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View Full Version : how often do you clean your sump?


1fstnsx
03/08/2015, 07:04 PM
Hey guys, was just curious, how often do you clean your sump? I really havent cleaned the bottom of the media tank area since I started which was about 3 months ago. It has alot of detritus stuff laying on the bottom of that area. I run a Vertex skimmer but obviously I guess that stuff wasnt picked up.

Was curious if I should clean it out or let it be. Thanks

mandarin_goby
03/08/2015, 07:12 PM
I don't. I don't want to risk losing pods and everything seems to be fine.

SVTour
03/08/2015, 08:00 PM
It's a bit hard for me to do, since my sump is on the floor - but once a year I will run my siphon line out my door and down a few steps to just get the crap off the bottom.

Typically though, I don't go over nuts with it. You can see that it looks pretty cruddy.

http://users.zoominternet.net/~cullen//fish%20room%20Jan%202015.jpg

sammy77
03/08/2015, 08:35 PM
I have never cleaned my sump.

lazydaze73
03/08/2015, 08:49 PM
I stick a nano power head in the first and third chamber once a week just to kick up the deposited detritus and that's it.

DaveRaz
03/08/2015, 08:51 PM
Every 4th water change or every two months I vac it clean.

supervdl
03/08/2015, 08:54 PM
I I was thinking about doing this on my 135 gal tank because I don't use filter socks due to lack of space. On my 215 gal tank I use filtersocks and it keeps the sump clean.

pyithar
03/08/2015, 09:44 PM
whenever i feel like cleaning it. (usually once a month :D )

cincyjim
03/08/2015, 09:51 PM
I cleaned my sump for the first time since it's been running (July 2011) just last month. It actually wasn't too bad but I did have some calcium deposits that I removed.

1fstnsx
03/09/2015, 12:11 AM
Hey guys, cool. I was getting scared but there was a layer of detritus in that media chamber. It's a cadlights sumpand seperate from the refugium section so it's away from the pods I guess.

Crazy enough I found my emerald crab pretty much disintegrated in the chamber where the skimmer is.

bundybear1981
03/09/2015, 01:45 AM
I occasionally clean mine, maybe every 4 to 6 months just to keep the crude down. I have a small CUC in the sump so I leave most it to them :)