How to clean sump

ThunderGoose · May 31, 2017

My sump is starting to get a build up of detritus. I've seen folks talk about vacuuming out the sump but my sump is only a few inches above the living room floor and I can't seem to get a vacuum started - how do I do this? Do I use a shop vac instead of a typical aquarium "gravel vac?"

Thanks!

Webslinger · May 31, 2017

I use a wet/dry vac. You can't beat this http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-Head-5-gal-1-75-Peak-HP-Wet-Dry-Vac-BH0100/202017218

ridetheducati · May 31, 2017

Consider this device.

jenkinscrew2578 · May 31, 2017

I use the same bucket shopvac. I have to empty the bucket quite a few times and fills up fast but does the job. Pretty much its a small water change. Just turn off your equipment, scrape all the walls and baffles to remove anything growing, suck all the water and junk out, fill it back up with new saltwater and turn everything back on.

Webslinger · May 31, 2017

Consider this device.

does this suck up sand down the drain?

HB AL · May 31, 2017

Hand bilge pump, works great and simple.

saltyfilmfolks · May 31, 2017

Canister filter. with floss only.

Gil03 · May 31, 2017

make things easier on yourself and put a powerhead or two in your sump so no detritus is able to settle. You can also dose something like Remediation from AquaVitro to the sump which will help breakdown the detritus, I like to dose 1 inner capful of remediation once a week to the intake of my reactor that houses Matrix and it helps prevent detritus from building up between the media and on top of the plunger.

saltyfilmfolks · May 31, 2017

Gil03 said:
make things easier on yourself and put a powerhead or two in your sump so no detritus is able to settle. You can also dose something like Remediation from AquaVitro to the sump which will help breakdown the detritus, I like to dose 1 inner capful of remediation once a week to the intake of my reactor that houses Matrix and it helps prevent detritus from building up between the media and on top of the plunger.

True, but I'd rather let the detritus settle in the sump. If it's not , it's back in the water and the display.

Gil03 · May 31, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
True, but I'd rather let the detritus settle in the sump. If it's not , it's back in the water and the display.

You want the detritus in the water column as much as possible because then it has the opportunity to go into the overflow and into your mechanical filtration like a sock. Also you should aim to have good enough water flow in your DT so that detritus doesn't settle, if that can't be achieved then that's when you see people use things like turkey basters to blast water into the LR to get the detritus suspended into the water column and ideally eventually into your sock. Leaving the detritus to settle in your sump IMO is setting yourself up for failure because let's be honest generally speaking the cleaning out of a sump is something that isn't done nearly as often as changing/cleaning your mechanical filtration and the longer it sits at the bottom of your sump the more of an effect it will have on your water quality.

saltyfilmfolks · May 31, 2017

Gil03 said:
You want the detritus in the water column as much as possible because then it has the opportunity to go into the overflow and into your mechanical filtration like a sock. Also you should aim to have good enough water flow in your DT so that detritus doesn't settle, if that can't be achieved then that's when you see people use things like turkey basters to blast water into the LR to get the detritus suspended into the water column and ideally eventually into your sock. Leaving the detritus to settle in your sump IMO is setting yourself up for failure because let's be honest generally speaking the cleaning out of a sump is something that isn't done nearly as often as changing/cleaning your mechanical filtration and the longer it sits at the bottom of your sump the more of an effect it will have on your water quality.

yes but your blowing it from the sump into the display and back into the sump again.
I agree, better filter socks.

ridetheducati · May 31, 2017

Webslinger said:
Consider this device.

does this suck up sand down the drain?

Suction strength can be adjusted by decreasing water flow from sink or adding a valve.

Greybeard · May 31, 2017

In the past, once a year, I've pulled the sump out completely, and scrubbed it at the sink. Clean sponge, no soap, just water and elbow grease.

My new system, the sump will be well above floor level, and easily accessible. I _should_ be able to siphon fairly easily.

Scrappy RN · Jun 2, 2017

Webslinger said:
I use a wet/dry vac. You can't beat this http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-Head-5-gal-1-75-Peak-HP-Wet-Dry-Vac-BH0100/202017218

This should win Best Internet Tip of the Day award, lol!! Getting one today- what a great idea!

Brian W · Jun 2, 2017

ridetheducati said:
Consider this device.

amazing product!

ThunderGoose · Jun 2, 2017

Lots of good advice, thanks all. I think I'm gonna head to the Big Box Warehouse store and pick up a small shop vac this weekend. I think that's the best option for me.

ThunderGoose · Jun 2, 2017

ridetheducati said:
Consider this device.

Yep, got one of those for my freshwater tank. But I drain that tank (120 gallons) out the window into the garden and just use the faucet attachment to refill the tank. Much better than hauling buckets when I'm doing 30% water changes!

DarkSky · Jun 2, 2017

Have you considered leaving the detritus in the sump? I have a nice population of brittle stars and pods living in the mulm in my sump, and I don't have any issues with high PO4/NO3.