How to make a Plenum uplift tube vanish.

How to make a Plenum uplift tube vanish.

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Link to YouTube video on Plenum and Anoxic conditions called:

Plenums serve two purposes, one; they can have an effect on the reduction of Nitrates NO3 by negatively charging the substrate and keeping algae at bay by Dissimulative Denitrification. Two; they prevent the dreaded anaerobic situation that begins when oxygen is deprive from aerobic bacteria and favors that of anaerobic bacteria. This in turn will start what is called Assimilatory Denitrification and only make more ammonium ions that will go back into solution once again.

Remember, a negatively charged substrate attracts positive ions like ammonium; these ions facilitate aerobic bacteria and facultative bacteria. Facultative bacteria has the ability to reduce the ammonium ion into Nitrates which it will then use its oxygen (Because it has three molecules of oxygen attached to one molecule of Nitrogen) and turn it into N2 known as Dinitrogen. This ability for the substrate to do this is because of the plenum: Which allows water to flow very slowly in and out of the substrate encompassing needed oxygenated water but never allowing it to become depleted of such.

Inside the plenum redox always stays in the high mV values and never allows oxygen to dip below .5 ppm and stay in what is called an Anoxic State. Anoxic condition only means that oxygen is at 2-.5 ppm but not void of oxygen altogether. Without the plenum the substrate even with thriving plant life will turn black from anaerobic bacteria.

There are three ways of bring oxygenated water into the substrate. One, by moving water through the medium with airlift tubes or a mechanical power source like a power head. But now you will have turned your undergravel filter into a mechanical filter too.

Two, through heating cables laid on the bottom of the aquarium this intern will cause thermal convection. The trouble with this method is it only works in the colder winter months and not in the summer months when the ambient air temperature in the home is warmer. Plus, the cables may malfunction like they have on me and overheat the aquarium.

Three, with a plenum that becomes eclectically charged inside the plenum itself and then through diffusion of ions will bring water into the substrate as needed. Plants will not do this with their root systems alone. This slow diffusion of water, oxygen and molecule interface will aid in plant root oxygenation and bacteria growth. You have a better chance of avoiding dead zones and bad microorganisms’ growth populations turning the substrate black from fermentation.
20 Gal Reset : Anoxic Experiment

Sandy Caps by: pecktec
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