WMAS Discussion Forum : Cuke in sump http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:16:26 +0000 Fri, 28 Nov 2003 10:06:28 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=1327 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[Cuke in sump : pro vac Though I never have actually...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11237&title=cuke-in-sump#11237 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 1327
Posted: November 28 2003 at 10:06am

pro vac

Though I never have actually needed to vacuum! I constantly trade LS for new to all my hobby friends.]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2003 10:06:28 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11237&title=cuke-in-sump#11237 <![CDATA[Cuke in sump : Mark, That being said would you...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11160&title=cuke-in-sump#11160 Author: Carl
Subject: 1327
Posted: November 26 2003 at 8:52am

Mark, That being said would you consider yourself pro vac or con vac? Just curious...]]> Wed, 26 Nov 2003 08:52:51 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11160&title=cuke-in-sump#11160 <![CDATA[Cuke in sump : I understand that detritus in...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11130&title=cuke-in-sump#11130 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 1327
Posted: November 25 2003 at 8:17pm

I understand that detritus in an aquarium is a term describing a wide range of decomposing yet growing organic matter. It could describe the morning's uneaten food or a kind of bacterial and fungal matrix surrrounding and connecting bits of old uneaten food, poop, dead organisms, exoskeletons from shrimp, grammerus, pods, etc.

Every tank has this matrix stuff in the pockets of LR and even the cleanest sand. To find it, just squirt and collect the dirty water from the back or undersides of LR or take a cup of LS. These materials can be examined with a magnifying glass or a microscope.

The critters in the rock and sand "eat and excrete" their own favorite parts of organic matter/detritus making it usable by ever smaller organisms. But in my experience, it never totally disappears.

Edited by Mark Peterson]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2003 20:17:24 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11130&title=cuke-in-sump#11130 <![CDATA[Cuke in sump : I agree with Carl, shouldn&#039;t...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11102&title=cuke-in-sump#11102 Author: Diverdan
Subject: 1327
Posted: November 25 2003 at 12:50pm

I agree with Carl, shouldn't all the pods and stuff eat all of the detritus? An ounce of anything organic doesn't last a minute with my clean up crew. It is happily eaten. My refugium is the same way, packed with pods and spotless. I feed fairly heavy too.

I have nothing in my refugium that would eat pods/small worms(no snails or hemits), so the population is huge. I think this is one of the keys to the refugium working properly as a filter. I am at the point that it is my only filter, no protein skimmer whatsoever.

My $.02, I guess I am cheap!

Rich]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2003 12:50:41 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11102&title=cuke-in-sump#11102 <![CDATA[Cuke in sump : It&#039;s been my experience that...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11101&title=cuke-in-sump#11101 Author: jfinch
Subject: 1327
Posted: November 25 2003 at 12:49pm

It's been my experience that even when vacuuming there is always an overabundance of "floatsom and Jetsam".  But that may be due to my lack of a dsb...]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2003 12:49:46 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11101&title=cuke-in-sump#11101 <![CDATA[Cuke in sump : My $2 on this (I ain&#039;t cheap)... de·tri·tus...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11099&title=cuke-in-sump#11099 Author: Carl
Subject: 1327
Posted: November 25 2003 at 12:35pm

My $2 on this (I ain't cheap)...

de·tri·tus   Audio pronunciation of "detritus" ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (d-trts)
n. pl. detritus

  1. Loose fragments or grains that have been worn away from rock.
    1. Disintegrated or eroded matter: the detritus of past civilizations.
    2. Accumulated material; debris: “Poems, engravings, press releaseshe eagerly scrutinizes the detritus of fame” (Carlin Romano)

In hoddy terms, many view anything on the top of the substrate as detritus including organic waste, etc. This would certainly be applicable to Shane's usage of the term as opposed to erosion of rock. If this is the case, why wouldn't we consider increasing the cleanup crew population? My hermits practically follow my fish around waiting for something to drop (eeeewwww).

I used to vac the substrate occassionally... OK religiously. However, if ORGANICS are the issue, and it is not due to overfeeding, would it not be of benefit to your bacterial and scavenger populous? If the desire is to stir the substrate, Mother Nature has been kind enough to make many animals that do this for us. I don't know, perhaps I view vac'ing as trying to create too sterile of an environment without creating benefit. And it's a pain.

Just a thought... whatever works!

]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2003 12:35:29 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11099&title=cuke-in-sump#11099 <![CDATA[Cuke in sump : I think I&#039;ll throw a cuke...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11067&title=cuke-in-sump#11067 Author: Shane H
Subject: 1327
Posted: November 25 2003 at 8:06am

I think I'll throw a cuke in my sump and see how it goes. I'm not a huge fan of the filter bags - but I have vacuumed my refugium before. It's just a pain! I'm all about low maintenance. If I can get an ugly worm to do it for me - that's the ticket. I know, I know, cukes are not worms - but you get the idea.

I havn't ever needed to vacuum the gravel in my main tank. I don't get much detritus build up due to the water movement. I do occasionally get some brown algae growth on the surface - that is quickly cleaned by the cuke.

I'll post if I have problems.]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2003 08:06:55 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11067&title=cuke-in-sump#11067 <![CDATA[Cuke in sump : The solution would be to clean...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11055&title=cuke-in-sump#11055 Author: crazy-sps
Subject: 1327
Posted: November 24 2003 at 10:34pm

The solution would be to clean or change the bag more frequently.  I always put the pods in the main tank to feed my fish, and some particles may get back into the main tank, but they'll get taken out by the bag again.  Just don't ever wash the bag with any detergent.  The best thing to do would be wash it in your sink with bleach or your a garden hose and a high-pressure nozzle.]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2003 22:34:52 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11055&title=cuke-in-sump#11055 <![CDATA[Cuke in sump : I used a filter bag before but...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11045&title=cuke-in-sump#11045 Author: ffc3
Subject: 1327
Posted: November 24 2003 at 8:23pm

I used a filter bag before but it also caught a lot of pods.  I tried dumping some of the pods back in but it also puts a lot of the detritus back in also so I stopped using the bags.  Is there a solution for this?]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2003 20:23:29 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11045&title=cuke-in-sump#11045 <![CDATA[Cuke in sump : I try to whip some up. I do a...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11044&title=cuke-in-sump#11044 Author: crazy-sps
Subject: 1327
Posted: November 24 2003 at 8:22pm

I try to whip some up.  I do a monthly cleaning that involves a vac and a water change. 

]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2003 20:22:02 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1327&PID=11044&title=cuke-in-sump#11044