Sumps are their own little world

[Lavey29]

I am finding that my sump is really evolving into its own little ecosystem. I have a fuge so obviously that makes a difference but the amount of microfauna and diversity in there is really something. There is a lot of stuff that is not in my DT. All kinds of different snails, sponges, asterina stars, pods, amphipods, some small aptasia, coraline, hydroids etc... the glass is just getting covered with life.

I really like this natural evolution but have to wonder when they are going to start messing up my skimmer and pump. I'm already seeing snails getting in there and in my return line.

So do you guys prefer to let your sumps just become their own separate ecosystem or do you clean all this stuff out periodically to prevent equipment issues?

 

[Spare time]

I have a thin/coarse sponge before my return pump chamber

 

[homer1475]

Haven't cleaned my sump out in years. It's become it's own little ecosystem. Microfauna loves the mulm that collects in the corners, and it has been shown that the mulm in the corners is pretty inert, and harmless if left alone.

 

[Waters]

I completely clean my sump out every three months or so, along with all the equipment. I remove about a pound of pineapple sponges along with some other growths.

 

[Lavey29]

I completely clean my sump out every three months or so, along with all the equipment. I remove about a pound of pineapple sponges along with some other growths.

Is this because you like the clean look or are more concerned about equipment getting clogged?

 

[Lavey29]

Haven't cleaned my sump out in years. It's become it's own little ecosystem. Microfauna loves the mulm that collects in the corners, and it has been shown that the mulm in the corners is pretty inert, and harmless if left alone.

No problems with clogged skimmer or return pump?

 

[homer1475]

A snail will on occasion crawl into the venturi on the skimmer, but thats an easy fix. Return has a bulk head strainer on it, so thats not an issue either.

While I have not cleaned the sump, I do pull the equipment every few months and give it a good scrubbing.

 

[Lavey29]

I was turkey basting up detritus and netting it but it does very little to clean up so probably not affecting much of what is going on. I worry a bit now about removing my chaeto to cut it back because there is so much micro life in it now.

 

[ScubaFish802]

This reminds me it's time to pull my sump equipment for cleaning - this weekend I suppose ..

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Interesting question. I usually cleaned my sump up about once a year (or maybe a little longer).

 

[Waters]

Is this because you like the clean look or are more concerned about equipment getting clogged?

Both.......clean equipment lasts longer and works better.....plus I have a problem when things aren't clean....it keeps me up at night lol. If I could keep everything looking exactly the way it did the day I set it up I would be happy.

 

[Lavey29]

Both.......clean equipment lasts longer and works better.....plus I have a problem when things aren't clean....it keeps me up at night lol. If I could keep everything looking exactly the way it did the day I set it up I would be happy.

Yes I'm OCD like that as well with most things but seems like any LFS or coral vendor shop I visit, their sumps look like they never get cleaned. One guy told me he hasn't touched his in the shop for 10 years.

 

[G Santana]

I clean my sump once a year or as needed. If anyone is interested I now have about a million spirobid worms dirt cheap lol

 

[Lavey29]

I clean my sump once a year or as needed. If anyone is interested I now have about a million spirobid worms dirt cheap lol

I have the same mass population. Do you think they will foul equipment eventually?

 

[G Santana]

I have the same mass population. Do you think they will foul equipment eventually?

No, they come off quickly, however vermitid snails are a bigger problem and can clog lines and get into pumps. That's why it's good to go through your pumps every 6 months or so.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I have Cryptic Refugiums in my sump and overflow partitions that I never clean. I do use a course sponge in the input of the return bay of the sump. I clean the return and skimmer pumps regularly but haven't noticed too many snails. I find them mostly in the bottom of the skimmer for some reason.

 

[Waters]

Yes I'm OCD like that as well with most things but seems like any LFS or coral vendor shop I visit, their sumps look like they never get cleaned. One guy told me he hasn't touched his in the shop for 10 years.

Those shops have too many other maintenance oriented things to worry about than keeping their sumps cleaned I am sure. I only have one sump......so it will stay clean lol.

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

The AIO chamber in my old nano had a good population of feather dusters and sponges. I'd say that a sump with lots of filter media and marine growth has more copepods than a refugium.

 

[BetURWrasse]

I like to clean out any excessive build up every few month.

 

[Lavey29]

I have Cryptic Refugiums in my sump and overflow partitions that I never clean. I do use a course sponge in the input of the return bay of the sump. I clean the return and skimmer pumps regularly but haven't noticed too many snails. I find them mostly in the bottom of the skimmer for some reason.

I find the bottom of the return bay really gets caked over with gunk but there is so much little creatures in this section I have to think they live off the gunk at the bottom.