Large sump detritus trap ?

[Chicago]

Ok so her is the question I have a large 55 gallon pre sump box that sits on top of the three hundred gallon horse troff that is my sump. About 30 gallons of water are in the pre sump and it collects detritus before going into the sump. I have a bunch of like baseball size live rock. Was thinking of putting it in the pre sump. That wAy. Pods multiple . Ect. More live rock in system ect. Here is question. Put a small power head in the pre sump to keep detritus in suspension or is there a benefit to having a small layer of detritus.? Do benificials creatures liive in detritus. Detritus level is Like a 1/4 inch.

 

[Alex T.]

I view detritus as Enemy #1 in slowly building up and causing problems. I am a stickler for shop vacuuming my sump when I do water changes; I use filter socks and have a sponge wedged into the bubble trap to stop any debris from entering the last chamber that houses the carbon and GFO reactors to give a final polish on the water before it is returned to the tank. Many (especially SPS keepers) do everything in their power to remove detritus when doing any maintenance.

I don't see what benefit there is to keeping broken down nutrients in your tank to build up until they reach critical mass and start affecting your water quality, nor do i really care to find out what critters will start colonizing it.

Just my .02

 

[BigOldReef]

I think if your pre sump is collecting the detritus naturally on its own, and its a convenient location to vacuum it out. I would leave things as is and remove the collected detritus when doing your regular maintenance.

You also might be able to add a filter sock setup to your presump and prevent the detritus from even collecting in it.

 

[Meanmike]

If I remember correctly which I do Randy Holmes lets his build up never removing it. He said its like mud in there.

 

[Chicago]

Thanks for the responses. I guess the real question is the same old one. Is detritus bad or good or to what extent.

 

[Meanmike]

I'm not going to say wich one is better but if it's ok with Randy then thats the way I'm going from now on

 

[coralreefdoc]

I believe Randys comment was facetious in nature ...

Either way, from what I understand, Randy keeps mostly softies and others which are not as demanding of water quality/nutrient conditions as most SPS species

 

[Meanmike]

I believe Randys comment was facetious in nature ...

Either way, from what I understand, Randy keeps mostly softies and others which are not as demanding of water quality/nutrient conditions as most SPS species

Not at all.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2172894

The rest may very well be true.

 

[mm949]

if your levels are stable, then leave it....worms/pods like that kind of crap