Is detritus the same as pooh-pie?

[FishSticks]

I know it sounds like a dumb question, but no one seams to clearly state what detritus is. Is it fish food, dead plants, pooh-pie? So if detritus is pooh-pie is there any fish or invertabrates that eat detritus? Here's why I ask...

I have a 55 gallon aquarium that gets a 20% water change and vacuum clean every Sunday but since this is my first tank with sand Monday-Saturday I see little unsighly droplings all over my sand! Is there any fish or inverts that will "clear" up my problem?

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Yes, feces is detritus, as is dead plant and fish.

No fish eat feces, and I doubt that there are any animals that do, either. I was told ghost shrimp do, but I highly doubt that.

Best thing to do is to do frequent water changes if you have a problem. Otherwise, bacteria will take care of it, but that will raise your nitrites, amm., nitrate readings.

 

[gale]

I've seen ghost shrimp pick up stuff that *looked* like fish poo but I can't say with any certainty that it was fish poo.

I would get a turkey baster and take out the unsightly fish poos on the sand as you see them. Maybe keep a bucket for it near your tank and empty it a couple times a day? THAT's what I forgot at target yesterday-a turkey baster.

 

[FishSticks]

My tank is still cycling, I don't want to make too many water changes. I was hoping there would be a more simple solution than getting myself wet every day I'll buy 6-7 Ghost Shrimp, I'll give them a try.