Old School Reefer comparison of Jaubert Plenum & Reverse Flow UG

[Subsea]

Hi there - intrigued by use of reverse flow UG filter - can you please give me details on how you have your system set up? Much appreciated !”

@drbrivers
Thank you for your request. Ask all the questions that you want.
Coincidently, I received a reminder today to update my build thread. It’s best we don’t hijack someone else’s thread.

The 75G display & 30G mud/algae refugium is more than 25 years mature. I bought it used with miracle mud. Display was set up with 6” DSB & Jaubert plenum for 20 years. During that time detritus in mud filter increased in depth by 3/4” and felt spongy to the touch.

Five years ago, I emulated @Paul B and upgraded to reverse flow ug filter and 2” substrate.
Click to expand...

Patrick, now that it's been a few years using the reverse flow UG compared to the DSB & Jaubert plenum; do you have any comments comparing the 2 methods?

@vlangel

Dawn,
In general, they both work well.

The Jaubert plenum end goal was to reduce nitrate and it did that well using bacteria and reduction chemistry in low oxygen enviroment. However, with a 25 year mature system, the coral is the biofilter and I now dose ammonia every day. and still have zero nitrate.

 

[Subsea]

Things I like about reverse flow is that sand-bed stays aireated supporting diversity of micro fauna & fana as well as large varied bacteria populations in addition to nitrification bacteria.

Because I keep varied filter feeders like flame scallops & sea apples, I focus on the microbial loop.

 

[Subsea]

While I can not prove it, the void under the plenum substrate is a perfect cryptic refugium. However, @Paul B has a system with pictures in the plenum that he moved after 50 years set up.