Sump Cleaning

Michael_ · 07/05/2020, 06:08 PM

Greetings, fellow reefers.

I'm in need of some help cleaning the dust buildup at the bottom of my sump. I have about an eighth inch of buildup of dust in the tank that has accumulated over the past year, and it's a pretty big sump so cleaning it via turkey baster for example would be quite a hassle. I cannot siphon it since it's at the bottom of my aquarium stand about 2 inches from the floor. I can also not afford a heavy duty water vacuum right now. Do you guys have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance 😊

tdhnry · 07/05/2020, 06:13 PM

I use one of these. They work great since they don't need to be submursed in a lot of water.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Vinny Kreyling · 07/06/2020, 08:22 AM

If you have a diatom filter you can use it to suck up the accumulation,you just have to prime it before starting. Send the water back through some floss to avoid stirring up the rest.

wishntoboutside · 07/08/2020, 12:59 PM

shop vac

reefteaser · 07/16/2020, 11:12 AM

+1 on the shop vac. Home Depot sells their “bucket head”, which is just a smaller sized vacuum made to fit on top of a 5 gallon bucket that you supply (and who doesn’t have at least one?). I think I paid around $20 for it a few years ago, and it’s been very useful for sump cleaning, as well as many other cleanups around the house.

chbix · 07/18/2020, 11:41 AM

+2 on shop vac.

tmccaffery · 07/20/2020, 07:47 AM

+3 on shop vac I got the bucket head

07/05/2020, 06:08 PM	#1
Michael_ Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 40	Sump Cleaning Greetings, fellow reefers. I'm in need of some help cleaning the dust buildup at the bottom of my sump. I have about an eighth inch of buildup of dust in the tank that has accumulated over the past year, and it's a pretty big sump so cleaning it via turkey baster for example would be quite a hassle. I cannot siphon it since it's at the bottom of my aquarium stand about 2 inches from the floor. I can also not afford a heavy duty water vacuum right now. Do you guys have any suggestions? Thanks in advance 😊

07/05/2020, 06:13 PM	#2
tdhnry Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New York Posts: 289	I use one of these. They work great since they don't need to be submursed in a lot of water. Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk __________________ 3x250w HQI's, 1/4hp Chiller, Tunze Wavebox, Tunze 6100, Reefkeeper 2 and RKL, Litermeter III w/PM Kalkreactor, PM Carbon Reactor, Mag 12, SWC xtreme 180 Skimmer Current Tank Info: 125gal reef tank

07/06/2020, 08:22 AM	#3
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	If you have a diatom filter you can use it to suck up the accumulation,you just have to prime it before starting. Send the water back through some floss to avoid stirring up the rest. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

07/08/2020, 12:59 PM	#4
wishntoboutside professional snow flake Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Riverside, Cali Posts: 5,962	shop vac __________________ Richard Current Tank Info: 450 gallon peninsula tank 724830 filled with a bunch of frags and trying to grow them out.

07/16/2020, 11:12 AM	#5
reefteaser Convince'em or confuse'em Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: S FL Posts: 341	+1 on the shop vac. Home Depot sells their “bucket head”, which is just a smaller sized vacuum made to fit on top of a 5 gallon bucket that you supply (and who doesn’t have at least one?). I think I paid around $20 for it a few years ago, and it’s been very useful for sump cleaning, as well as many other cleanups around the house.

07/18/2020, 11:41 AM	#6
chbix Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 40	+2 on shop vac.

07/20/2020, 07:47 AM	#7
tmccaffery Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 170	+3 on shop vac I got the bucket head