Maybe this is a stupid question but instead of using filter socks, is there something that I could put in my sump to eat the extra food and detritus? I'm not worried about picture perfect clear water as I'm not entering in a contest or anything .... 
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Tru REEF
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You could put snails shrimp crabs and starfish. Which ever does best for detritus. Make sure to keep pumps covered so nothing will crawl into them. Just remember a good reef tank is only as good as its filtration.
I've yet to see snails, shrimp, crabs or a starfish make a pile of detritus disappear in a BB tank. Your best bet is a siphon. (manual labor) Like mentioned above, "a good reef tank is only as good as it's filtration." This means U... 
bayoupr
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+1, I siphon the bottom of my sump during my water changes. Not much work involved.I've yet to see snails, shrimp, crabs or a starfish make a pile of detritus disappear in a BB tank. Your best bet is a siphon. (manual labor) Like mentioned above, "a good reef tank is only as good as it's filtration." This means U...
Randy Holmes-Farley
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FWIW, if something ate the detritus, that would be no different from a nutrient release perspective than letting bacteria eat it as it sits on the bottom.
That said, I do this, leaving the detritus mud to decay naturally in my sumps and refugia, but don't be under the false impression that if it is eaten by a large organism, that the nutrients are retained in it. Even a fish eating foods releases nearly all of the N and P in it to the tank water as ammonia/nitrate and phosphate.
That said, I do this, leaving the detritus mud to decay naturally in my sumps and refugia, but don't be under the false impression that if it is eaten by a large organism, that the nutrients are retained in it. Even a fish eating foods releases nearly all of the N and P in it to the tank water as ammonia/nitrate and phosphate.
bayoupr
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Randy, are you saying you let detritus build up in your sump and not clean it out? I would think that after a month or so a sump would be a nitrate factory letting this build up? Or am I missing something?
bayoupr
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??Deep sand beds? (can of worms)
If detritus is not building up in your BB sump what do you think is happening in this DSB? I kind of prefer SSB now, but it can all work in the right hands... Different, but the same... GL.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Yes, and it almost certainly is a substantial source of N and P. It is a thick mud that accumulates. If I were focused on a low nutrient system, I likely wouldn't allow it, but since i don't have a nutrient "problem" and am lazy, I leave it there, and always have.
Wiz
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I started with a 40b/20l sump. Then piped in the side by side 30 to the same sump. It is 5.5" oolitic sand and .75" live sand. 11+ macros.it has worked beautifully for me. I dont "recomend" it because it is not common to skip most filtration and water changes. And I would hate to ruin someone's tank. I just show my method. What others do is up to them. This works for me. And with the ridiculous stock of corals and 11 fish that I keep It definitely works for me. :-D
