detritus - what is it and how is it detected?

saintperez · 09/09/2008, 02:47 PM

I know this a very newbie question but I've seen it come up in different threads but no explenation as to what it is. Good / Bad? What are the dangers? How can I catch it if I get it?

Thanks,
Santiago

kolosy · 09/09/2008, 02:48 PM

it's basically dirt. organic matter debris that builds up from normal life. some members of your CUC will help get rid of it. the remainder comes out when you do gravel vacuuming.

gimmic · 09/09/2008, 02:48 PM

poop, crap, decayed plant/animal matter. Junk on your rocks, sand bed.
It's bad, but also a food source for small creatures. Cleanup crew exist primarily to eat this stuff.

It isnt contagious, it comes with any living organism. Waste.

saintperez · 09/09/2008, 03:09 PM

Hey thanks, that was very quick response! So basically any of the burrowing fish and inverts take care of this stuff? The guy at my LFS told me that you really don't need to vacum your gravel. Is this true? I wonder what the percentage of people who did are as opposed to those who don't.

THanks again,
Santiago

jbc123 · 09/09/2008, 03:20 PM

You don't need to vacuum it like you do a FW tank, but when doing water changes it's a good idea to try and suck up anything loose.

aww_419 · 09/09/2008, 04:20 PM

Do you have sump? if so it is best to vaccume or siphon any det that accumulates in the sump and leave what in the tank. purchasing certain types of CUC just to get rid of det is not a good idea. depending on the crew there may not always be enough to keep them fed. A suggestion if you have a sump or not it to purchase some extra pods. they take care of detritus like its there job they are also food to certain members of your CUC.

saintperez · 09/09/2008, 08:40 PM

OK, here goes a totally new term, Pods. What the heck are Pods? I'm guessing they are little bugs that come with Live rock some times and you seem them from time to time crawling around like some kind of mini roach? How do you get Pods? DO you have to feed them anythingg besides the "Det"? Is there any danger to your params in having them?

seapug · 09/09/2008, 08:50 PM

You got it right. "pods" is short for copepods and amphipods, which are only two of many species of small crustaceans that make their way into your tank on live rock. They are very beneficial for your livestock and general water quality. They don't need to be fed, but *careful* additions of live phytoplankton can help boost their populations.

saintperez · 09/09/2008, 09:14 PM

Man, I feel like a total idiot here but here goes... phytoplankton come in the form of? Is it food, plants, suppliments?

I really apologize for the sumb questions but I haven't gotten that far along in the book.. he he.

THanks guys for coping with such a very amitious newbie reefer. My girlfriend saidd I need RA (Reefers Anonymous).

seapug · 09/09/2008, 10:26 PM

phytoplankton is microscopic floating algae. It's a source or food for zooplankton, which are microscopic floating animals, like many types of pods. See we've come full circle.

sw1tched · 09/09/2008, 10:45 PM

If you have good sand sifter (like a diamond goby) cleaning the sand is pretty much obsolete. mine do a good job of keeping the sand turned so algae doesnt grow on it & no det settles on it. 1 will cover an entire tank & give you more time to do other things.
-Joe

09/09/2008, 02:47 PM	#1
saintperez Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boca Raton, FL. Posts: 1,062	detritus - what is it and how is it detected? I know this a very newbie question but I've seen it come up in different threads but no explenation as to what it is. Good / Bad? What are the dangers? How can I catch it if I get it? Thanks, Santiago

09/09/2008, 02:48 PM	#2
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	it's basically dirt. organic matter debris that builds up from normal life. some members of your CUC will help get rid of it. the remainder comes out when you do gravel vacuuming. __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.

09/09/2008, 08:50 PM	#8
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	You got it right. "pods" is short for copepods and amphipods, which are only two of many species of small crustaceans that make their way into your tank on live rock. They are very beneficial for your livestock and general water quality. They don't need to be fed, but careful additions of live phytoplankton can help boost their populations. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

09/09/2008, 10:26 PM	#10
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	phytoplankton is microscopic floating algae. It's a source or food for zooplankton, which are microscopic floating animals, like many types of pods. See we've come full circle. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

09/09/2008, 02:48 PM	#3
gimmic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 515	poop, crap, decayed plant/animal matter. Junk on your rocks, sand bed. It's bad, but also a food source for small creatures. Cleanup crew exist primarily to eat this stuff. It isnt contagious, it comes with any living organism. Waste.

09/09/2008, 03:09 PM	#4
saintperez Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boca Raton, FL. Posts: 1,062	Hey thanks, that was very quick response! So basically any of the burrowing fish and inverts take care of this stuff? The guy at my LFS told me that you really don't need to vacum your gravel. Is this true? I wonder what the percentage of people who did are as opposed to those who don't. THanks again, Santiago

09/09/2008, 03:20 PM	#5
jbc123 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 177	You don't need to vacuum it like you do a FW tank, but when doing water changes it's a good idea to try and suck up anything loose.

09/09/2008, 04:20 PM	#6
aww_419 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 975	Do you have sump? if so it is best to vaccume or siphon any det that accumulates in the sump and leave what in the tank. purchasing certain types of CUC just to get rid of det is not a good idea. depending on the crew there may not always be enough to keep them fed. A suggestion if you have a sump or not it to purchase some extra pods. they take care of detritus like its there job they are also food to certain members of your CUC.

09/09/2008, 08:40 PM	#7
saintperez Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boca Raton, FL. Posts: 1,062	OK, here goes a totally new term, Pods. What the heck are Pods? I'm guessing they are little bugs that come with Live rock some times and you seem them from time to time crawling around like some kind of mini roach? How do you get Pods? DO you have to feed them anythingg besides the "Det"? Is there any danger to your params in having them?

09/09/2008, 09:14 PM	#9
saintperez Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boca Raton, FL. Posts: 1,062	Man, I feel like a total idiot here but here goes... phytoplankton come in the form of? Is it food, plants, suppliments? I really apologize for the sumb questions but I haven't gotten that far along in the book.. he he. THanks guys for coping with such a very amitious newbie reefer. My girlfriend saidd I need RA (Reefers Anonymous).

09/09/2008, 10:45 PM	#11
sw1tched Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Omaha NE Posts: 130	If you have good sand sifter (like a diamond goby) cleaning the sand is pretty much obsolete. mine do a good job of keeping the sand turned so algae doesnt grow on it & no det settles on it. 1 will cover an entire tank & give you more time to do other things. -Joe