Probably the most beautiful tank I've ever seen. I used to use an undergravel filter for my 10 gallon tanks like 20 years ago. I thought it was a great idea and I still do, but I also didn't fully understand it at the time and I would try to gravel vac it and disturbed it a lot. The fish were very healthy and happy though, and my tank was clean and never had a real algae problem aside from glass algae here and there. They still do sell the plates with the pipes on both sides and I have one sitting in my cart atm when I feel like doing a new project. I think keeping a tank is kind of like losing weight. You can lose weight with every diet you go on, if you do it right. The real issue is finding something you can stick to and like doing. I like all types of fish tanks and systems except for salt water tanks! As long as it works and the fish are healthy, spread the info for people to choose what they want to do. Knowledge is power. Theres always gonna be some rude people on the internet. Ive been doing youtube for over 15 years and I have met them all!!! Don't let that discourage you from sharing knowledge. Thanks a lot!
Thanks again. 10 months ago I set up 2 40gal breeders as per another of your videos, same UGF plates on your 40, 3 inches of Safe-t-sorb + laterite powder. The system starts out slowly with a few plants then after 2 months fish added, takes patience, but it works. No algae, and if nitrates go up slow the bubbler down. Consistently less than 20 ppm nitrates, redox 160 to 200 depending on time of day. PH had to be stabilized initially, and buffered. Tank is now stable. It is now heavily planted. Plants are flourishing and constantly need trimming. Virtually no fish losses with a lot of fish. 3 box filters for mechanical + plenum and nothing else. Only occasionally adding iron and potassium to the water column. Given the parameters I have never done water changes, just top off and box filter cleaning. The least expensive set up I have ever done, lowest maintenance, and I have been doing this for 40 years, with all kinds of equipment, HOB & canisters. This is the best success I have ever had.
We are all very blessed that you want to help us! Thank you for your help!! People who want to complain can stop the video. I'm trying to watch all your videos to learn, Thanks for your support and educational videos. Please don't stop teaching us😊
I stumbled upon this video as I’ve kept fish before and started again a few years ago when my 5yo son wanted a tank, I only just found out about under gravel type systems as I’ve never seen them before and everything I was seeing was saying that they were garbage. Now I’m no scientist, but every part of my common sense was screaming at me that this is the way and then this popped up… All I can say is thank you for your contribution to humanity, this is ground shattering. Thank you for doing the research and sharing your findings in a way that the layperson can understand 👍🏽 Keep up the good work
Hi Kevin, I had been using under gravel filter since 1985. Never could leave it because of it's effectiveness. Finally biggest aquarium I had was 6 ft in length, 2 ft in width and height of 2 ft 6 inches. With the undergravel filter, I realised the bigger the aquarium you get more time before siphoning is required. In my case I got 4 months. And once in four months I siphoned through the under gravel tubes. I had 12 under gravel filters. This made me think if the space I have under the undergravel filter of one inch, if gives me 4 months before siphoning is needed. Adding addition inch under the gravel filter should give me twice the amount of time before it is time to siphon. I always had been using, air pump and never used any mechanical pump as over head to be put into the under gravel filter tube. Becuase using mechanical submersible pump demeans the purpose of undergravel filter. Best part of under gravel filter, is that it keeps fish waste under the filter. Using submersible pump, will start to throw the fish waste from the bottom of the aquarium into the aquarium. And it will worsen the state of aquarium. And Indeed as you said slower the inflow using oxygen air pump, (Bubbler) is the best option. I was interested in using substrate , and this is what I thought : Above the under gravel filter I will put gravels, then a small layer of sand, and then substrate above it, and then the gravel layer. This will help the substrate to remain in it's place , without eroding the substrate into the gravel filter. And adding additional space under the gravel filter. Becuase every additional inch added will give me additional months before siphoning is needed. And since the depth will increase, I will supply aquarium water directly In to the bottom of the aquarium for biological process to work effectively, keeping in mind the flow will be slow according to the requirement. Not a high speed water pump to force aquarium water into the bottom layer under the gravel filter. And I will continue using the air pump for bubbler, to ensure keeping it in a traditional way of letting water flow at the speed of aeration bubbler. And I have made one modification to update the way aquarium is siphoned. Instead of siphoning through the tubes of under gravel filter, I have created a filter similar to the under gravel filter, which will be placed under the gravel filter on the bottom glass of the aquarium. It is on this fish waste will get collected. And once it reaches it's capacity of 8 months for example, all I have to do is drain it using drainage pipe, which will vacume the accumulated fish waste and drain it from inside the aquarium, through the tap connected outside the aquarium. Hence, that way I no longer need to keep holding the pipe putting my hand into the water , doing it with every undergravel tube. Best part of it is, that I have to drain it once in 8 months, and my aquarium water will remain crystal clear. Most important , I would not need other filters to spend additional time on washing and rinsing it. And finally I do not have to replace water every week or every month, only once in 8 months. 👀🙂
This is extremely good to hear, however, do you ever get criticized for what you do even though you've been doing it since 1985? Because everybody says it doesn't work?
Dr. Novak you don't have to aplogize about yr sound equipment or many other thing, since yr Doing a great favor for us that follow you, I'm 63 Yeats old got into this hobby since my 13 Years old, and agree with you 100% on everything that you say, thanks for all the informations that you have been passed to us free of charge.
I really think your presentation was very detailed and informative. Thank you for sharing such a valuable knowledge. Just trying to absorb as much so that if I start again I can do better
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks for sharing all this wealth of info. Why don't you patent your research and make some money haha! Regards and much respect from India.
I just stumble on your channel and I have learned so much. But the best advice I have heard is when you said if your filter system is working. Don't change it. I love that you are here to really educate us and not here to try to sell something. Thank you for the vast information you are sharing with us
The quality of these videos ARE EXTREMELY GOOD. Dude, I listen to your videos even without watching because the sheer amount of information you give is priceless. ❤️👌
Wonderful video. Both my aquariums have plenums but I have high pH and have trouble growing plants. So, I went riperium using house plants suspended above half of the aquarium with two lights one suspended above the plants and one on the top front. The fish I have like the light not extremely bright. With both lights I have plenty of light for the aquarium. Any comments are welcome on this. Loved your video.
I have similar situation with hgher ph. Although the safetsorb lowers the ph a little. But find I can grow crypts and anubias. I use tropica cups now. They work the best IMHO. They don't come with algae or pests and grow good. I use low light without CO2. Novak is using CO2 so he can use more light and not get algae. If you have high ph the plants have harder time absorbing CO2 and therefore adding CO2 is usually recommended. I am currently experimenting with having lights on for 11 to 12 hours but with them off for 2h in the middle. Since I read algae needs the light to be on for a continuous long time for it to grow. Yet plants are more complex and can still use the light. Also, I just started turning off the bubler when the lights are on as the bubler can remove CO2 from the water to see if this helps or not.
My first tank had a ugf and to this day 22 years later it's one of the best filters i've had and used, i wish i put one in my new set up 4 months ago, but it's a dirted tank and the pond soil is now growing microfauna and there's no way i'm going to brake it down and kill the work
I set up a very large marine system 7' x 2' x 2' as a display in my business here in UK and installed a closed plenum. It worked a treat. After I retired I heard the system was working well 15 yrs after set up. I love the thought of using a short uplift tube to move water slowly through the substrate. Looks like you are tempting me to start a tropical fresh water tank up again after years of being without. Thanks for a great informative video.
You should, it’s a great way to relax and enjoy nature. I myself have a planted Amazonian themed 125g with discus and a huge school of neons. Plenty of room and hiding areas so I haven’t had issues with them being eaten. Maybe do a 75g? I hope you set one up, take care
I put a plenum into my 125 gallon moderately stocked african cichlid tank. Since doing so, my nitrates went from 80 a week after water change to 20 and seems to hold steady. I now do water changes every 2 weeks as a matter of replacing old water and regular maintenance. Thank you so much for these videos!
How long did it take for your Nitrates to go down after you built the plenum? Or did they just never go back up? I have a tank with cichlids with a plenum and the nitrates are around 50ppm after a week. Its been a few months. So I am not sure why it is still so high. I also have a bcb in the canister. I am thinking maybe the gravel I used was too large. Or the bioload is too high for even the plenum. I have a few other tanks with the plenum that are doing great but they don't have as much bioload
My Nitrates went down eventually. After 8 months. They fluctuate a bit. Was less than 10ppm. Has gone up a little and are about 20 ppm now after a week. I do weekly water changes.
Dr Novak thank you for another great video. Don’t ever apologize because your video quality and sound is really good. You don’t need all the fluff because you just need to be you, people understand that. I spent the morning looking at products to make a plenum for my tank that already has an under gravel filter. Your aquarium is very pretty and your plants have grown so fast.
“Holy cow I didn’t realize this aquarium hobby had so much science and chemistry in it.” That made me laugh. Thanks for making this very informative long video.
This method is like a combination of father fish, walstad, fishtory, lasagna method with an under gravel filter method. Someday, I will try this method to my future multiple male and female betta colony tank too.I'm so inspired. Thanks for the video dr. Novac.
Please do not worry, your quality of video and sound is just fine. Geez you use a better computer than most people in my opinion. You have responded to me and I appreciate that. I am going to break down my 29 gallon in the near future and use the undergravel filter with oil dry and fluorite red. I have made the BCB in a Eheim, it's been going since January. I also have a small 5 gallon with under gravel filter, oil dry and fluorite red and it is such a happy happy tank. I have the air pump going SLOW and restricted. I have shrimp in the small tank and I do not have to do water changes very often. I've actually only done one water change in the 5 gallon, I started it in January. The 29 gallon is not happy, but I will fix it. If you want to see, I did upload a very short video of the two aquariums. Thank you Doctor Novak for all your help and for your videos. ~Michael
video was great and having been in the planted tank hobby for over 7 years I still learned something valuable from this video. Forget these ungrateful and spoiled people that our society has blessed us with, the definitely test a mature persons self control! My God our future generation is scary, so entitled and rude.
The short answer is: Gravel on top Cat litter unscented as the mid layer. Aqua soil as the bottom layer. Under gravel filtration system. Personally, I work seek a critter to turn the soil. Such as worms.
I loved this video, I've been wanting to setup a plenum for a while but I have lots of African chiclids and have been trying to figure out how to protect against their digging. Your tip of adding a screen to provide the barrier is just the idea I needed. Thanks again for your helpful videos
I have African cichlids, i made a mesh protection system that's above 3" of substrate and another 1" of free flowing substrate. So they get to dig but can't disturb the plenum. Works great.
The sound and video seem fine to me. Expensive video/audio equipment does not increase or decrease useful information nor does it contribute to the health of our fish and tanks. Thanks for sharing your observations and experiences Dr. Novak
All of this is very inspiring and gives me hope i can get on the path to achieving my goal of setting up a balanced and nature friendly aquarium. Thank you so much. 🙏 God bless.
Dr. Novak, I recently watched your interview with Sean (Pecktek). This makes sense to me. I'm new to the aquarium hobby as of April last year. After viewing numerous Aquascaping videos on UA-cam, I wondered why some are always tearing down and re-scaping their aquariums. Now I realize that these Aquascapes are basically set-up to be temporary. Thank you for the information, I intend to use it for my next aquarium. Dan Treuthart
You rock man! Im doing similar work over 30years but i never went si deep in the mud. Thanx🙏everything I could not explain to others why it works you put it in words 👍🏼🙏🙏🙏
No need to apologize for anything sir...we just spent 1 hour in a classroom discussing theory, mechanics and implementation of an environmentally sound system. Your camera is fine...we have watched some real shit cameras in our viewing lifetimes...your camera is doing the job quite well. The microphone is fine...spend $100 on a "good" mic...for what you're doing, that's all you need. We appreciate in no small degree you sharing your expertise. THANK YOU. New subscriber.
This video really connected alot of missing links for me in my hobby with general filtration and finally understanding Anoxic and bcb you have been teaching. Thank you for providing this as well as past information.
I just now watched this video you put out 11 months ago but it amazes me how you have to keep on explaining over, and over, and over again the proven facts of this biological process. It’s amazing how intelligent people can be, and yet, at the same time be willfully resistant to knowledge leaving no room for developmental advancement and improvement.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums As a beginner this can be confusing. But you really break it down more understandably than the others. ...and you don't need Dolby sound! Thank you so much for helping me/us💞
Most people don't realize the amount of research behind your words. I don't mind your video format being ranty and lengthy. It is time well spent. One of my high school teachers would always say "nothing is taught, everything is learned". I don't see a point in complaining about "the way" knowledge is given. Free advice is scarce already.
@@rponce78 sorry about them being so long but in a classroom you can always stop and answer questions, in a video I feel I may have to repeat yourself.
Free GOOD advice is extremely scarce. People who take the time and effort to complain about someone else attempting to help, especially one with a serious level of education and real world experience, are lost. These videos are awesome.
I'll take your quality information over Hollywood video and sound any day! Thank you for educating us. I'm going to be using a slow moving plenum in every tank I setup moving forward.
Best way to address the hate, is to not address the hate! Love the info & appreciate these videos, I have been slowly converting my tanks to a slow moving plenum, and BCB in tanks with sumps.
Hi Dr Novak, Your videos are fine. Love the red tiger lotus that thing really pops. Allways looking forward to watching your informational videos.Been waiting for the weather to get warmer here in MD so I can start breaking down my 125 tank and putting in a reverse flow plenum I know it's going to be a lot of work but the rewards will be good. I had a 75gal with a undergravel filter hook up to a big supreme hang on the back filter used no fertilizers and just gravel my plants grow very good I had Discus that bread and raised there young with no problems
This tank is absolutely gorgeous! Do you have a video of step by step how to set up a tank like this? I'd love to test it out and see how it goes. You are inspiring me to start one of my own. This tank looks unbelievably healthy!!!
I enjoy the science of the hoby. Thank you! I am currently setting up a 125g with a plenum. Now I have to make some adjustments. I was unaware of the bacteria that lives between anaerobic and aerobic.
Thank you for sharing information I am setting up a 200 gallon 72x24x33 I just picked up how many uptake tubes should I have 1 in the middle or 1 at each end?
Stratum doesn’t become depleted, it literally breaks down into mush. That may not be an issue, but it does cloud the aquarium. Thank you for putting this information out! I’m having a problem with ammonia in a pleco grow out tank, so I’m going to try adding a BCB in addition to the sponge filter and plants.
thankfull for the education.I am happy with my BCB tanks but I still have to let go of abundance of thriving fastgrowing plants,so looking forward to your next tank set up.
Dr awesome information and thank you for your time and sharing. Welcome to the internet and don’t let the haters get to ya IGNORE them! That’s my educated advise 😊
Great video! I don’t mind the quality of the sound. What’s important is that i learned sooo much from you.
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Hi Dr. Novak. Great videos, thanks. I am implementing an anoxic filter for my aquaponics. My filter will be in my sump tank which feeds the fish tank. I will return the cleanest water back to the trout. Thanks again for the info.
No worries Dr. Novak you video and audio is just fine! Back in the late 60's my favorite LFS helped set me up with a 55G. It utilized an Under-Tow UGF, Aquamaster HOB and 2"-3" of very small gravel. I was told to keep the water movement "slow" coming up the lift tubes and forget about using power heads. Slow was better for the bacteria, giving it time to work. I'm a bit confused about a few things... 1.) Kitty litter and those expensive aqua-soils which are clay based, don't they disintegrate over time? Turning to either a powder or muck type consistency? Wouldn't it have a saturation level where it can't absorb any more? Similar to activated carbon. 2.) Couldn't a different media be used to grow a colony of anaerobic bacteria? Such as a deeper gravel bed or lava rock? 3.) Doesn't anaerobic bacteria require oxygen deplete environments? I thought they utilize the oxygen from nitrates? So wouldn't having an oxygen rich flow of water through the substrate render them nonexistent?
Hi Kevin, great to see you back doing videos! I just wanted to give you an update on my tank and filter. I changed the arrangement around so that I have a gravity suction line taking waste from the bottom of the tank and an overflow dealing with the rest of the flow discharging into a sump. The water first flows around two large BCB and then threw six large polyester socks. I found by doing it this way, the BCB’s are removing the ammonia before it gets to the socks so I don’t have bacteria in the socks producing Nitrate! When I had the socks first, they were acting like traditional bio filters and my nitrates would rise, so I had to clean the socks once a week. I made the socks from a roll of polyester I bought online, so I just take them out and replace with clean ones every three months. They just go into the washing machine and come out perfect. The tank is doing great, I just wish I found BCB 20 years ago!! Thanks again, Gareth
Gareth interested in your setup. I like your thoughts of pulling the water from the plenum out of the tank into the filter. Question I have since yours is gravity fed, what happens when the power goes out and your pump is not pumping back into the tank? Would you mind sharing with me your setup? Thanks Robert
Hi Robert, The way I set it up is using an overflow and a suction line off the bottom. The overflow design is very similar to the one Joey King of DIY does, except I use a cleaning eye to charge it instead of a suction tube. To stop the suction on the suction line in the event of a power failure, I have a 2mm hole drilled in the suction line about 10mm below the water line, the sump is sized to take the extra volume. When the power returns, the overflow is sized to take the total volume of the pump, normally it does about 25% and the suction line is balanced to do the rest, the suction line is fine tuned with a 40mm ball valve. The biggest advantage is the homemade mechanical filter. I made 12 socks on a sewing machine from a roll of polyester that I bought for about €40 and the rest from Perspex, just a flat sheet with 6 75mm holes drilled into it, the top of the sock folded over and the rest pushed through the hole. The water flows into the BCB section then up into the socks, down through the socks then back up to the pump suction. Could not be simpler. I throw the 6 socks into the washing machine every 3-4 months and put in the fresh ones. My biggest mistake was using cotton thread the first time I made them, the filter bacteria ate it!!! At the moment the flowrate is changing the tank water 3 times an hour.
@@garethbaker3429 thanks for your reply. I'll check out Joey King DIY on his setup. I understand some of what you wrote. Guess I would need to see a picture. Hopefully I can on the JK DIY. Thanks again
My power is unstable..HOB were unstable for power hits...couple too many times had water on floor. My UG filter is great with a battery operated air pump.
Thank you this video was very informative and helpful .My only complaint was the amount of commercials and how they interfered with the video and caused playback issues . I really hope you're getting paid for those ads .
@@lucasmoreno4158 basically, but you don’t need to move water through it quickly. Low air pump or just the plate itself with no air pump. Then his BCB is a whole different thing (clay and laterite mix).
Hi Dr. Novak, does plenum only works for tropical small fishes? I have goldfish and thinking of using plenum system. But kitty litter clay in Indonesia is not available. Only zeolite. Would that work?
Dr. Kevin Novak, You don't have to apologies for the video quality, not bad at all. I appreciate and respect person like you. Nowadays many youtuber only promote product and not doing product review. They can't differentiate the terms. Baby also can do promote product, but review need to have a lot of knowledge, time and money to burn. looking forward to your lighting video. God bless you.
That video really turned me on , will start an aquarium up using your system , one question tho : I have a bunch of Eheim under gravel filter plates will they go or should I go with those you used , yours are higher and thereby more movement ? Thx for you video I like the more in-depth care taking of an aquarium and don't apologise about your videos your words/ wisdom are gold
Now about Fish&Vegetables & giving food to the people: do you see a possibility to apply the principles of the „Slow Moving Plenum“ and „BCB“ baskets in the field of „Aquaponics“?
Today I made my first plenum in my 55 gallon . Fellowed the examples I saw on your site but the special kitty litter I bought was very small and I was a bit afraid to use it ,so I put red fluorite on bottom with the black fluorite on top used a barrier and topped with sand I already had .may need to add bit more sand. Once I can find some . You’re videos are fine. I have learned a lot from them. . I am hoping that by using the plenum it will get rid of some the algae I seem to have . I will let you know how this works for me . I plan to make the bags for my filter next Just need to find how to fit them it a fluvial . I have had planted tanks for years and your right about the sand turning black or algae on it Always had to tear down after while .
I prefer filter-less because its interesting to me creating an ecosystem that will be mostly self-sustaining like a exists in small pools or ponds in tropical and subtropical environments that most aquarium fish originated from. Muck is a good thing if its left to be handle by the natural systems that have been doing the job for millions of years. My brother-in-law prefers a micro-managed aquarium because that's how he approached everything in his own life. I guess how we approach aquariums is an extension of how we live our own lives. Nothing wrong with diversity.
I been selling my plants to friends from my tank and ALL I USE is that white old school 3 tube under gravel filter under the small gravel.. that is all the roots are the longest white roots friends ever seen..And ALL my plants keep growing back... and I don't use None of those a fancy filters.... it just a air pump 2 tubes and that old under gravel filter.!!! I can say that my roots are 3 times the length of the plant..and I don't do anything to it... this video has help me understand what is going on..
I found the exact same thing you're talking about. The roots to the plants are enormous and very long. Once you can get the food to the roots the plants will do great. Stay tune for my yearly video on the 90 gallon some of the plants have multiplied over 30 times of what they were when I bought them.
Hi have set up a Plenum in my aquarium enjoy your video, Whats the best tank volume turn over got mine set at 3 time per hour is this ok or do'es just need to be slower? It is a 200 US gallen aquarium with a 600 US gallen per hour power head
Dr. Novak, I enjoy your lectures and I understand the science behind your presentations. I am planning on putting to use the procedures that you have demonstrated in some of your other videos using the under-gravel filter. I love the plant scapes you have in this and your other large tank in your lanai. What is the name of the plant that is in the tank above that has the lovely hot pinkish-red leaves? And the tank you have on your Lanai has primarily some pinkish-colored fish. What are they called? Thank you for your contribution to this wonderful hobby. Bruce
In Philippines , Dexter's world grow out their Koi and Goldfish in Earthen Ponds. Their ponds found on Dexter's world are Clay earth. Their fish grow faster in the clay ponds compared to their cement ponds.
Can this system work in reverse in aquarium effectively? Pumping water down into the plenum space, then flows slowly up threw substrate ? Some pond builders are having success using your system in reverse. Yearly they remove accumulated detritus by pumping up a "lift tube" Called a centipede and snorkel . Thanks
Great info, but I have a few questions. What made you decide to use the Fluval substrate? If, I understand correctly, for the plenum to work, it needs slow water flow through the substrates on top of it. These expensive manufactured substrates like Fluval, ADA… are all made from volcanic soils and clay to bind it together. The plants exhaust the initial high nutrient content in 6 months, and after about a year or two, the granules start to fall apart and becomes thick layer of mud on top of the plenum grid. Possibly block the water flow. Baked bentonite or zeolite kitty litter clay could do the same over time and create a waterproof layer and stop the water flow to the plenum. Bentonite and Zeolite clay are the best pond sealer. Please correct me, if I’m wrong. Wouldn’t it be better just to use gravel ( that hopefully doesn’t clog with sediment and too many dead plat roots) and add fertiliser tabs sometimes? But then, what would give the important negative change to the substrate without clay? Thank you for your time to make this video !
I have a question I hope you can answer. BTW, I love your hillstream loach at 26 minutes. One of my favorite fish. I recently set up a plenum in a 110 gallon tall acrylic aquarium consisting of safe-t-sorb, laterite from Brightwell aquatics, fluval stratum, eco complete, and flourite black sand in that order. Everything is still settling in. The question that I have is, do you do anything to prepare your baked clay (kitty litter or other)? I have read alot about the clay being so effective at pulling everything out of your water column because of its excellent cation exchange capacity that you end up with water similar to RO water. This results in low minerals and it can strip minerals from your plants and animals, such as shrimp and snails. Do you do anything to prevent this or have you had this issue? I hope you can help I have had to add a lot of baking soda and epsom salt to maintain a reasonable PH, Gh, and Kh it was dropping quickly to unsafelevels.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thank you Dr. Novak for sharing your knowledge. After doing some more research, the science agrees with you and although I'm actually adding nitrates to my planted tank, I will definitely try your methods if I were to set up a discus tank. Question : does the plenum break down these discus "growth hormones" that I read about on discus forums imposing keepers to do daily water changes for juvenile discus? At 1:03:27 are your referring to the substrate/gravel size? The gravel has to be smaller than 3mm?
great video. I cant wait to try my first attempt with this on the new discus community tank. Just waiting for them to grow out a bit in the current 40G tank. Can you do a small video on all the different fish you have in this tank. The fast moving sucker fish is interesting.
Thanks for the interesting video! I watched the video carefully, but did not hear what size of gravel or sand grains do you use in the deep sand layer above the plenum? Do I need to use coarse sand or fine sand, or does it not matter?
My 75g uses a corner Matten filter with pumps and heater behind the foam, water is then pumped to a wet overhead sump tub, gravity drop to a bucket of lava rock with holes in the bottom which is inside the tub, water then percolates up through more lava rock around the bucket into an overflow and gravity drain to a spray bar. My fish love it and my plants grow great but I do get a lot of hair algae. Nerite snails control some of it, Amano shrimp could take care of it if my Angels and Discus would quit eating them. My shrimp tank (no fish) with nearly identical setup has zero algae.
Hi Dr Novak; This is one of your fans from Australia ,thanks for your informative video , we need the science behind the whole thing not the fancy video or sound system ,may i ask a question ,please mention the liquid iron that i can inject in to my BCB to reinoculated them , i am grateful for your work.
Lol, so I had been thinking about how ponds use a pile of rocks to clarify water and what the best way to introduce this to my sump would be, and youtube sends me this. I'm so startled that youtube actually worked! It's all of the answers, and some answers to questions I hadn't arrived at.
I've been an aquarist for decades, but am just now discovering your videos about undergravel filters. This information is transformative. Thank you!
Welcome aboard!
Thank you so much Dr. Novak 🥰
Probably the most beautiful tank I've ever seen. I used to use an undergravel filter for my 10 gallon tanks like 20 years ago. I thought it was a great idea and I still do, but I also didn't fully understand it at the time and I would try to gravel vac it and disturbed it a lot. The fish were very healthy and happy though, and my tank was clean and never had a real algae problem aside from glass algae here and there. They still do sell the plates with the pipes on both sides and I have one sitting in my cart atm when I feel like doing a new project. I think keeping a tank is kind of like losing weight. You can lose weight with every diet you go on, if you do it right. The real issue is finding something you can stick to and like doing. I like all types of fish tanks and systems except for salt water tanks! As long as it works and the fish are healthy, spread the info for people to choose what they want to do. Knowledge is power. Theres always gonna be some rude people on the internet. Ive been doing youtube for over 15 years and I have met them all!!! Don't let that discourage you from sharing knowledge. Thanks a lot!
If you watch some of my older archive videos, I show some very beautiful aquariums that hobbiest have sent me pictures of.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums archive videos
I think it is really great that you tell your viewers what hobbyist understand and do not understand. It is amazing that you can tell.
Thanks again. 10 months ago I set up 2 40gal breeders as per another of your videos, same UGF plates on your 40, 3 inches of Safe-t-sorb + laterite powder. The system starts out slowly with a few plants then after 2 months fish added, takes patience, but it works. No algae, and if nitrates go up slow the bubbler down. Consistently less than 20 ppm nitrates, redox 160 to 200 depending on time of day. PH had to be stabilized initially, and buffered. Tank is now stable. It is now heavily planted. Plants are flourishing and constantly need trimming. Virtually no fish losses with a lot of fish. 3 box filters for mechanical + plenum and nothing else. Only occasionally adding iron and potassium to the water column. Given the parameters I have never done water changes, just top off and box filter cleaning. The least expensive set up I have ever done, lowest maintenance, and I have been doing this for 40 years, with all kinds of equipment, HOB & canisters. This is the best success I have ever had.
We are all very blessed that you want to help us! Thank you for your help!! People who want to complain can stop the video. I'm trying to watch all your videos to learn, Thanks for your support and educational videos. Please don't stop teaching us😊
Thank you so much!
Best video I've seen
😊 thanks
I stumbled upon this video as I’ve kept fish before and started again a few years ago when my 5yo son wanted a tank, I only just found out about under gravel type systems as I’ve never seen them before and everything I was seeing was saying that they were garbage.
Now I’m no scientist, but every part of my common sense was screaming at me that this is the way and then this popped up…
All I can say is thank you for your contribution to humanity, this is ground shattering. Thank you for doing the research and sharing your findings in a way that the layperson can understand 👍🏽
Keep up the good work
Hi Kevin,
I had been using under gravel filter since 1985. Never could leave it because of it's effectiveness.
Finally biggest aquarium I had was 6 ft in length, 2 ft in width and height of 2 ft 6 inches.
With the undergravel filter, I realised the bigger the aquarium you get more time before siphoning is required.
In my case I got 4 months. And once in four months I siphoned through the under gravel tubes. I had 12 under gravel filters.
This made me think if the space I have under the undergravel filter of one inch, if gives me 4 months before siphoning is needed.
Adding addition inch under the gravel filter should give me twice the amount of time before it is time to siphon.
I always had been using, air pump and never used any mechanical pump as over head to be put into the under gravel filter tube.
Becuase using mechanical submersible pump demeans the purpose of undergravel filter.
Best part of under gravel filter, is that it keeps fish waste under the filter.
Using submersible pump, will start to throw the fish waste from the bottom of the aquarium into the aquarium.
And it will worsen the state of aquarium. And Indeed as you said slower the inflow using oxygen air pump, (Bubbler) is the best option.
I was interested in using substrate , and this is what I thought :
Above the under gravel filter I will put gravels, then a small layer of sand, and then substrate above it, and then the gravel layer.
This will help the substrate to remain in it's place , without eroding the substrate into the gravel filter.
And adding additional space under the gravel filter. Becuase every additional inch added will give me additional months before siphoning is needed.
And since the depth will increase, I will supply aquarium water directly In to the bottom of the aquarium for biological process to work effectively, keeping in mind the flow will be slow according to the requirement. Not a high speed water pump to force aquarium water into the bottom layer under the gravel filter.
And I will continue using the air pump for bubbler, to ensure keeping it in a traditional way of letting water flow at the speed of aeration bubbler.
And I have made one modification to update the way aquarium is siphoned.
Instead of siphoning through the tubes of under gravel filter, I have created a filter similar to the under gravel filter, which will be placed under the gravel filter on the bottom glass of the aquarium.
It is on this fish waste will get collected. And once it reaches it's capacity of 8 months for example, all I have to do is drain it using drainage pipe, which will vacume the accumulated fish waste and drain it from inside the aquarium, through the tap connected outside the aquarium.
Hence, that way I no longer need to keep holding the pipe putting my hand into the water , doing it with every undergravel tube.
Best part of it is, that I have to drain it once in 8 months, and my aquarium water will remain crystal clear.
Most important , I would not need other filters to spend additional time on washing and rinsing it.
And finally I do not have to replace water every week or every month, only once in 8 months.
👀🙂
This is extremely good to hear, however, do you ever get criticized for what you do even though you've been doing it since 1985? Because everybody says it doesn't work?
Wow ❤
This was sooo helpful! Some part I didn't quite grasp but still picked up some clues. Thx for putting in the time to explain! Bravo!
❤❤❤🎉❤❤❤
Dr. Novak you don't have to aplogize about yr sound equipment or many other thing, since yr Doing a great favor for us that follow you, I'm 63 Yeats old got into this hobby since my 13 Years old, and agree with you 100% on everything that you say, thanks for all the informations that you have been passed to us free of charge.
I appreciate that!
Oh .I have a 125 Gallon salt water aquarium, with about 2 dozen fish, some tangs and triggers are now over 6" long
I really think your presentation was very detailed and informative. Thank you for sharing such a valuable knowledge. Just trying to absorb as much so that if I start again I can do better
You just showed not only your experience but that you are a true Gentleman. Good example of youtube diversity in the hobby 💚
I appreciate that!
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks for sharing all this wealth of info. Why don't you patent your research and make some money haha! Regards and much respect from India.
I just stumble on your channel and I have learned so much. But the best advice I have heard is when you said if your filter system is working. Don't change it. I love that you are here to really educate us and not here to try to sell something. Thank you for the vast information you are sharing with us
Welcome aboard!
The quality of these videos ARE EXTREMELY GOOD. Dude, I listen to your videos even without watching because the sheer amount of information you give is priceless. ❤️👌
Several people have told me the same thing that they listen to the videos and actually exercise or do something else they’re listening.
First time seeing Dr. Novak, and I'm really excited to make my first anoxic system.
Wonderful video. Both my aquariums have plenums but I have high pH and have trouble growing plants. So, I went riperium using house plants suspended above half of the aquarium with two lights one suspended above the plants and one on the top front. The fish I have like the light not extremely bright. With both lights I have plenty of light for the aquarium. Any comments are welcome on this. Loved your video.
I have similar situation with hgher ph. Although the safetsorb lowers the ph a little. But find I can grow crypts and anubias. I use tropica cups now. They work the best IMHO. They don't come with algae or pests and grow good. I use low light without CO2. Novak is using CO2 so he can use more light and not get algae. If you have high ph the plants have harder time absorbing CO2 and therefore adding CO2 is usually recommended. I am currently experimenting with having lights on for 11 to 12 hours but with them off for 2h in the middle. Since I read algae needs the light to be on for a continuous long time for it to grow. Yet plants are more complex and can still use the light. Also, I just started turning off the bubler when the lights are on as the bubler can remove CO2 from the water to see if this helps or not.
My first tank had a ugf and to this day 22 years later it's one of the best filters i've had and used, i wish i put one in my new set up 4 months ago, but it's a dirted tank and the pond soil is now growing microfauna and there's no way i'm going to brake it down and kill the work
So glad you are back Dr. Novak
I set up a very large marine system 7' x 2' x 2' as a display in my business here in UK and installed a closed plenum. It worked a treat. After I retired I heard the system was working well 15 yrs after set up. I love the thought of using a short uplift tube to move water slowly through the substrate. Looks like you are tempting me to start a tropical fresh water tank up again after years of being without. Thanks for a great informative video.
You should, it’s a great way to relax and enjoy nature. I myself have a planted Amazonian themed 125g with discus and a huge school of neons. Plenty of room and hiding areas so I haven’t had issues with them being eaten. Maybe do a 75g? I hope you set one up, take care
I put a plenum into my 125 gallon moderately stocked african cichlid tank. Since doing so, my nitrates went from 80 a week after water change to 20 and seems to hold steady. I now do water changes every 2 weeks as a matter of replacing old water and regular maintenance. Thank you so much for these videos!
Good to hear, keep up the good work. I wish more hobbiest would read your post.
How long did it take for your Nitrates to go down after you built the plenum? Or did they just never go back up? I have a tank with cichlids with a plenum and the nitrates are around 50ppm after a week. Its been a few months. So I am not sure why it is still so high. I also have a bcb in the canister. I am thinking maybe the gravel I used was too large. Or the bioload is too high for even the plenum. I have a few other tanks with the plenum that are doing great but they don't have as much bioload
My Nitrates went down eventually. After 8 months. They fluctuate a bit. Was less than 10ppm. Has gone up a little and are about 20 ppm now after a week. I do weekly water changes.
Dr Novak thank you for another great video. Don’t ever apologize because your video quality and sound is really good. You don’t need all the fluff because you just need to be you, people understand that. I spent the morning looking at products to make a plenum for my tank that already has an under gravel filter. Your aquarium is very pretty and your plants have grown so fast.
Dr Kevin. Hobbyist from Malaysia here. Just want to say thank you for all your videos.
Thanks for watching!
“Holy cow I didn’t realize this aquarium hobby had so much science and chemistry in it.” That made me laugh. Thanks for making this very informative long video.
Glad I found your channel. Looking forward to watching them all.
This method is like a combination of father fish, walstad, fishtory, lasagna method with an under gravel filter method. Someday, I will try this method to my future multiple male and female betta colony tank too.I'm so inspired. Thanks for the video dr. Novac.
Thanks for sharing
Please do not worry, your quality of video and sound is just fine. Geez you use a better computer than most people in my opinion. You have responded to me and I appreciate that. I am going to break down my 29 gallon in the near future and use the undergravel filter with oil dry and fluorite red. I have made the BCB in a Eheim, it's been going since January.
I also have a small 5 gallon with under gravel filter, oil dry and fluorite red and it is such a happy happy tank. I have the air pump going SLOW and restricted. I have shrimp in the small tank and I do not have to do water changes very often. I've actually only done one water change in the 5 gallon, I started it in January. The 29 gallon is not happy, but I will fix it.
If you want to see, I did upload a very short video of the two aquariums.
Thank you Doctor Novak for all your help and for your videos.
~Michael
I do computer graphics that is why I have the Apple. Thanks will give a look-see for your UA-cam videos.
video was great and having been in the planted tank hobby for over 7 years I still learned something valuable from this video. Forget these ungrateful and spoiled people that our society has blessed us with, the definitely test a mature persons self control! My God our future generation is scary, so entitled and rude.
Amazning detailed content Doc keep up the good work.
Thanks, will do!
The short answer is:
Gravel on top
Cat litter unscented as the mid layer.
Aqua soil as the bottom layer.
Under gravel filtration system.
Personally, I work seek a critter to turn the soil. Such as worms.
I loved this video, I've been wanting to setup a plenum for a while but I have lots of African chiclids and have been trying to figure out how to protect against their digging. Your tip of adding a screen to provide the barrier is just the idea I needed. Thanks again for your helpful videos
I have African cichlids, i made a mesh protection system that's above 3" of substrate and another 1" of free flowing substrate. So they get to dig but can't disturb the plenum. Works great.
@@rockfella27 I also have African cichlids that dig gravel. Following your advice, I used a mosquito net on the windows.
The sound and video seem fine to me. Expensive video/audio equipment does not increase or decrease useful information nor does it contribute to the health of our fish and tanks. Thanks for sharing your observations and experiences Dr. Novak
Can't agree more on this with you!
All of this is very inspiring and gives me hope i can get on the path to achieving my goal of setting up a balanced and nature friendly aquarium. Thank you so much. 🙏 God bless.
i really like the way u explain things and even more your modesty
cheers my friend
a real pleasure to me
Dr. Novak,
I recently watched your interview with Sean (Pecktek). This makes sense to me. I'm new to the aquarium hobby as of April last year. After viewing numerous Aquascaping videos on UA-cam, I wondered why some are always tearing down and re-scaping their aquariums. Now I realize that these Aquascapes are basically set-up to be temporary.
Thank you for the information, I intend to use it for my next aquarium.
Dan Treuthart
I think they only aquascapes to show hobbyiest what you can do if money is no object.
You're right. If you ask those aquascapers how long do these tanks last ... They never reply.
Thank you for what you do, have done and please continue to educate us!
Thank you for your time,experience, and science knowledge.
My pleasure!
You rock man! Im doing similar work over 30years but i never went si deep in the mud. Thanx🙏everything I could not explain to others why it works you put it in words 👍🏼🙏🙏🙏
Glad to help
No need to apologize for anything sir...we just spent 1 hour in a classroom discussing theory, mechanics and implementation of an environmentally sound system.
Your camera is fine...we have watched some real shit cameras in our viewing lifetimes...your camera is doing the job quite well. The microphone is fine...spend $100 on a "good" mic...for what you're doing, that's all you need.
We appreciate in no small degree you sharing your expertise. THANK YOU. New subscriber.
Thanks for the video. The best.
This video really connected alot of missing links for me in my hobby with general filtration and finally understanding Anoxic and bcb you have been teaching. Thank you for providing this as well as past information.
I just now watched this video you put out 11 months ago but it amazes me how you have to keep on explaining over, and over, and over again the proven facts of this biological process. It’s amazing how intelligent people can be, and yet, at the same time be willfully resistant to knowledge leaving no room for developmental advancement and improvement.
You’re so right… but why is it that way?
Nothing wrong with sound or vid!!! Perfect!❤❤😂
Yay! Thank you!
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums As a beginner this can be confusing. But you really break it down more understandably than the others. ...and you don't need Dolby sound! Thank you so much for helping me/us💞
@@anoxicfiltrationplenumsNo,
Thank❤You
Most people don't realize the amount of research behind your words. I don't mind your video format being ranty and lengthy. It is time well spent. One of my high school teachers would always say "nothing is taught, everything is learned". I don't see a point in complaining about "the way" knowledge is given. Free advice is scarce already.
Very hard to follow with all the stories. He should go to a Dr. check for demtmita.
@@aquaticthumb5193 I don't agree. I'm M.D. BTW. And it seems you are the one having trouble following along.
I don't think a ton lot of people understand what's behind his research.
@@rponce78 sorry about them being so long but in a classroom you can always stop and answer questions, in a video I feel I may have to repeat yourself.
Free GOOD advice is extremely scarce. People who take the time and effort to complain about someone else attempting to help, especially one with a serious level of education and real world experience, are lost. These videos are awesome.
I'll take your quality information over Hollywood video and sound any day! Thank you for educating us. I'm going to be using a slow moving plenum in every tank I setup moving forward.
WOW! That is great.
Please keep making videos sir very educational and enlightening
Thank you, I will
🙏
Best way to address the hate, is to not address the hate!
Love the info & appreciate these videos, I have been slowly converting my tanks to a slow moving plenum, and BCB in tanks with sumps.
That is great to hear.
Yes 👍👍👍👍
Hi Dr Novak, Your videos are fine. Love the red tiger lotus that thing really pops. Allways looking forward to watching your informational videos.Been waiting for the weather to get warmer here in MD so I can start breaking down my 125 tank and putting in a reverse flow plenum I know it's going to be a lot of work but the rewards will be good. I had a 75gal with a undergravel filter hook up to a big supreme hang on the back filter used no fertilizers and just gravel my plants grow very good I had Discus that bread and raised there young with no problems
Thanks so much. This video was so great and I will definitely go that way next year.
Have fun!
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Do you ever show videos about what fish to buy and their compatibility with each other?
This tank is absolutely gorgeous! Do you have a video of step by step how to set up a tank like this? I'd love to test it out and see how it goes. You are inspiring me to start one of my own. This tank looks unbelievably healthy!!!
Yes I do. It's in the archives so you can watch some of my old UA-cam videos and it will explain everything I did.
Undergravel filters are terrific nesting areas for Kuhli Loaches
I enjoy the science of the hoby. Thank you!
I am currently setting up a 125g with a plenum. Now I have to make some adjustments. I was unaware of the bacteria that lives between anaerobic and aerobic.
how are you results? and which air pumps did you go with?
Thank you for sharing information
I am setting up a 200 gallon 72x24x33 I just picked up how many uptake tubes should I have 1 in the middle or 1 at each end?
For a 6’ tank , two . One at each end.
BCB vs Plenum..when setting up a new tank and if you had choice of BCBs in a sump or in-tank Plenum, which one do you think is more efficient?
Stratum doesn’t become depleted, it literally breaks down into mush. That may not be an issue, but it does cloud the aquarium.
Thank you for putting this information out! I’m having a problem with ammonia in a pleco grow out tank, so I’m going to try adding a BCB in addition to the sponge filter and plants.
thankfull for the education.I am happy with my BCB tanks but I still have to let go of abundance of thriving fastgrowing plants,so looking forward to your next tank set up.
No fast growing plants for me...too much work.
Dr awesome information and thank you for your time and sharing.
Welcome to the internet and don’t let the haters get to ya IGNORE them! That’s my educated advise 😊
Great video! I don’t mind the quality of the sound. What’s important is that i learned sooo much from you.
Hi Dr. Novak. Great videos, thanks. I am implementing an anoxic filter for my aquaponics. My filter will be in my sump tank which feeds the fish tank. I will return the cleanest water back to the trout. Thanks again for the info.
No worries Dr. Novak you video and audio is just fine!
Back in the late 60's my favorite LFS helped set me up with a 55G. It utilized an Under-Tow UGF, Aquamaster HOB and 2"-3" of very small gravel. I was told to keep the water movement "slow" coming up the lift tubes and forget about using power heads. Slow was better for the bacteria, giving it time to work.
I'm a bit confused about a few things...
1.) Kitty litter and those expensive aqua-soils which are clay based, don't they disintegrate over time? Turning to either a powder or muck type consistency? Wouldn't it have a saturation level where it can't absorb any more? Similar to activated carbon.
2.) Couldn't a different media be used to grow a colony of anaerobic bacteria? Such as a deeper gravel bed or lava rock?
3.) Doesn't anaerobic bacteria require oxygen deplete environments? I thought they utilize the oxygen from nitrates? So wouldn't having an oxygen rich flow of water through the substrate render them nonexistent?
Hi Kevin, great to see you back doing videos!
I just wanted to give you an update on my tank and filter. I changed the arrangement around so that I have a gravity suction line taking waste from the bottom of the tank and an overflow dealing with the rest of the flow discharging into a sump. The water first flows around two large BCB and then threw six large polyester socks.
I found by doing it this way, the BCB’s are removing the ammonia before it gets to the socks so I don’t have bacteria in the socks producing Nitrate!
When I had the socks first, they were acting like traditional bio filters and my nitrates would rise, so I had to clean the socks once a week.
I made the socks from a roll of polyester I bought online, so I just take them out and replace with clean ones every three months. They just go into the washing machine and come out perfect.
The tank is doing great, I just wish I found BCB 20 years ago!!
Thanks again, Gareth
Sounds good keep me up to date Pls.
Gareth interested in your setup. I like your thoughts of pulling the water from the plenum out of the tank into the filter. Question I have since yours is gravity fed, what happens when the power goes out and your pump is not pumping back into the tank? Would you mind sharing with me your setup?
Thanks Robert
Hi Robert,
The way I set it up is using an overflow and a suction line off the bottom. The overflow design is very similar to the one Joey King of DIY does, except I use a cleaning eye to charge it instead of a suction tube. To stop the suction on the suction line in the event of a power failure, I have a 2mm hole drilled in the suction line about 10mm below the water line, the sump is sized to take the extra volume. When the power returns, the overflow is sized to take the total volume of the pump, normally it does about 25% and the suction line is balanced to do the rest, the suction line is fine tuned with a 40mm ball valve.
The biggest advantage is the homemade mechanical filter. I made 12 socks on a sewing machine from a roll of polyester that I bought for about €40 and the rest from Perspex, just a flat sheet with 6 75mm holes drilled into it, the top of the sock folded over and the rest pushed through the hole. The water flows into the BCB section then up into the socks, down through the socks then back up to the pump suction. Could not be simpler. I throw the 6 socks into the washing machine every 3-4 months and put in the fresh ones. My biggest mistake was using cotton thread the first time I made them, the filter bacteria ate it!!!
At the moment the flowrate is changing the tank water 3 times an hour.
@@garethbaker3429 thanks for your reply. I'll check out Joey King DIY on his setup. I understand some of what you wrote. Guess I would need to see a picture. Hopefully I can on the JK DIY.
Thanks again
Hi Robert,
If you can’t get the info you want, give me an email address and I will do you a schematic drawing and photos
I appreciate your kind sharing. Thank you very much.
My pleasure!
Thank you so much for the valuable information. Really appreciated.
Is it possible to get his book from a store that's not apple books?
My power is unstable..HOB were unstable for power hits...couple too many times had water on floor. My UG filter is great with a battery operated air pump.
Thank you this video was very informative and helpful .My only complaint was the amount of commercials and how they interfered with the video and caused playback issues . I really hope you're getting paid for those ads .
Sorry about that. I guess if you want to make money the adds are part of the outcome of making that money.
It was like watching a seminar, for free. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
hey bro im from argentina, what tha fuck is a plenum...? a undregravel filter?
@@lucasmoreno4158 basically, but you don’t need to move water through it quickly. Low air pump or just the plate itself with no air pump. Then his BCB is a whole different thing (clay and laterite mix).
@@santosprieto1167 no air pump the fish will die... what is BCB? i have 5 goldfish with undergravel filter, what maintenance should do?
That's a nice TV set you have there
Found lots ofinspiration on this video, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, i can’t stop watching ! Keep going on!!!
Thanks will do.
Hi Dr. Novak, does plenum only works for tropical small fishes? I have goldfish and thinking of using plenum system. But kitty litter clay in Indonesia is not available. Only zeolite. Would that work?
It works for all fish. Watch my videos how I set up my 40gallon goldfish aquarium
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks Dr. Novak. Let me try the plenum system with low flow combine with my other filter
Thank you. I’m learning so much from your videos.
I'm so glad!
Dr. Kevin Novak, You don't have to apologies for the video quality, not bad at all. I appreciate and respect person like you. Nowadays many youtuber only promote product and not doing product review. They can't differentiate the terms. Baby also can do promote product, but review need to have a lot of knowledge, time and money to burn. looking forward to your lighting video. God bless you.
I appreciate that
Thank you very much.
You are welcome!
That video really turned me on , will start an aquarium up using your system , one question tho : I have a bunch of Eheim under gravel filter plates will they go or should I go with those you used , yours are higher and thereby more movement ? Thx for you video I like the more in-depth care taking of an aquarium and don't apologise about your videos your words/ wisdom are gold
The Eheim's will work if they are the plates and not the tubes that lay on the bottom of the tank.
It's the plates , thank you for the answer
Now about Fish&Vegetables & giving food to the people: do you see a possibility to apply the principles of the „Slow Moving Plenum“ and „BCB“ baskets in the field of „Aquaponics“?
Just found this series and am loving it!
Today I made my first plenum in my 55 gallon . Fellowed the examples I saw on your site but the special kitty litter I bought was very small and I was a bit afraid to use it ,so I put red fluorite on bottom with the black fluorite on top used a barrier and topped with sand I already had .may need to add bit more sand. Once I can find some . You’re videos are fine. I have learned a lot from them. . I am hoping that by using the plenum it will get rid of some the algae I seem to have .
I will let you know how this works for me . I plan to make the bags for my filter next Just need to find how to fit them it a fluvial .
I have had planted tanks for years and your right about the sand turning black or algae on it Always had to tear down after while .
The best explaination yet! I dun fell in lov with you. New subscriber😁
Wow, thank you!
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums💞❤💕
I prefer filter-less because its interesting to me creating an ecosystem that will be mostly self-sustaining like a exists in small pools or ponds in tropical and subtropical environments that most aquarium fish originated from. Muck is a good thing if its left to be handle by the natural systems that have been doing the job for millions of years. My brother-in-law prefers a micro-managed aquarium because that's how he approached everything in his own life. I guess how we approach aquariums is an extension of how we live our own lives. Nothing wrong with diversity.
I been selling my plants to friends from my tank and ALL I USE is that white old school 3 tube under gravel filter under the small gravel.. that is all the roots are the longest white roots friends ever seen..And ALL my plants keep growing back... and I don't use None of those a fancy filters.... it just a air pump 2 tubes and that old under gravel filter.!!! I can say that my roots are 3 times the length of the plant..and I don't do anything to it... this video has help me understand what is going on..
I found the exact same thing you're talking about. The roots to the plants are enormous and very long. Once you can get the food to the roots the plants will do great. Stay tune for my yearly video on the 90 gallon some of the plants have multiplied over 30 times of what they were when I bought them.
your videos are brilliant, my opinion. scientific information. 👌😊🇿🇦
Thanks
Wonderful info, the videos are great, thanks.
Very informative video sir.It would have been great if you could give out the setup for beginners.
I do show step-by-step in some of my older videos so just go to my older videos and it will show you step-by-step instructions.
A perfect video!
Could you put together a playlist with all of these parts. They’re tough for me to find.
Hi have set up a Plenum in my aquarium enjoy your video, Whats the best tank volume turn over got mine set at 3 time per hour is this ok or do'es just need to be slower? It is a 200 US gallen aquarium with a 600 US gallen per hour power head
Dr. Novak, I enjoy your lectures and I understand the science behind your presentations. I am planning on putting to use the procedures that you have demonstrated in some of your other videos using the under-gravel filter. I love the plant scapes you have in this and your other large tank in your lanai. What is the name of the plant that is in the tank above that has the lovely hot pinkish-red leaves? And the tank you have on your Lanai has primarily some pinkish-colored fish. What are they called? Thank you for your contribution to this wonderful hobby. Bruce
In Philippines , Dexter's world grow out their Koi and Goldfish in Earthen Ponds. Their ponds found on Dexter's world are Clay earth. Their fish grow faster in the clay ponds compared to their cement ponds.
Do you have a list of what is needed to make this substrate 👍✌️🙏🇨🇦
Can this system work in reverse in aquarium effectively? Pumping water down into the plenum space, then flows slowly up threw substrate ? Some pond builders are having success using your system in reverse. Yearly they remove accumulated detritus by pumping up a "lift tube" Called a centipede and snorkel . Thanks
No, the main object of this is to have it only go in one direction it does not work the other way around.
Great info, but I have a few questions.
What made you decide to use the Fluval substrate?
If, I understand correctly, for the plenum to work, it needs slow water flow through the substrates on top of it.
These expensive manufactured substrates like Fluval, ADA… are all made from volcanic soils and clay to bind it together.
The plants exhaust the initial high nutrient content in 6 months, and after about a year or two, the granules start to fall apart and becomes thick layer of mud on top of the plenum grid. Possibly block the water flow.
Baked bentonite or zeolite kitty litter clay could do the same over time and create a waterproof layer and stop the water flow to the plenum.
Bentonite and Zeolite clay are the best pond sealer.
Please correct me, if I’m wrong.
Wouldn’t it be better just to use gravel ( that hopefully doesn’t clog with sediment and too many dead plat roots) and add fertiliser tabs sometimes?
But then, what would give the important negative change to the substrate without clay?
Thank you for your time to make this video !
I have a question I hope you can answer. BTW, I love your hillstream loach at 26 minutes. One of my favorite fish. I recently set up a plenum in a 110 gallon tall acrylic aquarium consisting of safe-t-sorb, laterite from Brightwell aquatics, fluval stratum, eco complete, and flourite black sand in that order. Everything is still settling in. The question that I have is, do you do anything to prepare your baked clay (kitty litter or other)? I have read alot about the clay being so effective at pulling everything out of your water column because of its excellent cation exchange capacity that you end up with water similar to RO water. This results in low minerals and it can strip minerals from your plants and animals, such as shrimp and snails. Do you do anything to prevent this or have you had this issue? I hope you can help I have had to add a lot of baking soda and epsom salt to maintain a reasonable PH, Gh, and Kh it was dropping quickly to unsafelevels.
Very informative - thank you !
Glad it was helpful!
Very interesting...although I've always been told to avoid deep substrates because of hydrogen sulfide formation.
You're absolutely right. However, a Plenum allows fluids to move through the substrate and prevents that from happening.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thank you Dr. Novak for sharing your knowledge. After doing some more research, the science agrees with you and although I'm actually adding nitrates to my planted tank, I will definitely try your methods if I were to set up a discus tank. Question : does the plenum break down these discus "growth hormones" that I read about on discus forums imposing keepers to do daily water changes for juvenile discus?
At 1:03:27 are your referring to the substrate/gravel size? The gravel has to be smaller than 3mm?
great video. I cant wait to try my first attempt with this on the new discus community tank. Just waiting for them to grow out a bit in the current 40G tank. Can you do a small video on all the different fish you have in this tank. The fast moving sucker fish is interesting.
Okay will do.
Where can we get the powder that does the charge change ..sorry how to you spell the powder ...thanks
Thanks for the interesting video! I watched the video carefully, but did not hear what size of gravel or sand grains do you use in the deep sand layer above the plenum? Do I need to use coarse sand or fine sand, or does it not matter?
Between 1 to 4 mm in size.
My 75g uses a corner Matten filter with pumps and heater behind the foam, water is then pumped to a wet overhead sump tub, gravity drop to a bucket of lava rock with holes in the bottom which is inside the tub, water then percolates up through more lava rock around the bucket into an overflow and gravity drain to a spray bar.
My fish love it and my plants grow great but I do get a lot of hair algae.
Nerite snails control some of it, Amano shrimp could take care of it if my Angels and Discus would quit eating them.
My shrimp tank (no fish) with nearly identical setup has zero algae.
Hi Dr Novak; This is one of your fans from Australia ,thanks for your informative video , we need the science behind the whole thing not the fancy video or sound system ,may i ask a question ,please mention the liquid iron that i can inject in to my BCB to reinoculated them , i am grateful for your work.
I just use SeaChem's liquid Iron & a turkey injection tool -works perfect
Lol, so I had been thinking about how ponds use a pile of rocks to clarify water and what the best way to introduce this to my sump would be, and youtube sends me this.
I'm so startled that youtube actually worked! It's all of the answers, and some answers to questions I hadn't arrived at.
Dr can I use a plenum and a matten filter in a 25 gallon tank
yes you can.