Large Amount of Chaeto in the sump- Mechanical filter?

I usually run a filter sock/bag on the intake to the sump.
But when I get lazy, I put a mesh bag over it, 'cause I don't have to clean the mesh bag.

I often 'stir/turn over' my chaeto mass in the sump, 'cause it pulls pods, food etc. back thru the return to the DT, helping feed my corals, etc.

I was giving away a gallon ziplock stuffed with chaeto away yesterday and noticed an usual amount of detritus in my chaeto mass.

So after he left, I turned and stirred it up alot with my hands- which caused a storm in my DT!
So now I got out my turkey baster and shot the water off my rocks in my DT cleaning them, and continued to mix my chaeto mass.

Now keep in mind, my chaeto clump is about 18" across, by 12+ a" high, by 21" wide- hugh clump of chaeto. pulling out what would stuff a gallon bag full didn't put a dent in it!

While all this detritus and pod storm was going on,
I of course put a filter bag in the overflow to the sump!!

After about an hour, crystal clear water again, and potentially cleaner tank too.

So my point is that when the filter sock/bag is not on the OF's return to the sump, it will inevitably build up some detritus over time in the chaeto- especially if all the water from the PS section goes entirely thru the chaeto, before it goes to the Return pump.
MIne is so massive, it does not 'tumble'

So moral of the story- the 'ol dilemma- sock/bag, or not?

For my set up, I'll start running it more often now.

PS- DT and corals looking amazing today.

Much to the chagrin of my fish, I'm going to try and feed a little less also.
One thing that is going to help is that I now have my powerheads/fan in the DT on one power strip, and I
'm starting to turn it off for a few minutes during feeding time- even though the sumps syhtem is still flowing- I think that wioll also help the fish getting a higher percentage of the food. LIke fromk 80ish% to near 100%, before it get blown into the rock work, etc.

 

for the sake of it run a few tests to see if anything bounced up. i would think detritus in a sump would be a good thing for the macro as well as the little inhabitants. an occasional controlled "storm" as you call it might be beneficial to your DT but again only tests will determine what the price if this really is.

i would not use socks for fear of crunk buildup without it being broken down by the critters you would find in the sump, but thats just me.

however i believe the sock used the way you did to clear the water is perfectly fine as long as you clean the sock once the water is clear again.

but again solemnly my opinion

p,s i also think its a good idea to cut some power heads off for feeding, you want to have some movement to spread the food, but limit the amount that gets to the overflow.

 

Thanks fo the reply,

I used to have a Chochlate Chip Sea star in the sump, finally gave him waway though.
I currenlty don't have any hermits, etc. in my sump.
No sand bed either. I do siphon easy to get to parts of the bottom though during wc's.
I do clean/change the socks every few days, cause it overflows from getting clogged.

 

I've had a chocolate chip starfish in my reef DT for 6 months now and had no issues. He's always moving around on the rocks but the only coral he crawls over is my green star polyps.
What bennifit is there to having him in the fuge with the chaeto?

 

Ironically, When my GSP was just getting established, and was only about a silver dollar size, I looked one morning and the CC star was on top of it and had eaten nearly all of it.

I didn't like that at the time, so I put him in my sump, where he lived about a year or more, then rehomed him for free!

 

Still giving some away?

 

Why yes, can you come and pick it up? Gallon bag full?