WMAS Discussion Forum : detritus prevention & removal http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Mon, 29 Jun 2026 06:55:58 +0000 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:28:38 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=2 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[detritus prevention & removal : A lot can be done to 180+55 gallons...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=473078&title=detritus-prevention-removal#473078 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 2
Posted: June 20 2012 at 3:28pm

A lot can be done to 180+55 gallons of water without serious repercussions!

If you consider what I said above about preferring the storm that is created when stirring the sand because of how the resulting storm of detritus feeds the tank, it may become clear that what you are suggesting is a totally positive thing. What is not eaten hopefully stays suspended and is collected by the floss bag.

The only situation where a problem would develop is where the tank is too new or too small to handle a large influx of food.
Does that make sense?
Big smile
]]> Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:28:38 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=473078&title=detritus-prevention-removal#473078 <![CDATA[detritus prevention & removal : I find this very interesting as...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=472997&title=detritus-prevention-removal#472997 Author: CrimsRayne
Subject: 2
Posted: June 20 2012 at 12:06am

I find this very interesting as I just took down a 210g with a 55g refugium that had a LOT of detritus under all the macro.  I was very tempted to take the detritus which was full of pods as I emptied the tank, but was concerned about the impact of the detritus to the "new" tank's sump and therefore main tank.  SO, I put forth another question...  Can taking pod and detritus filled water and adding it to the sump of another tank crash the tank, cause a cycle, or have any other negative repercussions?  (The tank in this theoretical question is 180g with a 55g sump  Wink )  ]]> Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:06:52 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=472997&title=detritus-prevention-removal#472997 <![CDATA[detritus prevention & removal : &#034;Here&#039;s...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=472952&title=detritus-prevention-removal#472952 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 2
Posted: June 19 2012 at 8:31pm

"Here's to all the great threads, topics, and friendships that followed..."Hug

Cleaning fish poo for a living is a respectable vocation.Approve

Thanks Adam for bringing this forward. Wow, what a difference from today. It took more than 2 years for that thread to be 5 posts long!

I guess I have to say that I am more in favor of floss bags today than I was then.
Also, for me, occasional stirring to refresh the sand bed is now preferred over vacuuming, since it feeds all inverts and small fish.
And now we have the best sand cleaners ever - Sand Sifting Cucumbers. Thumbs Up
]]> Tue, 19 Jun 2012 20:31:08 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=472952&title=detritus-prevention-removal#472952 <![CDATA[detritus prevention & removal : Awesome Thread, Glad you dug this...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=472914&title=detritus-prevention-removal#472914 Author: ReefOn
Subject: 2
Posted: June 19 2012 at 5:14pm

Awesome Thread, Glad you dug this up because
It would be interested to see how your opinion has changed, or NOT changed on this subject. Adam, was that you as Guests?

I agree that there is a lot of detritus buildup in the wild, but there are also Thousands/No, Millions/No Billions of gallons of water that spread the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels.  In our closed systems I think it is more important to remove the detritus before it starts to break down and release ammonia.  As mentioned above, flow is very important in an aquarium: 
Quote Complete water motion could have a lot to do with this.  The fact that we all under circulate our tanks is something else to consider.  Try dumping in 100,000 gallons per second (or whatever Shimek says) and see if that fixes it ;) 
If there is enough flow in the tank, the detritus will not build up on the sand bed, nor on the rocks. The flow will help move the detritus up and out through the overflow->to the filter sock->to the skimmer to be removed. After the detritus starts to break down, the best removal is through bacterial filtration (ie Live Rock or Live Sand), Refugium and water changes.

Fighting Detritus is the base of aquarium maintenance. It is the cause of most of the problem algae. This is why I have a job. Basically I clean up (fish) poo for a living, lol.



]]> Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:14:47 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=472914&title=detritus-prevention-removal#472914 <![CDATA[detritus prevention & removal : Bump!!!!!This is a very old thread....]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=472864&title=detritus-prevention-removal#472864 Author: Adam Blundell
Subject: 2
Posted: June 19 2012 at 12:21pm

Bump!!!!!

This is a very old thread. In fact it is the oldest thread on the site. Still a very relevant topic, and now today it is ten years old.

Here's to all the great threads, topics, and friendships that followed...

Adam]]> Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:21:09 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=472864&title=detritus-prevention-removal#472864 <![CDATA[detritus prevention & removal : smatney wrote:First time I&#039;ve...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=42466&title=detritus-prevention-removal#42466 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 2
Posted: November 04 2004 at 8:15am

Originally posted by smatney smatney wrote:

First time I've ever heard Mark say that vacuuming can be good.

Note that I said something like "extreme moderation". Tanks less than a year old should never have the need for substrate cleaning of any type, whether it be vacuuming or sand cleaning animals, IMO. After a year a little cleaning may keep it doing better, longer. ]]> Thu, 04 Nov 2004 08:15:10 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=42466&title=detritus-prevention-removal#42466 <![CDATA[detritus prevention & removal : I use several sand sifting stars...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=42456&title=detritus-prevention-removal#42456 Author: ewaldsreef
Subject: 2
Posted: November 04 2004 at 6:51am

I use several sand sifting stars for my substrate alone with a pistol shrimp and goby. I ocationally vacum and blow off my rocks. I have never had a problem with detritus build up. ]]> Thu, 04 Nov 2004 06:51:49 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=42456&title=detritus-prevention-removal#42456 <![CDATA[detritus prevention & removal : First time I&#039;ve ever heard...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=42452&title=detritus-prevention-removal#42452 Author: smatney
Subject: 2
Posted: November 04 2004 at 5:31am

First time I've ever heard Mark say that vacuuming can be good.  

One thing Mark mentioned to me but not on the board is if detritus gets on your flat corals (i.e. toadstool leather) blow it off with a turkey baster - they don't like it.

]]> Thu, 04 Nov 2004 05:31:39 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=42452&title=detritus-prevention-removal#42452 <![CDATA[detritus prevention & removal : It&#039;s kind of weird, but my...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=42448&title=detritus-prevention-removal#42448 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 2
Posted: November 03 2004 at 10:54pm

It's kind of weird, but my thoughts about what is good and not good for reef aquariums is always changing; evolving.

Here are some that I believe, that have changed from what I once thought:

Vacumming the substrate can be good in great moderation.

I don't really ever want to have any kind of "sand throwing" goby!

Sand Sifting Sea Stars can be good, if kept only temporarily.

Leaving detritus to build up forever in the sand is normal in the wild, but is not good in our closed systems.

Yet I still believe that using a filter bag or pad is not so good.

Edited by Mark Peterson]]> Wed, 03 Nov 2004 22:54:52 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=42448&title=detritus-prevention-removal#42448 <![CDATA[detritus prevention & removal : bump since I&#039;m curious and...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=42430&title=detritus-prevention-removal#42430 Author: vangvace
Subject: 2
Posted: November 03 2004 at 9:52pm

bump since I'm curious and just figured out just what detritus looks like tonight and I have a bunch in my 18 gallon

 

]]> Wed, 03 Nov 2004 21:52:07 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2&PID=42430&title=detritus-prevention-removal#42430