what can i use to get rid of detritus

degibson84 · 01-21-2009, 02:32 AM

i have a few nassauriss snails and a few hermit crabs but they just dont seem to be doing the job. the detritus is in the sand bed. what are my best options to get rid of it???

kospaintball · 01-21-2009, 03:09 AM

How big is the tank? FOWLR or Reef? What kind of sand bed as in how fine is the sand?

Several things you may be interested in is a sand sifting star

Sand sifting star

Or if you have enough sand of the right size you may like to have a diamond goby

Diamond Goby

degibson84 · 01-21-2009, 09:49 AM

it is a 45 gallon reef tank. the sand is pretty fine with some bigger black grains. i had a sand sifting star about two years back and it didn't really keep the sand bed clean at all.

BigAl07 · 01-21-2009, 09:52 AM

You need to look at it from two sides

A) Reduce what's causing the detritus (Over feeding or over stocking)

B) Increase your CUC

I can tell you what will help is to vac the upper most portion of the sand during every water change. I'm assuming you are doing weekly water changes to help remove it from the system.

ReefLady · 01-21-2009, 09:53 AM

I'd be curious why there is so much detritus on the sand. There shouldn't be a lot unless there is overstocking/overfeeding. What do you have in the tank for a cleanup crew - total?

(Edit - sorry Al, I was typing while you were hitting the post button. LOL)

degibson84 · 01-21-2009, 10:15 AM

there are thousand of mico brittle stars

about 10 nassauris snails two hermits and a few tiny trochus snails

Al- what does CUC stand for???

wonderloss · 01-21-2009, 10:20 AM

CUC=clean up crew

ReefLady · 01-21-2009, 10:23 AM

I'd add another 5 Nassarius, maybe a half dozen Cerith. I'd add maybe 2-3 very small blue legged hermits (some will disagree, but they are great for detritus), and a few Planaxis sp. snails. Maybe a small black brittle star.
Check out the sponsor ReefCleaners.org - they have a lot of good stuff.

degibson84 · 01-21-2009, 10:24 AM

thanks.

thats what i am looking for but it is hard to get stuff around here since i only have two shops one i just found Saturday and the other who rarely keeps stocked up in the winter.

the new shop i found only has snails(nassariusand turbos) and hermits

ReefLady · 01-21-2009, 10:26 AM

If you do add hermits, make sure they are very small, and blue-legged. larger ones can get destructive. I'd also make sure there are a few empty shells in the tank (a bit larger than the crabs).

degibson84 · 01-21-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefLady

I'd add another 5 Nassarius, maybe a half dozen Cerith. I'd add maybe 2-3 very small blue legged hermits (some will disagree, but they are great for detritus), and a few Planaxis sp. snails. Maybe a small black brittle star.
Check out the sponsor ReefCleaners.org - they have a lot of good stuff.

i really dont want to purchase anything off the net this time of the year with a high barely getting out of the 20's

i think there is a chain store the has the tiny blue legs but i have never been found of being stuff from chain stores after spending tons of money on fish just for them not to make it overnight.

ReefLady · 01-21-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

i really dont want to purchase anything off the net this time of the year with a high barely getting out of the 20's

It's probably good to be cautious, but you might want to call them and ask if they would pack with extra heat packs, or would recommend waiting.

degibson84 · 01-21-2009, 10:33 AM

i will give the site a look and see what the prices are. if the prices are comparable to the local shops i will just end up buying here unless it is something i need and they cant get

thearnley · 01-21-2009, 10:53 AM

As long as you buy online from a reputable company, I wouldn't worry too much about the temp outside. I've received an order from liveaquaria.com and fosters and smith over the last month with temps much lower than 20 with no problem. They pack well in styrofoam and heat packs. Just make sure the you are able to receive the package when it's delivered - wouldn't want it sitting on my front porch all day. I have my stuff delivered to my office so it can at least be warm until I go home.

I have a diamond goby and he is AWESOME at keeping my sand bed sparkling. Lots of snails help as well. Also have a sand-sifting star that does a nice job.

degibson84 · 01-21-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thearnley

As long as you buy online from a reputable company, I wouldn't worry too much about the temp outside. I've received an order from liveaquaria.com and fosters and smith over the last month with temps much lower than 20 with no problem. They pack well in styrofoam and heat packs. Just make sure the you are able to receive the package when it's delivered - wouldn't want it sitting on my front porch all day. I have my stuff delivered to my office so it can at least be warm until I go home.

I have a diamond goby and he is AWESOME at keeping my sand bed sparkling. Lots of snails help as well. Also have a sand-sifting star that does a nice job.

well since i am on Worker's Comp. i am home most of the day but since im on worker's comp. that also limits my income and my budget to spend on my tank and with the shipping fees it is cheaper to buy at the local shops. only problem is that they dont really have much of a selection

01-21-2009, 02:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
degibson84 Achilles Tang Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Austintown, Ohio Posts: 809 View Gallery Karma Komment	what can i use to get rid of detritus i have a few nassauriss snails and a few hermit crabs but they just dont seem to be doing the job. the detritus is in the sand bed. what are my best options to get rid of it???

01-21-2009, 03:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
kospaintball Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 453 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: what can i use to get rid of detritus How big is the tank? FOWLR or Reef? What kind of sand bed as in how fine is the sand? Several things you may be interested in is a sand sifting star Sand sifting star Or if you have enough sand of the right size you may like to have a diamond goby Diamond Goby __________________ 14 gal nano 1 maroon, 1 clown goby, metalic green hairy mushroom, trumpets, Devil's hand leather, Frog spawn, kenya tree short tentacled plate, cinularis tree, zoas, clove coral

01-21-2009, 09:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
degibson84 Achilles Tang Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Austintown, Ohio Posts: 809 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: what can i use to get rid of detritus it is a 45 gallon reef tank. the sand is pretty fine with some bigger black grains. i had a sand sifting star about two years back and it didn't really keep the sand bed clean at all.

01-21-2009, 09:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: what can i use to get rid of detritus You need to look at it from two sides A) Reduce what's causing the detritus (Over feeding or over stocking) B) Increase your CUC I can tell you what will help is to vac the upper most portion of the sand during every water change. I'm assuming you are doing weekly water changes to help remove it from the system. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

01-21-2009, 09:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: what can i use to get rid of detritus I'd be curious why there is so much detritus on the sand. There shouldn't be a lot unless there is overstocking/overfeeding. What do you have in the tank for a cleanup crew - total? (Edit - sorry Al, I was typing while you were hitting the post button. LOL) __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

01-21-2009, 10:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
degibson84 Achilles Tang Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Austintown, Ohio Posts: 809 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: what can i use to get rid of detritus there are thousand of mico brittle stars about 10 nassauris snails two hermits and a few tiny trochus snails Al- what does CUC stand for???

01-21-2009, 10:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: what can i use to get rid of detritus I'd add another 5 Nassarius, maybe a half dozen Cerith. I'd add maybe 2-3 very small blue legged hermits (some will disagree, but they are great for detritus), and a few Planaxis sp. snails. Maybe a small black brittle star. Check out the sponsor ReefCleaners.org - they have a lot of good stuff. __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

01-21-2009, 10:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
degibson84 Achilles Tang Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Austintown, Ohio Posts: 809 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: what can i use to get rid of detritus thanks. thats what i am looking for but it is hard to get stuff around here since i only have two shops one i just found Saturday and the other who rarely keeps stocked up in the winter. the new shop i found only has snails(nassariusand turbos) and hermits

01-21-2009, 10:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: what can i use to get rid of detritus If you do add hermits, make sure they are very small, and blue-legged. larger ones can get destructive. I'd also make sure there are a few empty shells in the tank (a bit larger than the crabs). __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

01-21-2009, 10:33 AM	#13 (permalink)
degibson84 Achilles Tang Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Austintown, Ohio Posts: 809 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: what can i use to get rid of detritus i will give the site a look and see what the prices are. if the prices are comparable to the local shops i will just end up buying here unless it is something i need and they cant get

01-21-2009, 10:53 AM	#14 (permalink)
thearnley Limpet Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 133 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: what can i use to get rid of detritus As long as you buy online from a reputable company, I wouldn't worry too much about the temp outside. I've received an order from liveaquaria.com and fosters and smith over the last month with temps much lower than 20 with no problem. They pack well in styrofoam and heat packs. Just make sure the you are able to receive the package when it's delivered - wouldn't want it sitting on my front porch all day. I have my stuff delivered to my office so it can at least be warm until I go home. I have a diamond goby and he is AWESOME at keeping my sand bed sparkling. Lots of snails help as well. Also have a sand-sifting star that does a nice job. __________________ 90 gallon reef (SPS, LPS, Softies, 150+ lbs LR) 2 each 400 watt Coralvue 20k MH -------------------------------------- 210 FOWLR - 100 lbs LR, ?? lbs sand/live sand - French Angel, Zebra Moray, Stars & Stripes Puffer, Foxface Rabbit

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