Extremely dirty sump

iamsamuel93 · Jul 13, 2017

Hi guys, I'm new to reefing. I'm in about close to a month. Just realised my sump is unusually dirty compared to other reefers. I understand that the output to the display tank however there are some slime around my hose. Anyone can identify the issue and how I can rectify it? And also, my filter sock compartment is also unusually dirty compared to others as well. Pictures are as per below.
Thanks!

leahfiish · Jul 13, 2017

Doesn't look that bad to me. It may help to change your filter socks more often, or to increase flow in your sump with a small powerhead.

iamsamuel93 · Jul 13, 2017

leahfiish said:
Doesn't look that bad to me. It may help to change your filter socks more often, or to increase flow in your sump with a small powerhead.

I change my filter socks once every 2-3 days :/

leahfiish · Jul 13, 2017

You could also try socks with finer mesh to catch more of the debris although you'll definitely have to change them a lot then.

seastar · Jul 13, 2017

You can scoop out that film on top. That should clear out eventually. For sump maintenance I use a combination of a powerhead to stir up the gunk in there or a wet shop vac for one of my water changes - depending on my mood.

A little secret, my sump looks like yours before I take my shots I share with the group.

iamsamuel93 · Jul 13, 2017

Hmm but anyone knows what's that slime at my return pump area?

For the filter sock compartment, is it because of too much nutrient export?

revhtree · Jul 13, 2017

Honestly that isn't too bad at all!

hart24601 · Jul 13, 2017

Wow, that looks pretty clean to me...

mcarroll · Jul 13, 2017

Overall it seems fine to me. I'd try hard not to worry so much – healthy reefs are not clean.

Also it looks like maybe you're overboard with bio-media.....unless you're planning to have no live rock I'd slowly remove the bio-media in the sump.

Is the skimmer working? That foamy stuff on the surface should have been skimmed out.

Also, I'd lose the filter sock. It shouldn't really be required – especially if you're keeping corals. Anything that makes it into the drain ought to be cycled back up to the tank so it can be eaten.

As someone already suggested, use a powerhead in the sump if needed. I do (and I have an open sump - no baffles) and my sump never accumulates detritus anymore. Plus, the way your sock is currently, it looks like it may be interfering with things more than it's helping.

iamsamuel93 · Jul 13, 2017

I've been to my friend's place and his water in the sump doesn't have any slime/gunk. So was kinda comparing to his... What does the role of a powerhead in the sump do? And yup the skimmer is working. I'm using a skimz sn143. Just bought it 2-3 weeks ago so i assume it should be fine.. I have to wash the skimmer cup once every 3 days too. the bio media is actually only a block of marine pure and a small box of 3dm rings. The other is a bag of carbon from AF.

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PS: Currently my tank is recovering from a diatom bloom and the last i checked my phosphate is 0.29ppm using Hanna checker

Is the gunk around the filter sock related to the high phosphate level?

seastar · Jul 13, 2017

iamsamuel93 said:
IWhat does the role of a powerhead in the sump do?

It just stirs up anything that settles and gets it back into the DT for your coral to consume. If you have something like an APEX you can program them to run a few minute every hour or something, or just do it manually as needed.