I’ve never really been too concerned about the detritus that gathers in hard to access areas of my sump. My lack of concern is probably the result of a lack of historic and/or obvious excess nutrient issues. But lately, in contemplating dealing with my increasing nutrients and decreasing overall SPS health, I’ve wondered about the contribution these areas actually make.
These areas of gathering detritus play host to gammarus, which I’ve always considered “healthy”, thus I’ve left them alone. But, gammarus are detrivores I suppose, obviously eating what sludge still has bound nutrient value, nutrients that have simply yet to go into the part of the cycle wherein I can detect them.
Everyone seems to want a sustained population of amphipods, including me, so I’ve been torn about cleaning these areas, and for a long time. And then I remember, balance.
For a short time I raised gammarus for a local hatchery. The tanks used were absolutely foul, and purposely so. Over feeding equaled increased population and filthy water – a balance ideal if one is selling gammarus. But, I’m not selling gammarus out of my home system!
I will indeed be cleaning these areas in my sump out. My gammarus population will go down, and, that’s a good thing. The gammarus hardly exist at all in my display, not only because they’re preyed upon but because there’s less detritus there. I think now that in my case a thriving population of amphipods in my sump is more of a symptom of an unwanted condition than it is a desired condition.
Be it in sync, either bound in solid poop or flesh (living or dead) nutrients are nutrients and they are to be exported by all means. Left alone, a balance will be maintained, and my desire is to push the balance towards a decreased overall amount of nutrients. This means removing amphipod food, amphipods, harvesting macro, scraping algae off glass, skimming effectively, feeding management, bio-load management (including but not limited to fish), and more.
I forget the most fundamental it seems. I forget the nature of a “cycle”. I forget balance.
Ramble over.
These areas of gathering detritus play host to gammarus, which I’ve always considered “healthy”, thus I’ve left them alone. But, gammarus are detrivores I suppose, obviously eating what sludge still has bound nutrient value, nutrients that have simply yet to go into the part of the cycle wherein I can detect them.
Everyone seems to want a sustained population of amphipods, including me, so I’ve been torn about cleaning these areas, and for a long time. And then I remember, balance.
For a short time I raised gammarus for a local hatchery. The tanks used were absolutely foul, and purposely so. Over feeding equaled increased population and filthy water – a balance ideal if one is selling gammarus. But, I’m not selling gammarus out of my home system!
I will indeed be cleaning these areas in my sump out. My gammarus population will go down, and, that’s a good thing. The gammarus hardly exist at all in my display, not only because they’re preyed upon but because there’s less detritus there. I think now that in my case a thriving population of amphipods in my sump is more of a symptom of an unwanted condition than it is a desired condition.
Be it in sync, either bound in solid poop or flesh (living or dead) nutrients are nutrients and they are to be exported by all means. Left alone, a balance will be maintained, and my desire is to push the balance towards a decreased overall amount of nutrients. This means removing amphipod food, amphipods, harvesting macro, scraping algae off glass, skimming effectively, feeding management, bio-load management (including but not limited to fish), and more.
I forget the most fundamental it seems. I forget the nature of a “cycle”. I forget balance.
Ramble over.
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