Bob replies...

Hi John,

Thanks for your email and if you liked the Live Sand Secrets booklet, checkout my new website at www.saltcorner.com for info on my other books. This site is becoming one of the best informational sites on the web, all without a lot of hype!

As for the Cell Pore product, I spent six years researching microbial processes in various type sandbeds and have been fortunate to have the data completely scrutinized by a biochemist that consults for the worlds leading corporations and governments. One of the many facts learned was that microbial functions in areas that contained no oxygen and those that contained a small amount of oxygen had to be separated into different terminology. The term anaerobic, an area containing little or no oxygen, no longer sufficed if we were to gain access into the next millennium of aquarium husbandry.

Why is that you may/should ask? Simply because the microbial efficiency between these two areas is EXTREMELY important. Those bacteria operating in an oxygen free zone reduce nitrate back to ammonium no further. It is called the ammonification process or assimilatory denitrification (reassembly of ammonium, i.e., ammonification). Not only is a nitrogen product returned to the bulk water (yes, ammonium is a nitrogen produt), the bacteria's inefficient use of phosphorous for energy results in an abundant amount of phosphate in the surrounding areas.

On the other hand, in a zone where oxygen is between .5 to 2.0 ppm, or what should be called the anoxic zone, bacteria will reduce nitrate back to gaseous elemental forms and this is termed dissimilatory denitrification. And, these bacteria are more than 30 times more efficient than those found in oxygen free zones, which results in extremely efficient use of phosphorous and far less production of phosphate!

Because of that and how the processes are controlled by electrical charges I question whether or not the Cell-Pore product when used as a plenum device has the correct redox needed to return oxidized constituents back to the bulk water. If not, it may create a dead end for nutrients or may even prevent them from getting to the material in the first place. Electrical charges can either attract or repel! Another point of contention is the material is composed of many tiny chambers where biomass/bacteria could easily clog/impede any constituent flow into or through the material. Since bacteria are constantly renewing themselves, their biomass could clog/prevent oxygen from entering the medium (even if its redox was originally correct). The entire slab of material would then become anaerobic (no oxygen as described above), and of course this a condition to be avoided if overall system microbial balance is to be maintained.

The material has been advertised as fostering anaerobic denitrification. Yet, if the user wants an anaerobic condition in the lower portion of their sandbed and/or anywhere in aquarium after all the evidence pointing against having such conditions, they could simply place a deep sandbed directly on the aquarium bottom. Bear in mind a "true" Jaubert/NNR plenum is an "open" space and there is nothing in its "space" to skew the extremely important value of its redox or interfere with its "chemical" processes. Actually, nothing in this open space is needed to accommodate microbes nor should there be, as all valued microbial functions are taking place in the above sandbed! The Jaubert/NNR plenum "space" should be considered as one large "pore water" area!

As for sand, crushed coral would work well, as I have used that in client systems with very good results. I used CaribSea "Bermuda Pink" (2 - 4mm) in my past 180 system and that looked very nice. Also, you can get it already inoculated with live bacteria. Call CaribSea at (888) 461-1113 and ask where you can obtain it. In fact, that 180 gallon system was purchased by a local store for their show system and the photo on my opening website page is my old 180 system at their store. I'm planning a new system for my office and hope to have up and running by May or June.

And the 'live sand' should always go on top, as that is the first particles to encounter incoming nutrients. Those microbes further down will quickly establish themselves.

Checkout my new site, and keep in mind there's space for photos of your aquariums. In fact, my guru and I are working a total redo of the animal library that will have close to 1000 color photos and info on each animal! That will hopefully be done by mid June. The goal is to have the most professional and informative marine site in the world!

Hope this helps and keep me posted,

Bob