ntime60
Community Member
I've been toying with this idea for a while. It seems this discussion has gotten stale and everyone seems to be in 2-3 camps.
One camp is with the plenum based or Monaco method, another camp is the DSB (Deep Sand Bed), then the SSB (Shallow Sand Bed) and finally the BB (Bare Bottom). I've been reading about all these methods and each has merit and drawbacks. Based upon my previous experiments years ago and the introduction of new technology, I've come up with a new method that is similar to the plenum based but I think will offer more room for critters and will not look unsightly, which is why many of us like sand substrate to begin with.
Here is what I've designed.
This method should provide good support for suspending the coral above the substrate and allow the cleanup crew to move about the entire tank unhindered. It should also provide support for the coral so sand dwelling creatures wont excavate sand from under the rock to cause an avalanche. It also keeps even pressure spread across the majority of the tank with no sharp points touching the glass. Additionally the incidence of hydrogen sulfide hotspots should be low.
Added benefit of allowing water and gasses to travel along, up, down, and through the structure, thus acting like the plenum system, but in a much more confined space. I chose acrylic tubing for it's strength in the joints.
Thoughts?
One camp is with the plenum based or Monaco method, another camp is the DSB (Deep Sand Bed), then the SSB (Shallow Sand Bed) and finally the BB (Bare Bottom). I've been reading about all these methods and each has merit and drawbacks. Based upon my previous experiments years ago and the introduction of new technology, I've come up with a new method that is similar to the plenum based but I think will offer more room for critters and will not look unsightly, which is why many of us like sand substrate to begin with.
Here is what I've designed.
This method should provide good support for suspending the coral above the substrate and allow the cleanup crew to move about the entire tank unhindered. It should also provide support for the coral so sand dwelling creatures wont excavate sand from under the rock to cause an avalanche. It also keeps even pressure spread across the majority of the tank with no sharp points touching the glass. Additionally the incidence of hydrogen sulfide hotspots should be low.
Added benefit of allowing water and gasses to travel along, up, down, and through the structure, thus acting like the plenum system, but in a much more confined space. I chose acrylic tubing for it's strength in the joints.
Thoughts?
