Is detritus bad?

[Netta Fish]

I was in my sump today and stirred up a years worth of detritus, some made it into my display. I am replacing my sump soon and want to keep as much water as possible. Will disturbing this stuff will cause a problem?
Thanks

 

[Aquaph8]

I think you'll be alright, it would be better to get it all out but at least it's stirred up and it can get filtered out now.

 

[Netta Fish]

Do I want it for any reason at all?

 

[Aquaph8]

Nope.

 

[Gitsoe]

no its not bad that you stirred it up but it's good to take it all out.

 

[ryanuy]

Removed all the detritus from my sump last month as well. Drained the whole sump to take it all out. Tank seems much better now since i did it.

 

[Glenn]

Do I want it for any reason at all?

It makes for a good fertilizer for your indoor / outdoor plants (after you drain the saltwater off)

just mix it with freshwater and pour it on

 

[-Logzor]

Detritus is one of the worst possible things, nutrient wise, for our aquariums, definitely remove.

 

[DaveA]

Detritus is one of the worst possible things, nutrient wise, for our aquariums, definitely remove.

+1

Detritus is fish excrements (poop). The coral need a very small amount for nutrients, but they get orders of magnitude more each day from the gish extraction. Chaeto and other algaes also need some, but you don't want want the other algaes and Chaeto is only there to get rid of it so that you don't get the other alages. You should occasionally clean your sump to get rid of whatever is laying on the bottom.

 

[Netta Fish]

Thanks guys what about the sand im changing sump soon. do I want to keep that?

 

[Aquaph8]

Is it a deep sand bed in your sump?

 

[Netta Fish]

No maybe two and inches three at most

 

[Aquaph8]

I would try not to stir it up. If your gonna reuse, I'd rinse it just to be safe.

 

[J&O'sdad]

I can't believe more people don't syphon the detritus out during water changes. I must be a little ocd. I clean my sump.and use a turkey baster in between water changes.