How to make a hybrid plenum: Can it be done?
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- How to make a hybrid plenum: Can it be done?
• A Hybrid Plenum/Sponge...
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I want everyone to be able to create beautiful, high energy and Co2 infused aquascapes that are cheap to run via air driven filtration. Well, you can't get much more accessible than this filter that I made with plastic pipe from ToolStation. FILTER UPDATE HERE: • Did This DIY Aquarium Filter Actually... In this accessible aquascape tutorial, I’ll show you how I created an affordable high tech Betta tank with my new low tech DIY filter design which uses a combination of both undergravel and sponge filtration to create a fantastic environment for plants to thrive. I think this low budget planted tank looks epic, and I hope you agree! Did you know that undergravel filtration means nitrification occurs at root level, and this can have enormous benefits to your plants? You’ll see in this video just how amazingly the undergravel filter supported a carpet of lilaeopsis to grow. Truly incredible!
This is correct. I've had a 38g set up with a couple of plants (4 Amazon swords, a lotus, and some Anubias) for over a year now. The only filtration has been the under gravel plenum underneath the safe-t-sorb. Fish have been great, no losses, no ammonia, etc. The plants have been struggling though, I think I'm going to make some substrate adjustments and I'll probably add the canister filter back on that was on it before I tore it down. I rigged the canister to double as a CO2 diffuser. I'll put the bcb in it and get CO2 at the same time. I'll add some additional substrate that is enriched for the plants and I'll add some crushed coral or something since my tap has no kh.
Back to the reason for me logging in to post: Dr Nowak is correct, the plenum with clay is all you will ever need to affectively filter an over stocked tank. I have been doing it for a year to see what kind of load it can take and to be honest, I can't fit baby more fish into the tank (3 3 spot gourami's, a moonlight gourami, 2 4"thread fin acara, 2 4" electric blue acara, 1 Bolivian ram, 2 4" Angel fish, 1 Congo test, 1 Green phantom pleco and an owner that likes to feed heavy.
I watched your vids a few years ago. I set up a 92 gallon corner with a plenum using fluorite red with caribsea eco complete on top since it was on sale. I use an undersized fluval 307 and a sponge behind a piece of wood which became food for a pathos I placed on the tank so it really does nothing but attract dirt to feed the plant 😄. I had issues at times with algae due mainly to weak lighting causing plant to die back but now I have jungle Val, Crypts and anubias flourishing. I don't use root tabs so your system is feeding these plants at the root level. This has saved me money and I have many fish that my children enjoy. Thanks for the info.
I thank you for the information.
My 6ftx2ftx2ft aquarium i used 4 3ftx1ft under gravel filter plates works perfect
Hi Dr novak just a little about a experience I had with my plenum on my 75 gallon planted community tank this tank has been setup and running flawlessly since you setup your 90 gallon tank right what hsppend to me I was setting up my 6ftx2ftx2ft and in the process I somehow managed to jam the airline that runs the plenum on the 75 gallon cutting off the air completely to the plenum the next morning my wife noticed all the fish were gasping at the surface baring in mind I also run a fluval fx6 for mechanical purposes only on this tank so had plenty water movement so.i instantly tested the water and boom a massive nitrite spike it was then I notice the plenum was not running I put a nother air pump and airline to it done a big water change and all was well again so this just goes to show that yes all my biological work is 100,% being done by the plenum and to anyone that says they do not work this just proves they 100% work all my 35 aquariums are very stable and healthy running your slow moving plenum system thanks again for your continued support
Thanks I hope others read your post
Hi had a dirt magnet filter when I was younger I remember that’s the first filter I had because it was cheaper 👍✌️🙏🇨🇦 I’m 69 years old now lol
Hello Doctor , thanks for all you info on Anoxic filtration , just discovered your channel and i have been watching your videos daily. I do have one questions. for the plenum void , what do you think of using some type of hard sponge fabric instead of plastic crates to create the void. I'm just wondering how will it perform with the added surface area
Hello Dr Novak. I have been following your plenum so far and I know it really works. I have bred many fished and all that. My question is if the whiskers and tails cat clay litter is better than walmart's? These days my tanks are cloudy and I wonder if it is because the clay gets smushed as time goes. Are you still using whiskers and tails or any better clay ? Thank you so much.
Yes, I'm still using it and in fact, all my tanks are crystal clear so there must be something else going on if your tanks are cloudy. The only time they may cloud up for a little bit if I disturb the substrate, but then it goes away almost immediately.
Maybe if you email me and give me more information we can see what's going on with your aquariums.
Hi Dr Novak, love your videos, they helped me a lot. I would like to ask you if expanded clay has the same properties as the cat litter.
Yes they do. However, kitty litter is baked and harder material than just Clay.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums the LECA expanded clay is made by heating clay to around 1,200 °C (2,190 °F). It's a higher temperature, so I thought it would affect the ionic properties.
I use hidroton
how do you raise up the undergravel filter and how high thanks
Usually anywhere between a half inch to 1 inch is good enough but in the video he makes a more of a highbred under gravel filter that was used back in the 70s and early 60s. This means that it works as long as the water moves slowly through the substrate like any other Plenum would work.
I only have the substrate,plenum, air pump and also the fluval 307. No Sponge filter at all.
I don't even clean the Fluval Filter 307 for 5 months.
I put BCB bag in the Fluval.
Until I had slime
Now it still running.
Sounds like plenums would be great for those “filterless” tanks/vases people set up
Sand (=< 0.50 inches)
Kitty Litter
plenum
I really haven't seen anybody's aquarium with a half inch or less of substrate. Unless it's in there only for decorative purposes. But most hobbyist will add at least an inch or more in the aquariums.
Running two of the 40 gallon breeder stands won't work on the 125 gallon. I'm should work for the six foot span side to side, but the 125 I believe is 24 inches front to bank which is obviously more than the 18 inches for the 40 breeder stands.
If I remember correctly, the Petsmart 125 gallon aquarium is only 18 inches wide and 72 inches long and 23 inches high.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenumsturns out I was only hoping that 125 was 24". Probably because I want one hahaha. You are 100% right. Would love to see once it's ready for audience. 😃
I look forward to seeing how you use the plumbing pipe (pvc?) to set up a plenum for a larger tank. Will you add a sponge to that set up as well?
No, I will not be adding a sponge, but I will be adding my FZone canister filter to do all the mechanical work of keeping the water clean.
How did he Apply the sponge filter to the uplift tube ? Thank you
I guess you'll have to watch his video and see how he did it.
Hello Dr. Novak, got a question for you. I’ve been watching for a while and appreciate your content. I am about to set up another aquarium and I want to use a plenum (it will be my first one). My question is, will a plenum or slow moving plenum be just as affective or useful in an unplanted aquarium? It will be an African shell dweller set up. Also, would it be just as effective to put safe t sorb or kitty litter in the plenum instead of on the plates under the substrate? Thanks for all the helpful info!
As you can see from my latest video where I show the goldfish aquarium in the lanai it barely has any plants at all. Plenums work perfectly fine with or without plants. People who advocate that the aquarium substrate needs to be one to 2 inches or more always insist upon 72% of the tank be plants but not so with a Plenum, it is an option.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums OK, that makes sense. Now in terms of in the Plenum… You show in your videos the use of the eheim biomedia for bacteria growth under the plates. Would it be just as effective to put the safe t sorb or kitty litter under the plates instead, and then just have a substrate like sand on top of the plates? My thought is that it would be a place for bacteria, as well as absorb the ammonia and nitrates, but in my case, with species of fish that like to dig, it would prevent them from digging up the oil dry and mixing it in with the substrate. What are your thoughts? Am I off base on that? Thanks so much for all your helpful information!
Hi Dr. Novak i recently setup underground filter with bio media under the filter with cat litter and iron on top of the filter. Is this ok putting bio media under the filter like in one of your other video.
Yes it is ,but to be honest with you I really didn't find any advantage of doing it.
Hi Dr Novak, I have a question. I have a 52-gallon tank with just one under gravel filter tube running on a slow air pump. Can I add air stones in the tank for my fish for oxygen? Will it affect anoxic conditions in the tank?
Yes, absolutely
Thanks for Your Reply …. I set that tank up following your videos my first ever tank and let me share with you its been 1 month …. Water is crystal clear no algae no water change only add what evaporate ….. thanks for sharing your method with us 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼😃😃😃
Hi Dr novak
Do you know anyone who has discus fish with plenum and bcb over five six years ???
yes I do.
Because everyone says discus fish must be in an aquarium without substrate!
@@uzyh7622bro, i kept them with plenum. They breed and grow up normally. And they never get sick when weather change!
@@uzyh7622its not true