Jaubert Systems!

This is a further development of the balanced Berlin System. The tank is set up with a live plenum in the base. This works as a very efficient biological filter and has additional benefits in stabilizing water conditions. The plenum consists of a 1" 'void', a 2" layer of aragonite sand and a further 2" of 'live' sand. The void is created by sticking 1" lengths of pipe to the aquarium base. This is then topped off with a tight fitting acrylic egg-crate (similar to that used in florescent lighting ) and a gravel tidy, sealed round the edges to prevent any media spilling into the void. The 2" of sand is place on top and again sealed in place with a gravel tidy.

The system is finished off with 2" of live sand. This is home to the usual filter bacteria but will also house crabs, worms, invertebrates and small fish that turn over the sand, keeping it fresh and preventing it from compacting. Live sand can be very expensive. If you have the patience you can use plain aragonite and add just one pack of live sand which will then seed the rest. This system is very efficient ( if you get it right ) and has been successfully employed in some of the best public aquaria, e.g. the Monaco Aquarium. Corals, live rock and other decor can be supported on glass shelves to avoid compressing the sand bed.

With metal halide or very intense florescent lighting this system will maintain live hard as well as soft corals.