Cleaning Sump

[Amador]

How do you guys clean your sump? Mine is in my stand so obviously I can't siphon it. I was considering using a spare maxi-jet (in the "pump" configuration) with a piece of tubing on the inlet side (with a longer piece on the outlet side) to suck out some of the detritus that has settled. Is there a better way?

[Juck]

I use a cheapo shop vac,,, takes less than a minute.

[Amador]

Hmm .. do you suck out all of the water in each section, or just the junk off of the bottom?

[ambaratur]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8144968#post8144968 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amador
How do you guys clean your sump? Mine is in my stand so obviously I can't siphon it. I was considering using a spare maxi-jet (in the "pump" configuration) with a piece of tubing on the inlet side (with a longer piece on the outlet side) to suck out some of the detritus that has settled. Is there a better way?

I use exactly the method you describe and it works great. My bathroom is near the tank so I just pump the water right into the drain so I never have to tote it around.

EDIT: FYI - I have the maxijet 1200 hooked to about 25' of 5/8" vinyl tubing and it flows nicely - those are great inexpensive little pumps. (Had to use an adapter to make the 5/8 vinyl tubing fit the maxi output along with a stanless steel hose clamp)

[ambaratur]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8145243#post8145243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amador
Hmm .. do you suck out all of the water in each section, or just the junk off of the bottom?

I go section by section removing the water - I don't take too much from my refugium as I don't want to suck out too many pods. Then I fill the sump with fresh made saltwater and kick on the main pump again. Works great to clean out the sump and do a water change.

[Juck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8145243#post8145243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amador
Hmm .. do you suck out all of the water in each section, or just the junk off of the bottom?

I usually block the drain from the main tank and use the return pump to send some of the water in the sump back to the display,,, then just suck the rest up with the shop-vac.

A maxi-jet and tubing probably works just as well.

[MJAnderson]

I use a Magnum 350 as a vacumn and pump the output into the tank. Got a used one for $40. I tie a filter sock to the locline from my return pump just in case to catch anything I stir up.

Magnum works great and can use it to polish water from time to time.

[AquaReeferMan]

Wet/Dry Vac works great for me.