How Clean Is Your Sump & Why ? (HONESTLY)!!!

427HISS · Jan 22, 2018

I've heard many people say leave it alone, and others that just can't. I've see photo's and video's showing NASTY dirty sumps and HOSPITAL clean sumps.

So, tell us about your sump, please post pics and video's.

Crabs McJones · Jan 22, 2018

427HISS said:
I've heard many people say leave it alone, and others that just can't. I've see photo's and video's showing NASTY dirty sumps and HOSPITAL clean sumps.

So, tell us about your sump, please post pics and video's.

I don't have any pictures or a video but I can tell you that I clean my Sump every 8 to 10 months with the Shop-Vac just to get all of the nasty detritus off of the bottom that settles there that the filter socks do not catch I will also scrape the walls of my refugium and suck that out as well as I do get build up on the walls

Mark Derail · Jan 22, 2018

Six months in from start-up, only the skimmer gets some cleaning love.

Crabs McJones · Jan 22, 2018

Mark Derail said:
Six months in from start-up, only the skimmer gets some cleaning love.

Thanks Mark for the reminder I need to deep clean my skimmer pretty soon too

DracoKat · Jan 22, 2018

every couple of months I'll vacuum one compartment at a time with a shop vac as I do a water change. The non-refugium compartments gets a lot of debris that I clean out.

Refugium itself is pretty much nasty. I'll scrap the algae off the side so I can actually see in.

nfrench2100 · Jan 22, 2018

I do my WC’s from my sump, so I’ll wipe the inside and outside walls down at that time. Also wipe away salt creep from the top edges that accumulates

Daltrey · Jan 22, 2018

Once every six months. Drain, shop vac, wipe down and thoroughly clean all equipment.

Fudsey · Jan 22, 2018

I do every other water change from my sump. I suck out as much as I can when I do it. Once every 2-3 weeks, 20% - 20 gal water change, so every 4-6 weeks.

427HISS · Jan 22, 2018

I finally bought a beautiful sump, rather than tubs. I can't deside to keep it very clean or let nature take care of it.
I've seen video's many top end reef tanks that are extremly,.....clean. I may be in between on my new build.

ca1ore · Jan 22, 2018

My sump has been running for almost 2 years ..... Haven't cleaned it yet. Prior was three years, also without cleaning. Detritus removal is over valued IME.

427HISS · Jan 22, 2018

"Detritus removal is over valued IME"

Really ?

burninreefer · Jan 23, 2018

I don't go lab clean, but I wont let my sump get dirty either. I clean detritus when it needs it

Cory · Jan 23, 2018

I clean mine based on nutrients. If i let them get too low, it stays there. If they get too high i shop vac it out.

Broadfield · Jan 23, 2018

I do a quick 2 minute wipe down before I do my weekly water change. This pretty much keeps detritus from gathering in the sump at all. And if it does, then the wipe down will help kick it up into the water column in the sump and allow my return pump to kick it back into the tank... my coral love it. Mine honestly looks like this at all times:

IMG_6030 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

Chris Villalobos · Jan 23, 2018

I moved away from baffles in my sump just so I could take it out and clean it if need be. Got a sheet of that stiff filter material from brs. It works great for separating the chambers and it's easily removed. I'm shooting for biannual cleanings now.

Rakie · Jan 23, 2018

Daltrey said:
Once every six months. Drain, shop vac, wipe down and thoroughly clean all equipment.

A clean sump is a thing of beauty -- Mine is far from beautiful

haha

427HISS · Jan 23, 2018

Broadfield said:
I do a quick 2 minute wipe down before I do my weekly water change. This pretty much keeps detritus from gathering in the sump at all. And if it does, then the wipe down will help kick it up into the water column in the sump and allow my return pump to kick it back into the tank... my coral love it. Mine honestly looks like this at all times:

IMG_6030 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

Wow, quite a beautiful sump !
Wonderful job....(oh, and clean) lol

don_chuwish · Jan 23, 2018

Broadfield said:
Mine honestly looks like this at all times:

You make me sick! In a green, envious kinda way.

don_chuwish · Jan 23, 2018

In the year since the rebuild I've cleaned out the detritus once. Didn't bother cleaning all the glass, just removed the loose stuff and gave the heaters a nice vinegar soak. I can live with it.