Help me understand Detrius

marke

New member
My system is running well. Sps grow well. I have po4 of .04, Nitrate of 1,and no algae problem. However my rocks get this dust on it (think thats what we call detrius). I blow it off, brush it off but it slowly returns. Then I wondered if this is good stuff like bacteria being feed by vinegar dosing. So the question is---what is it? Should I be removing it? Is it beneficial or harmful? Thanks for the education in advance!
 
If you are dosing it could be bactreria or just decaying matter which is what detritus is by defintion. I'd peronally blow it off in either case to give things a chance to eat it or for the skimmer to remove it.. If it's bacteria more will grow.
 
Detritus is a mixture of various things, from digested organics, precipitated salts, bacteria, zooplankton, and believe it or not, glass(from dead sponges and diatoms). This detritus needs to be removed, either via a protein skimmer, mechanical filtration, or ingestion by organisms. There are a couple different ways to acheive this.

First, make sure you're protein skimmer is functioning properly, preferably a wet skim as it removes larger particles better. Second, add a filter sock to either your sump or attach one to a pump in the tank. Thirdly, use a turkey baster or pump to blow the detritus off the rocks and into the water column to be eaten by corals, feather dusters, sponge, and other filter feeders or filtered out by the sock and skimmer. Try to do this on a regular basis. Your live rock will be much healthier this way. If you can, try to increase the flow or utilize the flow in the tank differently, inorder to keep this debris floating so it can be processed.
 
I don't agree using a filter sock or other mechanical filtratrion is necessary. It is especially messy if organic carbon dosing is in play.
 
I don't agree using a filter sock or other mechanical filtratrion is necessary. It is especially messy if organic carbon dosing is in play.

Not necessary, but it will certainly hasten the process of removing a lot of detritus. If cleaned regularly, every two days or so, bacterial clogging is minimized. Once the majority of the mulm is removed, the filter sock could be retired.
 
water circulation/flow seems to help a lot, plus the grazers that go through the rock kicking stuff up. Mine seem to be tubular castings, not sure whats causing the tubular shape.
 
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