Cleaning your sump

HowieB · 12/07/2010, 01:26 PM

Hi all, how do you clean your sump? I was going to siphon the water out with all the crud but with the sump being on the floor, I can't get a siphon going to suck up the gunk on the bottom. How do you do it?

sjmantis · 12/07/2010, 01:33 PM

Do a search, you'll find lots

kjord97 · 12/07/2010, 01:48 PM

I start my siphon from the main tank and then move the hose to the sump. The suction is small, but it is enough for me to suck out the crud

bayoupr · 12/07/2010, 01:57 PM

I use a Maxi jet power head with 1/2" hose and take it out the door to outside and move the pump around in my sump like a vacuum.

RVANANO · 12/07/2010, 02:01 PM

shop vac. This is a really common thread though. Most questions like this you have can easily be found via the search

Saltmaniac · 12/07/2010, 02:04 PM

I let the pump with hose attached run in the sump for a couple minutes to stir everything up...then move the hose to buckets and suck out all the suspended gunk. I only do this on the bare bottom areas of the sump. Don't mess with the refugium section.

HowieB · 12/07/2010, 02:13 PM

Thanks all, I did a search and found some great ideas. "Bucketmax" or small shop vac seem like the best ideas.

Palting · 12/07/2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HowieB

Thanks all, I did a search and found some great ideas. "Bucketmax" or small shop vac seem like the best ideas.

Yup. I consider a shop vac a necessary piece of equipment, right next to skimmer

.

mcoomer · 12/07/2010, 02:57 PM

Maxijet with a hose attached. Shut everything down, stir the sump up, then suck everything out with the pump. Works great.

Mike

12/07/2010, 01:26 PM	#1
HowieB Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: LaMirada, California Posts: 393	Cleaning your sump Hi all, how do you clean your sump? I was going to siphon the water out with all the crud but with the sump being on the floor, I can't get a siphon going to suck up the gunk on the bottom. How do you do it? __________________ 120G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 120G Starfire, BRS dosers, Speedwave DC10000II pump, Aquamaxx skimmer, Reefkeeper Elite, 1 Vortech, , MR1 Phosphate reactor, ATI Sunpower 6x54

12/07/2010, 01:48 PM	#3
kjord97 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Chaptico, Md Posts: 248	I start my siphon from the main tank and then move the hose to the sump. The suction is small, but it is enough for me to suck out the crud __________________ 180 Gal Deep Reef 40 gal sump, Octopus 200 Skimmer, 3 x 250 MH XM 10K 150 Gal 31" Tall Reef 35 Gal sump, Octopus 150 Skimmer, 3 x 250 MH Radium 20K, 58 Gal Reef Tank in the wall next to fire place 28 Gal JBJ 150 HQI 24 Gal JBJ Nano

12/07/2010, 02:01 PM	#5
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	shop vac. This is a really common thread though. Most questions like this you have can easily be found via the search __________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress

12/07/2010, 02:04 PM	#6
Saltmaniac Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 50	Sump Cleaning I let the pump with hose attached run in the sump for a couple minutes to stir everything up...then move the hose to buckets and suck out all the suspended gunk. I only do this on the bare bottom areas of the sump. Don't mess with the refugium section.

12/07/2010, 02:13 PM	#7
HowieB Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: LaMirada, California Posts: 393	Thanks all, I did a search and found some great ideas. "Bucketmax" or small shop vac seem like the best ideas. __________________ 120G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 120G Starfire, BRS dosers, Speedwave DC10000II pump, Aquamaxx skimmer, Reefkeeper Elite, 1 Vortech, , MR1 Phosphate reactor, ATI Sunpower 6x54

12/07/2010, 01:33 PM	#2
sjmantis On the cliff by the sea.. Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 561	Do a search, you'll find lots

12/07/2010, 01:57 PM	#4
bayoupr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,308	I use a Maxi jet power head with 1/2" hose and take it out the door to outside and move the pump around in my sump like a vacuum.

12/07/2010, 02:57 PM	#9
mcoomer Rat Bastard! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 1,487	Maxijet with a hose attached. Shut everything down, stir the sump up, then suck everything out with the pump. Works great. Mike __________________ Spending exorbitant amounts of money on this hobby since 1998! My wife thought the tank would be cheaper and easier to keep than a dog...no seriously! Current Tank Info: 180 gallon mixed reef; Reeflo Barracuda, Tunze 6105 (X3), 250W Radiums with dual HQI Blue Wave 7, Reefkeeper Elite controller, custom sump with ASM G4, carbon and GFO reactors

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