Detritus help

Hey all,
For the longest time i only had one damsel in my 55 while i was waiting for it to mature to the point where i can add more fish. Its 5 months old now so over the past month Ive added three small fish; a lawnmower blenny, a sixline (practically a minnow when i got it), and a coral beauty. Im happy to report all are doing great. The problem is now I have noticed a significant increase in detritus, mostly composed of the waste from fish. I dont think i have been overfeeding, 5-6 times per week. Is this natural or is there something i can do? My clean up crew is 7 turbos, that enough? Should I add a couple crabs? Thanks for the help in advance!

 

I would add a couple of crabs, maybe some nassaruis snails... I loved my sea cucumber....

 

How much rock is in the tank? What kind of flow is in it? How much are you feeding of what when you do feed? Need to know a little bit more before we can help you out. Although as far as a cleaning crew it helps to have a varied one. Snails don't take care of detritus, but dwarf blue leg hermits are wonderful additions.

 

There is about 65lbs of live rock and i have 2 400gph powerheads. In addition for flow i also have two return lines running from my sump which is powered by a mag7. I use flake food, but never more than a small pinch. think maybe a redirection of the powerheads would help? none of them are really targeted at the sand.

 

blue legged hermits can be little devils too, and they'll forage any uneaten food. not much eats detritus except bristle worms, etc - which you don't really want in your tank either, if the size and population get out of control. plus a bigger 6 line wrasse may eat any small enough bristle worms it finds in the tank.

 

Marine fish waste is much more soluble in water than freshwater fish waste. Therefore the importance of using a protein skimmer for riding waste and other detrimental substances, whereas hang on and cannister filtration is ideal for freshwater aquariums. Marine fish waste becomes dissolved in water therefore the amount of solid waste being present and accumulating is not as evident as it would be in a freshwater aquarium in my opinion.
Having said this, I would go with a Serpent Sea Star, Sea Cucumber or Conch(fighting or Queen) for clean up crews!!!!!!!

 

Check out Just Phish JP has great prices on cleanup crews, and he's in CT.

 

Bavs I have almost the same setup as you and I have 12 blue leg hermit crabs , 12 astria snails, 10 nasarius snails along with diamond goby to sift the sand. they keep busy all the time and I have not gotten any detritus. just thought I would share. good luck.