Controlled Plenum Wasting

Sorry guys, maybe I shouldn't have used the word 'debate' - I was joking around. I just thought it would be interesting to get Bob's take on this. Inwall you've added a lot to this discussion and I am not trying to derail it. Seriously!

My biggest problem with that guy's CPW setup, besides flood potential, is all the screens inline on that drain line. Wish I could see pics, because I am not sure how you go about replacing those when they get clogged. Which they would right? I mean it's sucking up debris from the bottom, no?

 

Matt,

I'm sorry for being such a royal pain in the butt. I think open discussion is good and welcome other points of view.

I'm not convinced that his set-up is superior either. I really like his idea and can see great merit with it biologically.

However, is his physical set-up the best?

 

Sorry for jumping in so late on this topic. Inwall is correct about the Monoco plenum...nitrates converting back into ammonium then being broken down to nitrites ---> nitrates ---> ammonium ... recycle recycle recycle

I've been in on a couple of the discussions of modified plenums, and I definately think they would work. I do, however, think a lot of planning comes to the design of the drain system, the substrate choice, and the screening material. All options need to be looked at in order to determine whether it will work effectively as a whole.

 

Interesting.. does sound like the actual setup needs some thought. (no worries inwall, no need to apologize, you are hardly a royal pain in the butt, trust me! [smiley=thumbs_up1.gif] )

 

Hey guys, I found a link that has a picture on how the author made hi cpw.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=366943
after its built, thay cover in land scaping cloth.
It's getting intresting in here with all the discussion

 

Sorry, I hit the enter key before I was done. The images are all the way down at the bottom. HTH.



phil

 

hehehe....someone with about as complex plumbing as I have on my tank.

One thing I see with his design, is there is no way to "funnel" the particulate (albeit small...it will still make its way) that will collect under the plenum space. I don't know that he'll have enough draw to grab the particulate settling on the bottom. Also, the micron size of the screen needs to be taken into account, so it does not become clogged, or allow too large of particulate matter through. Just some things to think about....

 

[quote author=NaH2O link=board=Sand;num=1087396461;start=15#26 date=06/22/04 at 17:28:05]hehehe....someone with about as complex plumbing as I have on my tank.

One thing I see with his design, is there is no way to "funnel" the particulate (albeit small...it will still make its way) that will collect under the plenum space.  I don't know that he'll have enough draw to grab the particulate settling on the bottom.   [/quote]

I was thinking the same thing Nikki. Even if the pvc had a lot of holes. Not sure what the workaround is though is though.

My 30 had a hole coming right through the bottom that the output of the sump pump came through. It relied on a check valve to prevent floods. Worked fine. But if I drilled a hole for a strainer for a CPW and put a check valve under the tank, I could see that getting clogged eventually. :-/

 

According to the author, he has his cpw plumbed in a way that he can back flush his system. But in doing so couldn't this put more waste into the dsb? The question has been brought up before on the other forum; why not use window screen like in a standard plenum. The screen would allow more crap to go through, but the author was so negative about the idea that I couldn't understand why?

phil

 

It seems you would need several points from which to draw to have enough flow to affect the entire substrate. I think only a small area would benefit.