what is detritus

kware · 12/21/2007, 03:16 PM

Will somebody explain exactly what detritus is? I always thought it was fish waste and therefore bad, but today I read that it comes from liverock and that it is good ?

kawicivic · 12/21/2007, 03:20 PM

junk or stuff

that is the best way to describe it... its stuff in your tank that is decomposed organics... it can be fish waste or dead material from live rock. Detritus is defined as: "non-living particulate organic material (as opposed to dissolved organic material). It typically includes the bodies of dead organisms or fragments of organisms or fecal material. Detritus is normally colonized by communities of microorganisms which act to decompose (or remineralize) the material." (wikipedia)

Bebo77 · 12/21/2007, 03:20 PM

yup...^^^^

kware · 12/21/2007, 03:22 PM

so um... should I vacume it all up as soon as I see it or let it do it's thing and leave it in there?

Bebo77 · 12/21/2007, 03:26 PM

lol.. flow man.. you need FLOW...

mcrist · 12/21/2007, 04:22 PM

Depends on your setup. If you can increase your flow so your skimmer can remove it is the best option or you could manually remove it by vacuuming.

demonsp · 12/21/2007, 05:50 PM

This may help GL.

http://netclub.athiel.com/cyano/cyanos2.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/1/aafeature/view

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...id=285&aid=243
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/sta...opmistakes.htm

chillman · 12/21/2007, 07:00 PM

Try removing it when you do a water change by siphoning it out of your tank. I have a bare bottom tank (no sand) and it collects/ piles up in one spot - where I siphon it out each week. Its amazing how much gathers in a weeks time.

12/21/2007, 03:16 PM	#1
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	what is detritus Will somebody explain exactly what detritus is? I always thought it was fish waste and therefore bad, but today I read that it comes from liverock and that it is good ?

12/21/2007, 03:20 PM	#3
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	yup...^^^^ __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

12/21/2007, 03:26 PM	#5
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	lol.. flow man.. you need FLOW... __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

12/21/2007, 04:22 PM	#6
mcrist Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Posts: 1,598	Depends on your setup. If you can increase your flow so your skimmer can remove it is the best option or you could manually remove it by vacuuming. __________________ Mark Current Tank Info: 450 Gallon Peninsula

12/21/2007, 03:20 PM	#2
kawicivic Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rockford Posts: 2,316	junk or stuff that is the best way to describe it... its stuff in your tank that is decomposed organics... it can be fish waste or dead material from live rock. Detritus is defined as: "non-living particulate organic material (as opposed to dissolved organic material). It typically includes the bodies of dead organisms or fragments of organisms or fecal material. Detritus is normally colonized by communities of microorganisms which act to decompose (or remineralize) the material." (wikipedia)

12/21/2007, 03:22 PM	#4
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	so um... should I vacume it all up as soon as I see it or let it do it's thing and leave it in there?

12/21/2007, 05:50 PM	#7
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	This may help GL. http://netclub.athiel.com/cyano/cyanos2.htm http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/1/aafeature/view http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...id=285&aid=243 http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/sta...opmistakes.htm

12/21/2007, 07:00 PM	#8
chillman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SI, NY Posts: 164	Try removing it when you do a water change by siphoning it out of your tank. I have a bare bottom tank (no sand) and it collects/ piles up in one spot - where I siphon it out each week. Its amazing how much gathers in a weeks time.