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In 1995 I had an idea for a simple way to create a plenum. At the time there were many ways being described as to how this new type of filtration should be set up. Most suggested a layer of fiberglass screen in the middle of the sand bed, the purpose was to keep large animals from digging deep into the lower layers of sand. Looking around the detritus of my fish room, I found a piece of a Nylon matrix type material and had a "Eureka" moment. A few layers of this material could block large animals from digging into the lower layers, yet still allow smaller creatures to burrow deep down. Later that summer, I met Professor Jaubert at MACNA and asked his permission to market his filtration method with this idea. Thus Reef Renovators and the Eco-Sand Plenum were born.

The first run for Reef Renovators lasted a little over 2 years. Because of an illness I had to stop making plenums at the end of 1997. After that a gentleman out west took over for a few years. Then I saw the 30th Anniversary of FAMA. Looking it over I noticed that someone wrote to Bob Goemans asking if anyone still made custom plenums. I started thinking about bringing "Al the Toolfish" out of mothballs. With the encouragement of Bob Goemans, Sam Gamble, and Rick and Betsy from Carib-Sea, I decided to open up again. Having recovered from my illness, I am once again providing this service and hopefully some new products, to aquarists.

The Eco-Sand plenum is constructed in a simple manner. An eggcrate grid creates a ¾" open water space under a fiberglass screen. I have chosen to use black eggcrate because it is made with an older mold so the plastic is a little more substantial and the square holes are smaller thus making for a stronger structure.

I am offering 2 versions of the Eco-Sand Plenum: the first is a plain plenum. It is best suited for sand beds that are not located in the main display of a system. This was suggested by Bob Goemans as superior design for large reef tanks, as the aquarist can easily monitor the sand bed.

The second version will again have 3 layers of Enkamat® nylon matrix for the purpose of blocking large animals from digging into the sand bed, in plenums placed in the aquarium. This version is designed for smaller saltwater systems and African Cichlid tanks. Interestingly in the 1990's I sent a plenum to the technical staff at Carib-Sea to try out. I was surprised that they tried it in a 90 gallon African cichlid tank.

"The 90 gallon African cichlid tank was incredible. Although we could not measure our success by coral growth, we could by bio-load. We had at least 60 inches of fish, and despite power loss from a hurricane passing through, and less than diligent water changes, our fish were vibrant and healthy. Just as in a marine plenum system, we believe that the input of calcium carbonate (natural buffer) was increased by the large population of nitrate reducing bacteria present."

At the time I did not get a chance to use the plenum in a freshwater environment. But since then I have set up a few tanks and they work great. I set up a 20 gallon tank for a relative in 2006. The six cichlids they started with have done very well, and they are in the process of upgrading to a 72 bow front. (Note: these are first time fish keepers who did not get discouraged and put their tank in a yard sale.)

We understand that the use of a plenum does not solve all the challenges facing aquarists. But we do believe it is a simple way of reducing nitrate, and creating a better environment for the animals we choose to keep. Thank you for visiting and taking the time to consider Reef Renovators. Our goal is to help make you a more successful aquarist.



  Thank you,




  Todd Schwarz
  ReefRenovators.com