help with debris

I have so much debris floatring in my 46. I have a hydork2 andk3. Idont point them directly at the corals come im afraid its to much flow on them but I have so much saw dust looking debris sitting on my rocks and some corals and in the tank I am wondering if I should direct thos powerheads directly on them now? I have no mechanical filtration not that would help the debris on the rocks but should I getr smaller powerheads but 3 of them?

 

banthony
I assume you dont have a sump - thus a filter sock is out of the question (simple method)

the problem is that the debris has nowhere to go in your system
if you have no mechanical filtration, then your stuck with what you can remove at water changes unless see below

reducing flow might make it less visible and keep it out the water column, but it will still be there, so sacrificing flow is not the solution

options

1) use the power heads to blast the rock on a weekly basis to to move all the debris into the water column and then use a diatomaceous filter for a couple of hours and this will remove particles down to 1 micron - blasting the rock half way through whilst running the diatom filter will ensure more debris stays in the water column and then gets removed - after use, clean the filter in RODI water and allow it to dry, to prevent bacteria colonising it

2) with a 5 micron or 1 micron filter sock substituted for the diatom filter
power head the rockwork , make the water dirty and then syphon the water through a filter sock and pump it back into the DT (a temporary sump so to speak) do this weekly for a few weeks and eventually you will have cleared all the small particles out and could probably repeat monthly or even less frequently

3) as above methods, but substitute an external cannister filter , filled with filter matting or sponge - use the outlet to power the rockwork clean and once the water is full of particles, allow the cannister to capture them, repeat a few times and do this on a weekly basis, and you will eventually capture most of the old debris and could then do this once per month

4) using what you have now, blast the rocks more often and use some filter matting or sponge in your HOB filter - this will trap the free floating debris, remove and rinse and allow to dry . the more often you do this, the quicker you will get on top of the smaller particles and thus improve aesthetics


all of the above methods would help to reduce / erradicate this issue
number 1 is the most efficient, then number 2 - etc

Steve

 

thank you Steve for the response. i will give number 1 a whirl. however what should I do to permanetly decrease the amoubnt of the debris that settles? I wasnt suggetioning less flow but smaller powerheads that would not be to much on the corals. for example, instead of my 3 using a hydor 3 and 2. (1450gph) I would use 3 smaller heads that I could am on the rock work. such as a nano 450 and 2 550s. Im just worried about direct flow on corals. as of now, the 3 is pointed on the back wall with flow directed straight to the other side, and the two is on the opposite wall in the front pointed towards opposite wall.

 

once you have cleared the back log of the debris

you wont have the same degree of problem banthony
its only because you have the accumulated waste in the tank from since the tank was set up, that its become such an issue for you

once you adapt the system to be able to cope with this situation (periodic mechanical filtration) you wont have a problem with the flow you have in terms of debris

changing out to smaller wavemakers , may be a good idea if the current set up creates to many hostile areas that make coral placement tricky


Steve

 

Well I just always hear people talking about "deadspots" and I figured I must have a few of those..Im still not confident or knowledgable in the area of flow yet. I want to make sure Im not missing anything. How do I know if I have deadspots?

 

one good indicator would be cynobacteria if you have a red film slime, which is cyno, that often arises in areas of very low flow, due to build up of nutrients in those areas

your issue may be flow, but I dont believe it is
my opinion is that at present you dont have the physical means to remove the debris, which has to settle somewhere, eventually

Steve

 

acually that you mention it, I do have a current cyano outbreak but it is mainly on my gravel. ok Steve as I understand your process of removing the debris now...but you mentioned I dont have the phisical means to remove it...What would the means be on a consisten basis to keep debris biuldup minimal? or are you just stating once I rid of it I wont have worry about it consistently?