Cleaning a sump

[Mario0240]

Hey guys!

So I’m planning on deep cleaning my tank and sump this weekend. My question is, what is this that’s growing in the inside of my sump? It’s also on the back of my tank. I had a little power head in my tank when I got it but I took it out and it too has this crud built up on it. Also, How should I go about getting it, and the algae that’s in my return section, out of the sump?

 

[SaltyFoxfish]

I'm not sure what that stuff is, but for cleaning the sump I would shut off the pumps, mark the water level on the outside of the glass, then scrub the walls and suck out all the water. That way you are completely removing whatever gunk that is without it going into your tank. Then just refill to the line with clean water and turn the pumps back on.

 

[Mario0240]

I'm not sure what that stuff is, but for cleaning the sump I would shut off the pumps, mark the water level on the outside of the glass, then scrub the walls and suck out all the water. That way you are completely removing whatever gunk that is without it going into your tank. Then just refill to the line with clean water and turn the pumps back on.

Ok cool.. so scrape/scrub the crud out of there, suction it out with a baster (maybe?), then refill. I can do that...

 

[Idoc]

Those are probably spirobid worms all over the walls of your sump. Not a bad thing... I scrape them off mine regularly. Look at one under a magnifying glass...should look like a little spiral like snail shell.

 

[Mario0240]

You just may be right!! That’s exactly what they look like... I don’t mind them as much in the back of the tank, but I still wanna clean it all. I’m somewhat off when it comes to that. Heck, there are scratches in the inside of the glass that drive me absolutely up the wall!

 

[mikus]

I have the same growing in my dis / sump. Def spirobid worms ^. I have also found pineapple sponges in my sump in darker areas. Good sign of a healthy system! I haven't tried to remove any of mine yet. Wonder if introducing coraline algae would inhibit the growth of these once the coraline begins to take a foot hold??

 

[Hemmdog]

I have the same growing in my dis / sump. Def spirobid worms ^. I have also found pineapple sponges in my sump in darker areas. Good sign of a healthy system! I haven't tried to remove any of mine yet. Wonder if introducing coraline algae would inhibit the growth of these once the coraline begins to take a foot hold??

It does to an extent I seeded my reef with purple helix if your looking for some coralline. It worked well.

 

[joseserrano]

I’d be careful if a deep clean. It’s could through off you balance. I’d recommend small parts

 

[mikus]

It does to an extent I seeded my reef with purple helix if your looking for some coralline. It worked well.

I def love the look of coralline in a tank, but am a bit hesitant to introduce it since it is so indiscriminately invasive on everything! lol I guess i'm more concerned of how it would uptake the elements in my tank. Im still figuring out how to dial in my esv 2 part, and I only have two acan frags and...well, a lot of algae in my fuge lol. Note, I've only had to dose alk thus far...

 

[mikus]

I’d be careful if a deep clean. It’s could through off you balance. I’d recommend small parts

I agree! I am a bit of an OCD clean/neat and "I want it now" type of freak! lol. Since introducing myself into reefing, it has become a kind of unexpected cure to all of that, in forcing me to wait, and neater/cleaner is not always better! =)

 

[Hemmdog]

I agree! I am a bit of an OCD clean/neat and "I want it now" type of freak! lol. Since introducing myself into reefing, it has become a kind of unexpected cure to all of that, in forcing me to wait, and neater/cleaner is not always better! =)

I relate and am the same way. Clean your tank glass all you want, do it twice a day if you like. Sumps are supposed to be yucky though. It’s difficult if your not use to having anything “dirty” in your home. I’d leave it be, maybe tidy it up after year 2.

 

[mikus]

...Since, I think my vehicles have received the same treatment! lol!!!

 

[Mario0240]

Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine.... I’ll leave the sump all wormed up... but I’m scraping some display glass Sunday, come hell or high water!! Gravel vacuuming too!

 

[melanotaenia]

if you do have a layer of dirt/debris or other crap at the bottom of your sump it would be good to siphon that out, but not necessary to scrape/clean glass or anything like that.

 

[Mario0240]

if you do have a layer of dirt/debris or other crap at the bottom of your sump it would be good to siphon that out, but not necessary to scrape/clean glass or anything like that.

There’s just some green algae in my return pump area... the refugium is, obviously, algae and the skimmer just has the worms all over it.... I can live with it if it means a happy tank...

 

[vetteguy53081]

It’s a combination of calcium deposits and worms. I recommend old credit card- will remove everything safely any easily

 

[mikus]

There’s just some green algae in my return pump area... the refugium is, obviously, algae and the slimmer just has the worms all over it.... I can live with it if it means a happy tank...

I do actually scrape algae off of the glass anywhere but in my fuge. It helps for it not to create a foothold anywhere else in the system. What type of lighting are you using in the fuge / photo period? My sump is a 55 gal breeder, and I found that a 12 x 12 (which is actually around 11.75 x 11.75) Hydro basket fits perfectly within the rim of the tank. I moved my chaeto, which was infused with HA, into that basket positioned with kessil h380 above, and has since acted like an algae scrubber. HA is slowly taking over the chaeto, but no algae anywhere else. The small hint of algae on the rock in the DIS is quickly taken care of by my CUC, tangs, and starry blenny. ( I would get a lawnmower blenny if granted a second chance!)

 

[melanotaenia]

In that case I would siphon any detritus there is (if any) in the return pump and skimmer chamber area and call it a day

 

[Mario0240]

I do actually scrape algae off of the glass anywhere but in my fuge. It helps for it not to create a foothold anywhere else in the system. What type of lighting are you using in the fuge / photo period? My sump is a 55 gal breeder, and I found that a 12 x 12 (which is actually around 11.75 x 11.75) Hydro basket fits perfectly within the rim of the tank. I moved my chaeto, which was infused with HA, into that basket positioned with kessil h380 above, and has since acted like an algae scrubber. HA is slowly taking over the chaeto, but no algae anywhere else. The small hint of algae on the rock in the DIS is quickly taken care of by my CUC, tangs, and starry blenny. ( I would get a lawnmower blenny if granted a second chance!)

I wish I could get a blend... but I fear my carpet anemone and lionfish would see him as too good of a treat. The light that’s in my five nownis just a white led strip.. I just got this take off of a guy as a whole set up for a steal. 90g tank, 20ish gallon emerald trigger sump, bubble magus curve 5, lionfish, urchin, and carpet anemone.

 

[Sailingeric]

Home Depot has a bucket top wet/dry vac for about $25. I use it to suck up my detritus in my sump.