How about a "build an aquarium and an anoxic filter from start to finish including your plenum, pump info, tubes, size, plants etc" Not asking much... ;)
The Anoxic filter has been used for over 33-years with and without plants and has been proven to work both ways. I show how to make an Anoxic filter with BCB’s in my UA-cam videos for aquariums using a sump. Salt or freshwater it works for both systems.
I can't believe I never heard of this before. I will definitely try this with my next nano tank and compare it with my other tanks. I'm always looking for new ways to keep aquariums.
Made 1st plenum in a tank this size today. Used inch scoria to hold up the plastic mesh cut from a seedling tray, used quarter inch scoria to top off the mesh so finer grains don't fall through, used some fluorite and zeolite to top that off then used 2-4mm scoria as planting substrate and capped with 2-4mm shotover.
Jumped into the aquarist scene about 3months ago and have been wondering past few days how I could make water flow through the substrate yet still have plenty of depth for plants and have now stumbled upon the answer. Thanks!
bio balls topped with plastic mesh, then 0.5in of any substrate (kitty litter) then 0.25in of laterite then another 3-4 inches of substrate (kitty litter) or bio balls top with mesh then 0.5in of ironite then 3-4in of substrate
I tested the Walmart red bag kitty liter, which does not specify that it is baked, that I have and if when wet and squeezed tightly it sticks together pretty tightly. I also have tried another brand "Cheshire Cat", which does not specify that it is baked. It also compacts under pressure.
what i did to my tank may sound and look like a plenum in a natural way i used medium size pumice stone and cover it with coarse gravel in the same way as i think oxygen still pass through the spaces in the pumice still working in progress though but its doing good in two weeks now and i did not add fertilizer in my gravel i only use dosing liwuid fertilizer for my plants
What about filling a mesh bag with coarse gravel or plastic bottle caps, laying that down then putting a fabric screen on top before adding the substrate? Would that have the same effect as a plenum?
Good question. However, you don’t want to turn a Plenum into an under gravel filter. You do want to keep it as a void underneath the substrate. I guess with some innovative thinking you can do it if it’s done right . However: would the screen start bowing and bending or even breaking from the weight of the substrate on top of it without adequate support?
@@anoxicfiltrationplenumsWhat I'm thinking since I don't have the bio balls or plastic mesh available, maybe I can lay down a layer of plastic peanut butter jar lids drilled with holes on the bottom of the tank laying flat, then fabric on top then fill the smaller gaps with pebbles? Or a lid from an old 5gal paint bucket drilled with holes sufficient? Dose it have to cover the entire bottom of the tank, or can it be a little smaller?
Question for anyone: What about a very fine substrate such as sand? You would have to place a small layer of larger gravel over the mesh to prevent it from falling through. I'm also concerned about the water movement through the sand, would it be better or worse effect overall (I can only assume the water will flow through it slower)? Thanks
He has another video on this: use landscape fabric on top of the plenum. In that video he recommended the pre-made plenum that he poo-poo'd here, with the pump on, to pull water/oxygen through the sand.
Gracias por compartir su conocimiento. Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I,ve developing plenums in small aquariums and I've been troubling with the low flow that makes a bubler, now I'm trying by using hanging filters with a tube connected to the plenum hole
No te compliques, si tú bomba de aire produce demasiado flujo podrías comprar una pequeña válvula (las venden en cualquier lugar de venta de accesorios para acuario) y desde allí regular el aire que pasa, o incluso algo más fácil, hacer un nudo en la manguera y de esa forma regular el flujo.
I have a hundred gallon tank. I have an undergravel filter for it. I spoke with maker and asked if I could use a sponge over it instead if gravel as a back up filter. They said it would have to be a very coarse sponge. I then learned of Mattenfilters and Japanese style ugf. I asked the guy who did the video on his thoughts. He said my idea sounded more like a plenum but I would have to run a bare bottom. What's your thoughts. Ps. I have been in the hobby for 2 years now and never heard of a plenum filter before today.
never heard of this before.. and been having huge issues... spend so much money. I saw this yesterday for the first time I just lost all my plants ect and had to empty and redo my tank a month ago. so now I want to start all over again. I have never done a sump before. I am buying a 85 gallon next week. need to build a stand and figure out what I need for a sump and co2 which I only have the 5 g co2 never got a regulator yet didn't know what kind to buy. right now I only have Christmas moss on a bonsai. only 30 days in a algae issues are starting. any help or suggestions on anything I need to buy for sump and lights and plenum tubes co2 media pumps been wanting to give up but having a tank really helps with my depression and anxiety I greatly appreciate and information you are willing to share Janine from Canada learning...
Thanks Dr Novak, this is super easy. Only question is have is this sufficient or there needs to be some way to move water through the substrate, can we use the way you set up a plenum "as-is" without any other air-tube or pipes set up to move water.
I have set up two tanks ( 5.5 gal and 11.3 gal) with the plenum as described in this video. You have since shown a slow moving plenum. Is the original setup without the air lift tube a good functional setup? I am running a HOB filter for mechanical filtration and two BCB's resting on fine gravel ( 1mm) for the chemical filtration. The substrate consists of 1 1/4 in kitty liter, then 1/4 Seachem Red for iron, then 1 in kitty liter and finally 1 in fine gravel. I have been under the impression that the substrate as set up would also function as a BCB. I have Anubias ( five petites and an Afzelli), five small Java Fern wendelovs, two Bucephalandras, and a couple of medium growth stem plants in the 5.5 gal tank with out CO2. There is two kuhli Loaches, 3 Nerite Smails, and a female Betta fish for live stock. I have an economy Nicrew RBG Nicrew LED light and have run it from 70% down to 50%. The tank has been running since Jan. 2020. I have not used any fertilizers for four months, other than the potassium gluconate and Seachem Iron, but am still having quite a bit of algae growing on my plants. I have recently increased my water changes from 3/4 gal per week to in the last two weeks 2 gal every 4 days. The results when I test the water, even when I have gone 2 weeks with a 3/4 gal H2O change, using the API test kit have been 0 ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrites, 0 ppm nitrates with a pH of 8.0. I have the same problems with the 11.3 gal tank which is set up with about the same conditions, but with CO2 and for only three months. Can you recommend a change that I can use on the 5.5 gal tank to start with to get the green algae under control. I have been trying to brush it off the plants but it resists. For some reason it does not grow on the glass. I haven't weighed the food, but have fed the Betta about the size of its eye twice a day, and the Kuhli Loaches normally feed off the bottom, with a shrimp pellet treat every couple of weeks. The snails are on their own. Help.
Actually, no, it does help, but is not a necessity. Make sure your substrate is anywhere between 1 to 4 mm in size and it should work no matter what substrate you use.
So you don’t need flowing water on the plenum layer since you said don’t plug in the filter? Or I thought you mentioned something about slow moving water under there?
It appears that I have cyanobacteria growth -bluish green covering but not slimy- on my plants and a bit on the substrate. My 5.5 g. tank was set up in January 2020 with the plenum set up using 1 in. Bio balls, plastic canvass, two 1 1/4 layers of kitty litter with 1/4 in Seachem red between them, and 1 in of fine gravel on top. API H2O tests pH 7.9, NH3, NH4 0 ppm, NO2 0 ppm, NO3 0 ppm, GH 8 or 140 ppm, KH 6 or 100 ppm. Low to medium Nicrew LED lighting, air but no CO2. I am running an Azoo 60 nano HOB with 2 pieces of simple fiber media and a sponge prefilter. Stock is 1 male Betta, 10 Ember Tetras, 4 Kuhli Loaches and 3 Nerite Snails. I perform a 3/4 g. H2O change weekly. I have not vacuumed the gravel not wanting to suck up the micro organisms that the Kuhlies like to feed on. I have fed sparingly often 3 days between feedings. I am starting to feed live brine shrimp daily to.every other day. Have been considering Erythromycin dosing, but can't find out if it will kill off the Hetertrophic Facultative Anerobic Bacteria. Not sure what to do can you please help.
Dwight Foote what I would suggest is to use some hydrogen peroxide at low level dosage. I think I may have a video on just how to use it with a syringe. If you can try to suck up as much of that algae as possible to get it out of the tank. Another question I have to ask is did you introduce anything new into the tank like plants, they could’ve already had the algae on it/them and you didn’t notice? The only reason I ask is because it’s happened to me where I have bought plants with slime algae on them.
The video that changed my complete Aquairum keeping - Dr. Novak - would an Aquairum with a plenum, kitty litter topped with a small layer of sand, and an added stem plants and lastly a couple pothos, be able to run without a filter? I’m curious enough to experiment but will need to make room. Thank you
Dr. Novak, what is the mechanism by which the water contacts the bio balls under the plates & substrate. You don't seem to have flow ( at least mechanically) from the surface of the substrate down thru the plates & into the bio balls. Is it just a natural movement of water thru the substrate to allow the bio balls to do their work?? Please explain.
John Carlson I asked the same thing before Dr Novak started deleting and reposting his videos, there used to be another video describing a method using a split tube setup on the suction side of the pump to pull a tiny amount of flow through the plenum. However I don't have a suction side (I have an overflow) and I am currently trying to figure out how to do this on a larger scale as well (200 gal).
Jon Novak - I hope he replies to our comments. This is an exiting methodology that keeps good water quality and I want to understand the mechanism by which it works
@@MELODYMUNROI don't have Dr Novak's answer, but I think the point here is that a void space of water underneath substrate is way more effective at allowing "natural flow/exchange" through the substrate than having a "wall" of glass at the bottom. I assume it's a product of fluid and thermo dynamics (not a physics person), in that the void space gives a cushion/channel of water that solid substrate cannot. I'm considering making a plenum now with an optional tube system so that I can induce flow or pump out via siphon if it's discovered to be useful.
I am planning on setting up a planted aquarium with an under gravel filter plenum. Do you recommend the use of iron in the substrate and if so would an iron rich aquasoil mixed with gravel be okay?
Hello, I have a quick question, i did not see anything to make the water slowly move in the plenun. would not that cause anaerobic conditions? Maybe I am confused. Thanks for the content!
Do you have any advice on converting already established tanks? Or maybe it's just straightforward emptying out the aquariums and starting over? Thanks for all your videos🙏
If your tank is doing good, I would just leave it alone. That's my honest advice. But when the day comes that you feel it's not doing what you expect out of it then it's time to change it over and this time do it correctly.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums As you've pointed out before: if I'm watching your videos chances are I'm looking for help. I wish I could leave it alone, it's a new setup - 'DEEP SAND' ( 6 inches). 😮💨Maybe if you run low on topics for new videos consider doing how to tear down a tank while preserving as much as you can. How can I tell what can be cleaned (or sterilized?) vs thrown out. Also, how do you throw stuff (or dead fish) out? Toss it over the neighbors fence? Anyway thanks for the honest directions, I was throwing in the towel on fish keeping, but my interest is piqued. May as well try the correct way.
I have purchased a 5 g Aqueon tank, an Azoo 60 nana hob filter. After watching you build a plenum I have decided to build one, as my previous experiences in my younger years turned out to be disasters in the not to long term. You mentioned using Ironite plus, which is a 12-10-10 fertilizer. Is this still a good choice or would you recommend the Flourite red. Is the nitrogen and phosphate alright if it is used in the initial setup? I am a bit confused because you mentioned not wanting to add nitrogen or phosphate to the tank. I ask because only a small amount is needed for my 5 gal. tank and the Ironite is available in smaller quantities at a lower cost, but I don't want to use it If it would not last well or cause a problem?
Could I use a plenum in my 75 gallon mbuna tank? Ofcourse, there's no plants though, because they'll destroy them, I guess. Or should I just make anoxic baskets (or mesh bags) in my large Aqua Clear HOB filters? Thanks for the great vids!!!
If you make a plenum then you’ll have to divide it in half by putting a screen between your substrate so they can only dig so far and not all the way down to the plates of the Plenum. I myself am going to set up a 75 gallon aquarium with just using a BCB and a canister filter only with lightly dusting of gravel on the bottom of the tank.
Quick answer pls: So i just raise the bottom a bit, put in that kitty litter and some laterite (making a magnetic filter) and because of this i can do less water changes and have no nitrates??
Hi Dr. Novak, thanks for all the valuable information. Did you say add kitty litter to the substrate? If so, about how much would you recommend? Thank you.
Dear Dr. Novak, This is Guillermo from Spain. Since laterite is far difficult to be found I was guessing some ideas or substitutes to build the baskets' content. Please, tell me whether I am right or not. Firstly, I wonder if the bonsai substrate called KIRYUZUNA used for bonsais is apropiate as a substitue instead of laterite. This substrate is very rich in iron content as well. Even far, I think about saturating this nucleus soil with a FeSO4 solution and sticking a nail, a wire or an iron rod in the kernel of the "laterite" column surrounded by the kitty litter. Thanks in advance Guillermo
There's people doing their BCB baskets just using Seachem Flourite, I couldn't find the right kind of kitty litter in my country so I will probably just use the Seachem Flourite instead.
Hi Dr ... I noticed on the Flora Max bag it says “ Not suitable for discus or shrimp , may raise ph “ ... I am building a discus tank , what can I use that will not raise my ph , thanks ...
free speech lol, you mean companies using astroturfing to attack him? That's probably what happened. Fertilizer companies don't like when people show their product to be less than useful. @@MoreChannelNoise
first time i've ever heard of a plenum. Ok, so some questions, are the bio balls on the bottom used to elevate so that the water can flow through or do they serve only for the purpose of bacteria to grow on? if it's for elevation would Pvc pipe work with your mesh then weed mat on top? to my understanding a plenum is used to create anoxic conditions that help denitrifying bacteria to grow instead of anaerobic bacteria correct? Do you need to have water flowing through the plenum using a pump, or is this a natural occurrence?
Kye Hills they are only used to elevate you can actually use anything you want I just use the bio balls as an example because I had them on hand but yes they will aid in bacteria growth.
Oh no, end of the world... aquariums already cost hundreds of dollars. How will you afford the cost? We’re talking about $2.71 more per sheet! Literally the cost of a bottle of fish food,
Your knowledge is invaluable. I do have a question. For larger tanks, 75g to 180g etc., can you use this method (bioballs and mesh) without an uplift tube?
I want run a plenum on a new setup but I am going to house Geophagus Tapajos and worry their earth eating will disturb the biological processes. Thoughts?
Scott Whitten I have goldfish and the move the earth also. Just add some craft screen 1" from the top of the substrate and cover it to stop them from digging too deep.
I scoured the entire Internet (and it’s still dirty). But I could not find any Laterite available to purchase Anywhere! The second best I could find is Carib Sea Eco Complete (Black). The Marketers claim, “New formula for enhanced root development. Why does Eco-Complete planted aquarium substrate outperform other products? For the same reason that Hawaii, Bali and Costa Rica are famous for lush, exuberant plant growth. The secret lies in rich basaltic volcanic soil which contains iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfur plus over 25 other elements to nourish your aquatic plants. Eco-Complete Planted Aquarium Substrate is mineralogically and biologically complete, giving you luxuriant aquatic plant growth without nuisance algae. Iron rich Eco-Complete eliminates the need for laterite. No artificial dyes, paints, or chemical coatings. Eco-Complete has highly porous spherical grains for optimum diffusion performance and contains live Heterotrophic bacteria to rapidly convert fish waste into natural food for your aquatic plants. It establishes a natural biological balance which makes cycling a new aquarium faster and safer. “
How about a "build an aquarium and an anoxic filter from start to finish including your plenum, pump info, tubes, size, plants etc" Not asking much... ;)
The Anoxic filter has been used for over 33-years with and without plants and has been proven to work both ways. I show how to make an Anoxic filter with BCB’s in my UA-cam videos for aquariums using a sump. Salt or freshwater it works for both systems.
I have several videos on just how to build an anoxic filter one on a 60 gallon tank and I just did a brand new one on a 20 gallon antique tank.
thanks for the Plastic canvas circle. saved my life. im doing a 9gal bowl
I can't believe I never heard of this before. I will definitely try this with my next nano tank and compare it with my other tanks. I'm always looking for new ways to keep aquariums.
Made 1st plenum in a tank this size today. Used inch scoria to hold up the plastic mesh cut from a seedling tray, used quarter inch scoria to top off the mesh so finer grains don't fall through, used some fluorite and zeolite to top that off then used 2-4mm scoria as planting substrate and capped with 2-4mm shotover.
Sounds good.
Amazing how simply it can be done. 👌👍
Jumped into the aquarist scene about 3months ago and have been wondering past few days how I could make water flow through the substrate yet still have plenty of depth for plants and have now stumbled upon the answer. Thanks!
To avoid problems with digging fish, could I have bio balls at the bottom, then screen, then Laterite, then 2nd screen, then normal gravel?
bio balls topped with plastic mesh, then 0.5in of any substrate (kitty litter) then 0.25in of laterite then another 3-4 inches of substrate (kitty litter)
or
bio balls top with mesh then 0.5in of ironite then 3-4in of substrate
What do you recommend for air
Man those Panda Garras are tough, they can hang with any fish 💯
Yes they are!
is red lava rock (crushed) a good substitute for laterite and fluorite?
I'm sorry but No it is not. You need to find something that has actual iron in it not colored and looks like iron.
I found API Laterite today at my local fish store 😎 I'll be getting my Anoxic filter experiment started on May 1st 💯🙏🙌
I tested the Walmart red bag kitty liter, which does not specify that it is baked, that I have and if when wet and squeezed tightly it sticks together pretty tightly. I also have tried another brand "Cheshire Cat", which does not specify that it is baked. It also compacts under pressure.
I know that some bags say baked and some don’t. The baked is best but must be found elsewhere.
So essentially, it's just a bioactive substrate?
I am be shock
great info -- can i ask thetype of filter you use-- i was trying to see in the aqurium
I do have a Goldfish video on a 40-gal breeder tank. Its been up and running now for over 9-month with zero problems.
what i did to my tank may sound and look like a plenum in a natural way i used medium size pumice stone and cover it with coarse gravel in the same way as i think oxygen still pass through the spaces in the pumice still working in progress though but its doing good in two weeks now and i did not add fertilizer in my gravel i only use dosing liwuid fertilizer for my plants
What about filling a mesh bag with coarse gravel or plastic bottle caps, laying that down then putting a fabric screen on top before adding the substrate? Would that have the same effect as a plenum?
Good question. However, you don’t want to turn a Plenum into an under gravel filter. You do want to keep it as a void underneath the substrate. I guess with some innovative thinking you can do it if it’s done right . However: would the screen start bowing and bending or even breaking from the weight of the substrate on top of it without adequate support?
@@anoxicfiltrationplenumsWhat I'm thinking since I don't have the bio balls or plastic mesh available, maybe I can lay down a layer of plastic peanut butter jar lids drilled with holes on the bottom of the tank laying flat, then fabric on top then fill the smaller gaps with pebbles? Or a lid from an old 5gal paint bucket drilled with holes sufficient? Dose it have to cover the entire bottom of the tank, or can it be a little smaller?
i built a slow moving plenum covered with pea gravel, three months later negligible nitrates negligible algae, many thanks for sharing your knowledge
@brett So you had flow going into the plenum? And then up through the substrate?
set up a new tank with jbl manado and laterite no algae on plants and negligible nitrate
Thank you Kevin!
Could use use a bed of Lava rocks instead of bio balls?
Question for anyone: What about a very fine substrate such as sand? You would have to place a small layer of larger gravel over the mesh to prevent it from falling through. I'm also concerned about the water movement through the sand, would it be better or worse effect overall (I can only assume the water will flow through it slower)? Thanks
He has another video on this: use landscape fabric on top of the plenum. In that video he recommended the pre-made plenum that he poo-poo'd here, with the pump on, to pull water/oxygen through the sand.
In my case I am using filter floss over my under gravel filter plates and I am also using dirt.
Thank you for great videos. I couldn't find any Laterite, but I've found this product on line
I think it works the same.
Gracias por compartir su conocimiento. Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I,ve developing plenums in small aquariums and I've been troubling with the low flow that makes a bubler, now I'm trying by using hanging filters with a tube connected to the plenum hole
ua-cam.com/video/3jhjWZCLufA/v-deo.html
No te compliques, si tú bomba de aire produce demasiado flujo podrías comprar una pequeña válvula (las venden en cualquier lugar de venta de accesorios para acuario) y desde allí regular el aire que pasa, o incluso algo más fácil, hacer un nudo en la manguera y de esa forma regular el flujo.
I have now set up a tank using this type of method, it's been up 2 weeks. I will upload a vid over the weekend and then post monthly updates.
You lied
Starting a new tank soon and not sure which way to go . Undergravel or a dirt sand from father fish channel
Go with Father Fish
@Anoxic Filtration & Plenums for the Aquarium I've been checking both channels out alot and both look good .
Would lava rocks work instead of the bio balls? Or what about biochar, or both?
Yes that would be okay too.
How will the water move in and out of the plenum if there is no uplift tube?
Through diffusion of fluids. AN uplift tube will move water through displacement and diffusion.
Here is a video from Dr. NOVAK ADDRESSING some of that ua-cam.com/video/3jhjWZCLufA/v-deo.html
I have a hundred gallon tank. I have an undergravel filter for it. I spoke with maker and asked if I could use a sponge over it instead if gravel as a back up filter. They said it would have to be a very coarse sponge. I then learned of Mattenfilters and Japanese style ugf. I asked the guy who did the video on his thoughts. He said my idea sounded more like a plenum but I would have to run a bare bottom. What's your thoughts. Ps. I have been in the hobby for 2 years now and never heard of a plenum filter before today.
never heard of this before.. and been having huge issues... spend so much money.
I saw this yesterday for the first time
I just lost all my plants ect and had to empty and redo my tank a month ago.
so now I want to start all over again.
I have never done a sump before.
I am buying a 85 gallon next week. need to build a stand and figure out what
I need for a sump and co2 which I only have the 5 g co2 never got a regulator yet didn't know what kind to buy.
right now I only have Christmas moss on a bonsai. only 30 days in a
algae issues are starting.
any help or suggestions on anything I need to buy for sump and lights and plenum tubes co2 media pumps
been wanting to give up but having a tank really helps with my depression and anxiety
I greatly appreciate and information you are willing to share
Janine
from Canada
learning...
Will be doing videos on Anoxic canister filter soon. This may be a better alternative than a sump.
Thanks Dr Novak, this is super easy. Only question is have is this sufficient or there needs to be some way to move water through the substrate, can we use the way you set up a plenum "as-is" without any other air-tube or pipes set up to move water.
Same question here
Heres the answer ua-cam.com/video/3jhjWZCLufA/v-deo.html
I have set up two tanks ( 5.5 gal and 11.3 gal) with the plenum as described in this video. You have since shown a slow moving plenum. Is the original setup without the air lift tube a good functional setup? I am running a HOB filter for mechanical filtration and two BCB's resting on fine gravel ( 1mm) for the chemical filtration. The substrate consists of 1 1/4 in kitty liter, then 1/4 Seachem Red for iron, then 1 in kitty liter and finally 1 in fine gravel. I have been under the impression that the substrate as set up would also function as a BCB. I have Anubias ( five petites and an Afzelli), five small Java Fern wendelovs, two Bucephalandras, and a couple of medium growth stem plants in the 5.5 gal tank with out CO2. There is two kuhli Loaches, 3 Nerite Smails, and a female Betta fish for live stock. I have an economy Nicrew RBG Nicrew LED light and have run it from 70% down to 50%. The tank has been running since Jan. 2020. I have not used any fertilizers for four months, other than the potassium gluconate and Seachem Iron, but am still having quite a bit of algae growing on my plants. I have recently increased my water changes from 3/4 gal per week to in the last two weeks 2 gal every 4 days. The results when I test the water, even when I have gone 2 weeks with a 3/4 gal H2O change, using the API test kit have been 0 ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrites, 0 ppm nitrates with a pH of 8.0. I have the same problems with the 11.3 gal tank which is set up with about the same conditions, but with CO2 and for only three months. Can you recommend a change that I can use on the 5.5 gal tank to start with to get the green algae under control. I have been trying to brush it off the plants but it resists. For some reason it does not grow on the glass. I haven't weighed the food, but have fed the Betta about the size of its eye twice a day, and the Kuhli Loaches normally feed off the bottom, with a shrimp pellet treat every couple of weeks. The snails are on their own. Help.
Do I need kitty litter and ladder rack to do the Plenum
Actually, no, it does help, but is not a necessity. Make sure your substrate is anywhere between 1 to 4 mm in size and it should work no matter what substrate you use.
Hi Dr Novak, can we use chelated iron instead of laterite?
yes
So you don’t need flowing water on the plenum layer since you said don’t plug in the filter? Or I thought you mentioned something about slow moving water under there?
A plenum can be made with the water moving very slowly with the aid of a pump, or it can remain without a pump or any mechanical means.
It appears that I have cyanobacteria growth -bluish green covering but not slimy- on my plants and a bit on the substrate. My 5.5 g. tank was set up in January 2020 with the plenum set up using 1 in. Bio balls, plastic canvass, two 1 1/4 layers of kitty litter with 1/4 in Seachem red between them, and 1 in of fine gravel on top. API H2O tests pH 7.9, NH3, NH4 0 ppm, NO2 0 ppm, NO3 0 ppm, GH 8 or 140 ppm, KH 6 or 100 ppm. Low to medium Nicrew LED lighting, air but no CO2. I am running an Azoo 60 nano HOB with 2 pieces of simple fiber media and a sponge prefilter. Stock is 1 male Betta, 10 Ember Tetras, 4 Kuhli Loaches and 3 Nerite Snails. I perform a 3/4 g. H2O change weekly. I have not vacuumed the gravel not wanting to suck up the micro organisms that the Kuhlies like to feed on. I have fed sparingly often 3 days between feedings. I am starting to feed live brine shrimp daily to.every other day. Have been considering Erythromycin dosing, but can't find out if it will kill off the Hetertrophic Facultative Anerobic Bacteria. Not sure what to do can you please help.
Dwight Foote what I would suggest is to use some hydrogen peroxide at low level dosage. I think I may have a video on just how to use it with a syringe. If you can try to suck up as much of that algae as possible to get it out of the tank. Another question I have to ask is did you introduce anything new into the tank like plants, they could’ve already had the algae on it/them and you didn’t notice? The only reason I ask is because it’s happened to me where I have bought plants with slime algae on them.
Could you add sand as your final “top” substrate?
yea if you like.
The video that changed my complete Aquairum keeping -
Dr. Novak - would an Aquairum with a plenum, kitty litter topped with a small layer of sand, and an added stem plants and lastly a couple pothos, be able to run without a filter?
I’m curious enough to experiment but will need to make room. Thank you
Can we start at the beginning? What exactly is a plenum??
How about putting a layer of laterite and kitty litter mixed on top of an UG filter and then the substrate?
I think the bio ball can be use smaller than this if there is none of that size. And using undergravel filter. Just my 2 cents.
Dr. Novak, what is the mechanism by which the water contacts the bio balls under the plates & substrate. You don't seem to have flow ( at least mechanically) from the surface of the substrate down thru the plates & into the bio balls. Is it just a natural movement of water thru the substrate to allow the bio balls to do their work?? Please explain.
John Carlson I asked the same thing before Dr Novak started deleting and reposting his videos, there used to be another video describing a method using a split tube setup on the suction side of the pump to pull a tiny amount of flow through the plenum. However I don't have a suction side (I have an overflow) and I am currently trying to figure out how to do this on a larger scale as well (200 gal).
Jon Novak - I hope he replies to our comments. This is an exiting methodology that keeps good water quality and I want to understand the mechanism by which it works
The bio balls are not for filtration they are simply legs that hold everything off the bottom of the tank and not restrict water flow
They know that - they are referring to water flow under the plate and how that is achieved.
@@MELODYMUNROI don't have Dr Novak's answer, but I think the point here is that a void space of water underneath substrate is way more effective at allowing "natural flow/exchange" through the substrate than having a "wall" of glass at the bottom. I assume it's a product of fluid and thermo dynamics (not a physics person), in that the void space gives a cushion/channel of water that solid substrate cannot. I'm considering making a plenum now with an optional tube system so that I can induce flow or pump out via siphon if it's discovered to be useful.
Does the Plenum have to be an inch deep?
The Plenum itself can be anywhere between a half inch to 1 inch high. The substrate on the other hand should be at least 3 to 4 inches deep.
Can I use 1" bioballs or is 1.5" optimal?
Ah this answered my other question on another one of your videos! Thanks!
I am planning on setting up a planted aquarium with an under gravel filter plenum. Do you recommend the use of iron in the substrate and if so would an iron rich aquasoil mixed with gravel be okay?
Yes that sound great.
Hello, I have a quick question, i did not see anything to make the water slowly move in the plenun. would not that cause anaerobic conditions? Maybe I am confused. Thanks for the content!
Can I use crushed Terra Cotta instead of Laterite since it's clay with iron content?
Sorry No. Terra Cotta is clay but not the right kind.
Do you have any advice on converting already established tanks? Or maybe it's just straightforward emptying out the aquariums and starting over? Thanks for all your videos🙏
If your tank is doing good, I would just leave it alone. That's my honest advice. But when the day comes that you feel it's not doing what you expect out of it then it's time to change it over and this time do it correctly.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums As you've pointed out before: if I'm watching your videos chances are I'm looking for help. I wish I could leave it alone, it's a new setup - 'DEEP SAND' ( 6 inches). 😮💨Maybe if you run low on topics for new videos consider doing how to tear down a tank while preserving as much as you can. How can I tell what can be cleaned (or sterilized?) vs thrown out. Also, how do you throw stuff (or dead fish) out? Toss it over the neighbors fence? Anyway thanks for the honest directions, I was throwing in the towel on fish keeping, but my interest is piqued. May as well try the correct way.
Dr . Novak ... can you use a product called “ Marine Pure “ instead of bio balls for this application ?
Yes you can use Marine Pure if you don’t have bio balls.
I have purchased a 5 g Aqueon tank, an Azoo 60 nana hob filter. After watching you build a plenum I have decided to build one, as my previous experiences in my younger years turned out to be disasters in the not to long term. You mentioned using Ironite plus, which is a 12-10-10 fertilizer. Is this still a good choice or would you recommend the Flourite red. Is the nitrogen and phosphate alright if it is used in the initial setup? I am a bit confused because you mentioned not wanting to add nitrogen or phosphate to the tank. I ask because only a small amount is needed for my 5 gal. tank and the Ironite is available in smaller quantities at a lower cost, but I don't want to use it If it would not last well or cause a problem?
Thanx for all the great info! Haters be hatin' tho, sheesh!
Could I use a plenum in my 75 gallon mbuna tank? Ofcourse, there's no plants though, because they'll destroy them, I guess. Or should I just make anoxic baskets (or mesh bags) in my large Aqua Clear HOB filters? Thanks for the great vids!!!
If you make a plenum then you’ll have to divide it in half by putting a screen between your substrate so they can only dig so far and not all the way down to the plates of the Plenum. I myself am going to set up a 75 gallon aquarium with just using a BCB and a canister filter only with lightly dusting of gravel on the bottom of the tank.
Quick answer pls:
So i just raise the bottom a bit, put in that kitty litter and some laterite (making a magnetic filter) and because of this i can do less water changes and have no nitrates??
Like all your videoes. Can you use lava rock instead of bioballs. For the plenum
Hi Dr. Novak, thanks for all the valuable information. Did you say add kitty litter to the substrate? If so, about how much would you recommend? Thank you.
Can we use soil instead of sand
Yes, but the same principles applies to dirt as well as sand.
Dear Dr. Novak,
This is Guillermo from Spain. Since laterite is far difficult to be found I was guessing some ideas or substitutes to build the baskets' content. Please, tell me whether I am right or not.
Firstly, I wonder if the bonsai substrate called KIRYUZUNA used for bonsais is apropiate as a substitue instead of laterite. This substrate is very rich in iron content as well. Even far, I think about saturating this nucleus soil with a FeSO4 solution and sticking a nail, a wire or an iron rod in the kernel of the "laterite" column surrounded by the kitty litter. Thanks in advance
Guillermo
?
There's people doing their BCB baskets just using Seachem Flourite, I couldn't find the right kind of kitty litter in my country so I will probably just use the Seachem Flourite instead.
This is good, thank you😆
Is it OK to use a coarse sponge to make a plenum?
That's a good question. I was wondering about using a layer of lava rock instead of bioballs, how big should the rocks be for a 50 gallon aquarium.
Hi Dr ... I noticed on the Flora Max bag it says “ Not suitable for discus or shrimp , may raise ph “ ... I am building a discus tank , what can I use that will not raise my ph , thanks ...
Exactly what are you planning to do?
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums I’m looking for a Laterite replacement , but I found it on one of your other videos , thanks...
What brand of kitty litter do you recommend?
Greg Allen Wal-Mart
Can u use lava rock instead of the balls
What does it do?
It helps cultivate specific bacteria for nitrate reduction.
Why the reuplods???
I was wondering the same thing.
Almost everything disappeared. Now everything is be uploaded again.
Dr Novak, is everything ok?
He had a lot of rude and vulgar comments on his videos so he cleaned them up! I was scared, too!
were they really rude or just disagreed with him? what abt free speech and the other side of an argument.
free speech lol, you mean companies using astroturfing to attack him? That's probably what happened. Fertilizer companies don't like when people show their product to be less than useful. @@MoreChannelNoise
first time i've ever heard of a plenum. Ok, so some questions, are the bio balls on the bottom used to elevate so that the water can flow through or do they serve only for the purpose of bacteria to grow on? if it's for elevation would Pvc pipe work with your mesh then weed mat on top? to my understanding a plenum is used to create anoxic conditions that help denitrifying bacteria to grow instead of anaerobic bacteria correct? Do you need to have water flowing through the plenum using a pump, or is this a natural occurrence?
Kye Hills they are only used to elevate you can actually use anything you want I just use the bio balls as an example because I had them on hand but yes they will aid in bacteria growth.
ua-cam.com/video/3jhjWZCLufA/v-deo.html
79 cents ... $3.50 each for a small sheet where I live.
Oh no, end of the world... aquariums already cost hundreds of dollars. How will you afford the cost? We’re talking about $2.71 more per sheet!
Literally the cost of a bottle of fish food,
@@BiscuitFever A 200gram (7oz) bottle of tetra flake where I live is $44 .. would that be small change for you?
Your knowledge is invaluable. I do have a question. For larger tanks, 75g to 180g etc., can you use this method (bioballs and mesh) without an uplift tube?
Yes, you don’t need uplift tubes.
I thought you wanted something to create a slow flow inside the plenum?
You’re absolutely right inside the Plenum should be a slow flow.
I think this will help ua-cam.com/video/3jhjWZCLufA/v-deo.html
Dr. Novak, if I can’t find the round bio balls, could I use some lava rock instead?
use anything highly porous, the point is to have "void space"for water to collect
I want run a plenum on a new setup but I am going to house Geophagus Tapajos and worry their earth eating will disturb the biological processes. Thoughts?
Scott Whitten I have goldfish and the move the earth also. Just add some craft screen 1" from the top of the substrate and cover it to stop them from digging too deep.
Wow. You have fish in tanks that are WAY too small for them. This is just cruel. A goldfish does NOT belong in a 1 gallon tank.
what a stupid comment
@@gold3nrul311 if you think goldfish belong in a bowl you are a moron. They require a large tank.
Show me where he has an actual goldfish in an actual bowl. Waiting. @@schilling3003
I scoured the entire Internet (and it’s still dirty). But I could not find any Laterite available to purchase Anywhere! The second best I could find is Carib Sea Eco Complete (Black). The Marketers claim, “New formula for enhanced root development. Why does Eco-Complete planted aquarium substrate outperform other products? For the same reason that Hawaii, Bali and Costa Rica are famous for lush, exuberant plant growth. The secret lies in rich basaltic volcanic soil which contains iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfur plus over 25 other elements to nourish your aquatic plants. Eco-Complete Planted Aquarium Substrate is mineralogically and biologically complete, giving you luxuriant aquatic plant growth without nuisance algae. Iron rich Eco-Complete eliminates the need for laterite. No artificial dyes, paints, or chemical coatings. Eco-Complete has highly porous spherical grains for optimum diffusion performance and contains live Heterotrophic bacteria to rapidly convert fish waste into natural food for your aquatic plants. It establishes a natural biological balance which makes cycling a new aquarium faster and safer. “
I found Duplarit G from Dupla, on Amazon. I hope it helps, regards.