yep nother stupid question about dirt

[Phishnoob]

Okies now another dilemma. I added a Detritovore kit last week but there is some dirt in my gravel and I can't suck it up. As long as I dont disturb the sand bed there is no problem but it seems like there is a lot of crud in there. I read all the threads about long term replacement, but for short term (tank is three months old with 50 lb live rock) should I just sit on my hands. I don't want my little bugs and stuff to poof during clean up.

I don't have a mechanical filter anymore so can't do the swirl it up and let that sort it method

Phishnoob

[Geoff]

you can siphon up the stuff in the top 1/2" without any danger. it is when you go deeper that you will hit the anoxic layer. this could release toxins into the system.

it is a good idea to siphon that crud as often as you can. another thing that helps is if you can get just enough flow in the system to get detritus moving yet not get the sand blowing all over the place.

G~

[Phishnoob]

Do the critters live in the rocks or the sand...I see a ton of them all over my rock but if there is stuff in the sand dont want to suck it up.

I'll try a 15 percent water change and not go crazy with the suction tube to see what happens.

The dirt pretty much stopped off the rocks but there is a lot on top of the sand still.

Phishnoob

[Geoff]

they will repopulate quickly. you do not need to worry to much about hurting thier overall populations. think about where all of these critters came from, the LR. the ones in the LR will just repopulate the sand when they get to crowded in the LR.

G~