt in a few months....could you show in a video some international brand avaible in Italy...I read an old article of doc.Franco(lio fornellino)he explain all about clay without suggest the correct one( bentonite is ok?)thanks a lot ...and thank you to start this technical Revolution on your tube...(expanded clay for hidroponic is also good?)
If I remember correctly Dr. Franco went to United Kingdom and picked up a truckload of kitty litter. My wife was born in Barrio Italy she sure does miss it.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenumsok... sepiolite is used to dry oil ...it's a clay also raccomended in your opinion? I bought a bag for only 5 euros..shall I try?
Where is Barrio? South? I live in Como ...Lombardy
I don't remember how I stumbled across your channel but I'm happy I did. I have gone down the rabbit hole with your channel and really enjoy your videos. I am currently in the process of gathering the components to change over two of my 20 gallon tanks into the plenum filtration systems. I'm of the generation that started with under gravel filters then left the hobby for several years only to return and find out that under gravel filters were a dirty word in the hobby. Currently I run dirt magnets in all my tanks. I never understood why under gravel filter were so hated when I got back into the hobby about 5 years ago. Thank you Dr. Novak for sharing your knowledge with us.
Just an observation: In all the videos discussing the use of a plenum within the aquarium, you are not speaking about the under gravel filter be it a premade manufactured unit from a manufacturer, or even a creatively built out of materials that can be found every Dollar store to a large hardware store. I am sitting here at my desk now and looking around and have found a piece of styrofoam that could easily be modified into an under gravel filter unit with some modifications made to it. Your videos are quite clear on the fact that you just want to move water.
As I began to understand from your videos and lesson plans, that not only is water movement important in the water column, but it is also just as important to move it through the substrate. Rivers, lakes, streams, these bodies of water, have water moving not only from upstream or downstream but down through the ground. Applying these principles takes a vegetable garden grown, at least my practice is to till up the soil during the growing season. Why do I do this, I do this to have water move from the top down to the roots, to break up the soil, and reoxygenate the soil around the roots. Therefore the principles should apply just as equally well to the aquarium. Why would individuals feel that this is NOT a good idea?:
Okay, I am guilty, I am guilty of just dumping substrate onto the bottom of the aquarium, tell you what, have not had the results I was looking for. Always had algae issues, clouded water...on 12/231/2021 before midnight, I installed my first plenum built on your presentations and today is day 4...the water in this tank has NEVER EVER looked this crystal clear, From a biological standpoint of the anoxic bacteria groups populating the plenum area, I have no idea how long that will take, however, what little algae growth I had on some of the plants and rock and wood is not spreading as rapidly as it has in the past.
I have adopted your principles and I am feverishly spreading the word, like some cult leader, no just kidding...but I am explaining the principles and I have already gotten on others to sign on with me.
Keep up the good work, it makes sense once you begin to understand all that is happening and why it needs to happen.
I can't thank you enough for opening my eyes! AGAIN! -
A Plenum can be made from Hardware Store supplies which I have shown in my videos, or you can go on the Internet and buy an under gravel filter that's 1 inch high from Amazon or under gravel filter plate. They will all work the same it just depends on how much you want to spend and how much time you want to put into your project.
Hi Dr Novak I am starting a 65 gallon I wanted to know if I can run the aquarium with only a plenum no other filters hook up
You can
Hi Dr. Novak, is it okay if the under gravel filter does not completely cover the bottom of the tank? Tank is 18x60 filter is 14x60. Thanks
It's OK if it doesn't cover the bottom 100%.
I am adding bcb bags and baskets to my patio ponds as it’s to late to do the plenum but I’m hoping I have set them up correctly to actually work, do I still need to wait 4 to 6 weeks to see any results and if the have been done correctly or not.
Hi Dr.Novak avid fan here from the Philippines Just want to ask what other substrates or soil can we use for BCB bags/baskets? We don’t have granular kitty litter here in the Philiipines. Do Akadama soil or coarse pumice will work?
Thank you in advance 🙏🙏🙏
I had a tube undergravel tank in the 60s. I think it worked very well. I never did water changes and with an airstone and plants kept 20 inches of guppies,mollies and sword tails in a 10 gallon.
That's fascinating, ma'am.
Excellent explanation on the differences between a plenum & the undergravel filter plates. 👌
I’m building a large sump filter and was thinking about putting a very deep substrate 400mm with 50mm plenum water moving very slow by using air lift , I was thinking of using a mix of exploded clay balls some zeolite cat litter and some laterite, can I ask your thoughts please I’m hoping to create an anoxic zone for denitrification
Any of you who have successfully done this in America, what did you use for clay? I tried Safe T Sorb but it is crumbling and polluting the tank. I know I can get Special Kitty from Walmart, but I really don't want a 50lb bag.
Any other clay alternatives?
I dont know any clay alternative sorry......But I too, didnt need a huge bag of cat litter. I still bought it but after i was done with my plenum, i gave it away to people who had cats (theres many people who have cats!)....If you dont want to give it away, maybe you can sell it for a bit cheaper on an online buy/sell. you should be able to.
Anyways, just telling you my solution. Thats all i got!
The kitty litter I used was from Walmart and it was non-baked kitty litter in fact. I only put about a half inch or a little less in the gold fish aquarium. And I have made several BCB bags and baskets from it with no problems. Someone told me that if you bake the clay in your normal oven it will harden it up so it does not fall apart as easily.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Did they give any instructions on how they baked it? since it's already baked, would it change much?
You could probably use perlite, pumice, leca or seramis.
So very important to explain the sophistry and the why words for things change. Bravo.
Do we have to gravel vac if we’re using a plenum?
Yes, just don't go too deep in the substrate that is all.
Well I understand what you are trying to explain👍🏼 I don’t think those who are saying this are actually listening to the full process that u are trying to explain and why the plenum is different. I understand we need the different types of bacterial growth, anoxic bacteria, aerobic bacteria which is most common in most tanks amd anaerobic which is no oxygen bacteria. They all have their own purpose to complete the nitrogen cycle. Is this correct? I’ve been watching all your videos I can find to see if I have it correct or not. I run goldfish and am super interested in this process because I water change every other day to keep their nitrates low and try to keep their water as clean as possible. I’ve just added a few baskets to my patio ponds and hope I have them in correctly. Does it still take 4 to 6 weeks to see a difference if they are working?
any update
Thanks for the clarity of ugf & unfp. I like plenum filter term.
Just got my Plenuum Filter a couple of days ago and emptying my 50 gallon tank Now. Super Excited. Thanks Dr. Kevin
Wonderful!
just got my 2nd tank and all i need to make an under gravel filter. Im gonna re-do my year old tank aswell. Thank you for your very awesome content. Stay safe
Another great video.
What is the function of manganese and Iron in the biocenosis filter
Dr Novak, I've been using your BCB baskets to great effect for a few months now. I want to create a plenum to increase the Anoxic conditions of my aquariums. Do I have to connect an air hose to the filter plate or can I just leave the uplift tube disconnected?
You don't have to use air to force movement through the plenum. It will work without. Since the basis of positive/negative charges is that their reaction to each other pulls them to where they want to go.
But in some of his other videos, he has stated that he found things to be more effective if aided by a little bit of air. Just to help with moving water up from the plenum, which pulls some from the tank down through the substrate.
I never liked the Dirt Magnet (sponge filter) as it released so much gunk back into the tank during maintenance. I stayed with my box filters in all my breeding/rearing tanks. I loved my Penn Plax Undertow under gravel filter. I had a 55 gallon setup with it having 2" of gravel in the front and 3" in the back. I ran the air bubbles slow using an adjustable pressure whisper air pump per my LFS owner. It ran for decades without issues.
Thanks for sharing. You wonder why it went out of favor after so many years?
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums I think it was mainly do to the push and recommendations on the newest and so called greatest equipment. I know it became difficult for me to find the little white air stones, lift tubes. But I'm planning on setting one up in my 125 gallon.
Good video 👍
Great video! Love it!
Thanks so much!
A little confusing. Saying the same things all the time. Should make a clearer video with more scatches
Dear Dr. Novak,
I hope this finds you well. Would you recommend placing filter media in the plenum (void) or would that go against it being a plenum? I will be grateful for your view on this. I am planning to incorporate a plenum in my tank this weekend.
If you watch my videos on how I set up my aquariums then you will see what I did.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums I have watched your videos in the past. In one you used plastic balls to elevate the mesh. In other you have not used any media in the plenum. I will be grateful if you will express your opinion in response as a yay or nay - as I don't believe I have the answer from the videos. Sorry if I am being slow on the matter, but I am asking for your view.
I find the comments were deleted (don't ask me how I know lol) but I think you're referring to one video where the plenum was made with two plastic meshes and enough bio balls to create the space (and it also happens to be biofilter media), and then in some later videos whereby undergravel filter plates were used which means the bio balls were not needed to create the elevation.
💖🙏