Sump critters?

[RonS]

So, what animals do you all have living in your sumps? Would like to get something in there to work on detritus, but would prefer it doesn't become snail-smoothie when it encounters the return pump : )

 

[Tanster2]

Mostly dozens if not hundreds of pineapple sponges. Different pods, and an occasional brittle star

 

[Tanster2]

None of those critter are in there on purpose

 

[bzb]

My sump has plenty of fun life to inspect with the flashlight. In order of quantity:

- green film algae. This has completely covered my last chamber, and I'm not entirely sure why
- copepods and amphipods - they're in every chamber, crawling around constantly
- spirobids, feather dusters, rotifiers (?) on the glass in just about every chamber
- scypha/pineapple sponges - tons of these in the first two chambers
- stomatella, have dozens of these, and a bunch live inside the skimmer. Weirdos.
- isopods and other microshrimp
- aiptasia
- one lonely hermit crab that was picking on my zoas

 

[RonS]

Thanks! I know people put crabs, snails, even fish in their sumps. Just trying to get an idea for what could be successful down there...

 

[bzb]

Snails and crabs will be fine, for sure. The return pump doesn’t cause as much of a vortex as our powerheads do.