How long do Crawfish live for??

Notophthalmus said:
Bigger crays (Cherax, Cambarus, Procambarus, Orconectes species) will eat feeder fish; they may do too good a job of it and clean your stock out before they make it to the main tank. Dwarf crays (Cambarellus species) are unlikely to eat fish.

Crayfish are not really suitable as sump cleaners; they do scavenge dead fish and the like, but they don't eat the general muck that collects in sumps. If you just want to keep some, and your sump is the only space available, that's cool. Just don't expect them to clean it out.

A better choice for that task is scuds (amphipods). As a bonus, occasional individuals will be sucked through the pump and shot into the tank, where your fish can chow down on them.

*EDIT* I wouldn't recommend adding salt to your sump- it will go right into your main tank. You don't have to set up a glass aquarium for QT; you can use a rubbermaid tub or plastic bucket, etc.
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I know the salt goes to the main tank:), it also helps the Tats if they get Ich (since they get it pretty easy).

I think the scuds are to small and will get sucked in from my Pump real quick.
I have a pacific imports 4750Gph pump sumerg in the Sump
Though on a little research, it seems like it would of worked pretty good


http://www.pacificcoastimports.com/...0631H192F234F51F1F60629466T4129&c=4&kys=&pg=1

I am also thinking of maybe X-ing out the Crayfish and going with some king of hardy/ugly loaches. I seen some eel like loaches that are like a med/light brown???

4750gph.jpg
 
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Loaches do not eat detritus.

Is your sump open, or is there structure (filter floss, plants, sponges, etc.) in it? If it is open, I strongly suggest getting some medium to put in it that will provide more surface for bacteria (and, incidentally, scuds). A cheap and effective material is the bird netting used to cover vegetables; you can get it at home centers, gardening suppliers, nurseries, farmer's co-ops, etc. Just rinse it thoroughly, wad it up, and stuff it in the sump.

Alternatively, you could put some lights over your sump and plant it heavily with hornwort and other hardy plants. Either of these options will make your sump much more effective. Just be sure to put a pre-filter on your pump.
 
Notophthalmus said:
Loaches do not eat detritus.

Is your sump open, or is there structure (filter floss, plants, sponges, etc.) in it? If it is open, I strongly suggest getting some medium to put in it that will provide more surface for bacteria (and, incidentally, scuds). quote]

I do have a pre filter in the first chamber before the bioballs. Just bought 2 more chambers yesterday (I'll post a pic)
I also do have plants (anubias) in my 60gl DIY sump with 2 Juvi crayfish.

What did you mean by "medium"?? Did you mean Media??
I never thought of putting a net around the intake of the pump. Ganna try that.

DSC05964.JPG
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Any open-cell foam, like filter foam. Cut out a slot for the filter intake and stuff the foam down over it. You can even get premade foam pieces for larger pumps; look in pond supply places.

Nets clog up quickly, especially over the small area of an intake opening. The netting I was talking about would be for bacterial surface area in the sump, not mechanical filtration at the intake.
 
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