Long term detritus management

[A Toadstool Leather]

I have been having continous issues with detritus which has caused nutrient problems The tank has 1 fish and I siphon the sandbed weekly. However detritus builds up beneath the rocks and no matter how much I siphon the sand is still dirty. I use sponges as part of my filtration, should I use filter floss instead to capture smaller particles?

 

[Brew12]

I have been having continous issues with detritus which has caused nutrient problems The tank has 1 fish and I siphon the sandbed weekly. However detritus builds up beneath the rocks and no matter how much I siphon the sand is still dirty. I use sponges as part of my filtration, should I use filter floss instead to capture smaller particles?

I don't believe you can ever filter out all of the detritus. I would consider expanding your CuC if it is causing problems.

 

[Waters]

What kind of flow are you running? With proper water movement, the detritus never really has a chance to collect anywhere....it is kept suspended in the water column where it is eventually removed by filter media. To answer your question though, I would probably switch to filter floss.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

What kind of flow are you running? With proper water movement, the detritus never really has a chance to collect anywhere....it is kept suspended in the water column where it is eventually removed by filter media. To answer your question though, I would probably switch to filter floss.

My jbj 39 gallon has the stock pumps and thats it. Would a powerhead and filter floss be a good combination alongside siphoning?

 

[Greybeard]

Sounds like increased flow is the first thing I'd add.

Might consider some nassarius snails, they're excellent detrivores.

Patience... Time, and a tank full of healthy corals can go a long way in balancing an aquarium

 

[Waters]

My jbj 39 gallon has the stock pumps and thats it. Would a powerhead and filter floss be a good combination alongside siphoning?

Yes, I would defiantly add a powerhead to get the water moving around the rock. The return pump alone normally isn't enough. The filter floss will help a lot also once the detritus starts moving around.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Agree on flow.. You need to keep it suspended in your water column so it can be effectively removed via your filtration system

 

[jda]

Do not add any CUC just yet until we figure out what is going on. Detritus is mostly benign and the remnant of poo after all of the nutrients have been stripped out of it - nothing can survive on this. Unmolested poo and excess food can greatly benefit by some more clean up crew. Which do you have?

The bottom line is that true detritus does not impact your system except to "gum up the works" in the sand and on the rock - it needs to be removed every so often, but it does not impact anything by sitting there for a while. No matter how much flow you have, it will still settle and get bound in the pores of rock - keeping it 100% waterborne is more of a dream than a reality, but you can really help this some with more flow. The organic carbon, N and P are already long gone from this. Dr. Holmes Farley has opined that the vast majority of phosphate is excreted in urine with just a trace in feces. The other nutrients that are in feces are quickly scavenged by waterborne bacteria, your other fish that will eat each other's poop, and some clean up crew.

 

[ZoWhat]

define "detritus"....

like the grayish ash that builds up in low flow areas?
i believe its just harmless ash that just has to be manually removed

once removed then proper flow and a FILTER SOCK helps tremendously

 

[Waters]

Do not add any CUC just yet until we figure out what is going on. Detritus is mostly benign and the remnant of poo after all of the nutrients have been stripped out of it - nothing can survive on this. Unmolested poo and excess food can greatly benefit by some more clean up crew. Which do you have?

The bottom line is that true detritus does not impact your system except to "gum up the works" in the sand and on the rock - it needs to be removed every so often, but it does not impact anything by sitting there for a while. No matter how much flow you have, it will still settle and get bound in the pores of rock - keeping it 100% waterborne is more of a dream than a reality, but you can really help this some with more flow. The organic carbon, N and P are already long gone from this. Dr. Holmes Farley has opined that the vast majority of phosphate is excreted in urine with just a trace in feces. The other nutrients that are in feces are quickly scavenged by waterborne bacteria, your other fish that will eat each other's poop, and some clean up crew.

I agree that a lot of detritus rests in the crevices of rocks.....that is what a turkey baster and regular water changes are for

 

[Brew12]

that is what a turkey baster

pfft... this is what power tools are for!!!

https://www.cobaltaquatics.com/products/mj1200-multi-purpose-powerhead-pump?variant=11708296199

So much more effective than a turkey baster!

 

[Waters]

pfft... this is what power tools are for!!!

https://www.cobaltaquatics.com/products/mj1200-multi-purpose-powerhead-pump?variant=11708296199

So much more effective than a turkey baster!

Lol true....can always use the powerhead leaf blower

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

define "detritus"....

like the grayish ash that builds up in low flow areas?
i believe its just harmless ash that just has to be manually removed

once removed then proper flow and a FILTER SOCK helps tremendously

Its a greyish brown ash that gets sucked up when I siphon the sand or blow on it with a turkey baster.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Do not add any CUC just yet until we figure out what is going on. Detritus is mostly benign and the remnant of poo after all of the nutrients have been stripped out of it - nothing can survive on this. Unmolested poo and excess food can greatly benefit by some more clean up crew. Which do you have?

The bottom line is that true detritus does not impact your system except to "gum up the works" in the sand and on the rock - it needs to be removed every so often, but it does not impact anything by sitting there for a while. No matter how much flow you have, it will still settle and get bound in the pores of rock - keeping it 100% waterborne is more of a dream than a reality, but you can really help this some with more flow. The organic carbon, N and P are already long gone from this. Dr. Holmes Farley has opined that the vast majority of phosphate is excreted in urine with just a trace in feces. The other nutrients that are in feces are quickly scavenged by waterborne bacteria, your other fish that will eat each other's poop, and some clean up crew.

I was primarily asking about detritus management since I had thought detritus had been causing my nutrient issues. There is a single fish in my 30 gallon tank that gets a 5 gallons wc per week which is why I ruled out overfeeding. I run my system without a skimmer due to the low stocking. Are you sure that the brown junk that settles in my filter sponge is harmless?

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Yes, I would defiantly add a powerhead to get the water moving around the rock. The return pump alone normally isn't enough. The filter floss will help a lot also once the detritus starts moving around.

Should I add two smaller powerheads in two locations or one larger one?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I was primarily asking about detritus management since I had thought detritus had been causing my nutrient issues.

Unlikely.
Detritis has a breakdown time frame. It doesn't just continually add nutrients forever. Its your nutrient filter thats the problem, especially if it isn't coping with just one fish.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Unlikely.
Detritis has a breakdown time frame. It doesn't just continually add nutrients forever. Its your nutrient filter thats the problem, especially if it isn't coping with just one fish.

Btw by detritus I mean the brown gunk that got into my pumps. What do you mean by nutrient filter? Are you talking about nutrient export?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

. What do you mean by nutrient filter? Are you talking about nutrient export?

Yes

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Yes

I guess more water changes are in order then.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I guess more water changes are in order then.

What is your nutrient export method? besides water changes.