Cryptic zone filtration

[afrankiewicz12]

K so I'm making a cryptic zone filter in my sump on the skimmer side. The skimmer is sitting on a PVC platform in the section before the fuge, it's a pretty decent size section so the water flow is spread out and slow. The light is also not very bright reaching into tht section so one piece of black acrylic should make it dark enough for NPS sponges and worms can thrive. For homes for the NPS things I'm going to have tons of rubble rock and reef rock piled up. The only reason I really made this thread was cause I was wondering wether the sponges from my DT would make it down to the cryptic zone or if I would have to seed it, I know the tube worms will make it down but the sponge I'm on the fence about... I have plenty of ball and other sponges on the LR up top so if I have to seed it I'll be fine.

 

[dz6t]

You can move the sponge into the sump. I still don't understand why Steve Tyree want to totally block out all the lights in the crytic zone. Anyone else do this?

 

[dannyp02908]

I don't. Filtration works fine without adding more complications and thinks I can't see live or die. When things die, they pollute your water. Do it or don't, I doubt it will be of any benefit on systems the normal hobbyist keeps.

 

[afrankiewicz12]

i wasnt expecting a total difference my water is pretty clean now and im getting good growth i just know sponges build their structures and consume bad things and i like the idea of more space for micro critters cause i love them so much plus i think it will add a fourth dimension to my filtration that will benefit it some and i will be blocking about 80% of the light to the outside surfaces and probably 100% to the inside

 

[dannyp02908]

I like micro critters as well but these are critters you aren't going to see. Ever. As I said, you can do it but if those critters die off, you won't know. Further, I don't think any benefit will come on a hobbyist size system. Just another variable that could go wrong. Plus the area you are using is tiny. Steve Tyree had a whole seperate large tank for this IIRC.

 

[afrankiewicz12]

the section im using is about 10 gallons and i think ill try it out for the fun of it.