Feather dusters in the sump, out of control

Delphinus · #1 08-05-2011, 07:52 AM

What do people do about the feather dusters in the sump if you have them? My sump is plagued by these. I feel bad to vacuum them out and flush them all but my sump is covered in these and I imagine their poop is contributing to the detritus buildup down there.

Have half a mind to go get a butterfly fish and let him go nuts in the sump..

What do others do? How often do you vacuum out your sump?

lastlight · #2 08-05-2011, 07:56 AM

1. shut flow off
2. kent scraper them into oblivion
3. use a net to remove the mess
4. pump back on

Delphinus · #3 08-05-2011, 07:57 AM

So one vote for eradication, lol. Okey dokey..

MarkoD · #4 08-05-2011, 12:31 PM

dont people pay like 20 bucks for these at the LFS?

wingedfish · #5 08-05-2011, 12:56 PM

I have the same issue in the sump, and getting out of control in the display as well. the butterfly was going to be my route.

Coleus · #6 08-05-2011, 03:47 PM

hmm I thought they are good to have because they clean your water. no?

Bloodasp · #7 08-05-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkoD

dont people pay like 20 bucks for these at the LFS?

The big ones that are colorful, yes. The small ones, I won't pay a dollar to get those.

lastlight · #8 08-05-2011, 04:32 PM

Yeah these are the small ones and he literally has sheets of them growing on previous sheets. Great wall of dusters.

I've never minded them in the sump but when they are that successful in a display they are unsightly I think.

badAZZlars · #9 08-05-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingedfish

I have the same issue in the sump, and getting out of control in the display as well. the butterfly was going to be my route.

Copperband butterfly is perfect for cleaning up the DT. Generally reef safe and they love these things. I'm pretty sure the first 2 weeks I had mine it lived solely on feather dusters until they were all gone. Then the trouble is getting them to eat other foods. Mine ended up liking frozen mysis but it took awhile to convince it to eat.

reefermadness · #10 08-05-2011, 04:10 PM

They are filter feeders.....the detritus would be there with or with out the feather dusters....the duster are there because there is high particlute matter to filter.

My vote is they are good.....leave them.