Cleaning sump tips

donski · 04/10/2008, 01:23 AM

I need to siphon the crud that has built up in my sump. Simply put..what is the best way to accomplish this when my bucket is higher than the sump....Thanx everyone

demonsp · 04/10/2008, 01:31 AM

Better yet , why do you have so much crud.And what type of crud is this?

BLKTANG · 04/10/2008, 01:36 AM

i siphon it out.as long as you dont break the siphon in the hose your using you can take the hose from your DT to the sump.I do it this way once a month.

demonsp · 04/10/2008, 01:41 AM

You would be much better finding the source rather then removing its effect.

Quote:

Originally posted by BLKTANG
i siphon it out.as long as you dont break the siphon in the hose your using you can take the hose from your DT to the sump.I do it this way once a month.

BLKTANG · 04/10/2008, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by demonsp
You would be much better finding the source rather then removing its effect.

Detritus happens.

demonsp · 04/10/2008, 01:52 AM

Its a sign of water quality or mis managment of equipment.The goal is perfect water condition.God forbid as this is the only example i think off,if something happens to you where your gone awile and the tank suffers then it has much better chance of survival with as close to perfect readings.Yours would go down faster then wanted.

donski · 04/10/2008, 03:29 AM

The source is due to the AGA sump being a piece of crap. If you are not familiar with its design then I will explain....the filter media which is sold by AGA is supposed to sit directly on top of the drip tray and I must say it is a perfect fit. However..guess what happens when the media gets clogged or starts to get clogged... FLood. Believe me (or don't He He) So first I trimmed the perfect shaped filter media made for the AGA model 4 sump a bit but if one does make a mistake...and believe me I had my eye on the problem...Flood. (Wife not happy!) So now the filter media sits on top of the bio balls in the chamber below. No floods. Most of the crud is a result of no mechanical filtration while i was figuring what to do. ( One of which by the way was buying a new sump and getting rid of this one...Hard to sneak that one by my wife!!! who is very understanding of the $$$ I spend on the tank as long as it looks good). demonsp your response is dead on.... and I've eliminated the source pretty much.....thanks everyone for your advice.

Playa-1 · 04/10/2008, 05:27 AM

You could unplug the return pump. Stir up the crud and then use a pump with some tubing and pump it right out the door.

You could pump as much out as possible then use a wet/dry shop vac to clean out the rest. If you go this route you will want to have the shop vac outside or in the tub and run a hose long enough to the sump so that it doesn't leak onto the floor when the tank gets full.

The syphon hose should work also until the water level gets too low.

mille239 · 04/10/2008, 06:54 AM

I use a piece of hose attached to a maxijet, and just move it around the sump floor. Easy as pie.

waif · 04/10/2008, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by demonsp
Better yet , why do you have so much crud.And what type of crud is this?

If you have no filter sock detritus is naturally going to be there. The space between the baffles allows for detritus to settle. It's not a sign of bad conditions...but a good sump design. If you have no detritus kudos...the baffles are doing one of their jobs.

jmsf7 · 04/10/2008, 09:57 AM

How about using the Hagen reverse flow from another bucket with some water to jump start the powerhead?

cervicornis · 04/10/2008, 11:59 AM

I agree with waif - if you're noticing a build-up of crud in an accessible region of your sump, this is a good thing. All established aquaria will generate crud and detritus, it is part of the natural processes that are taking place. Mechnical filtration is one way of dealing with the crud, but this can be maintenance intensive. Allowing the crud to settle out in a low-flow area (like a sump) makes for easy cleaning.

In your case, where siphoning the crud isn't an option, I think the best solution would be to use an inexpensive canister filter. With an extra-long hose, you can go around the sump and vac up all the crud. That is probably the least time-consuming solution, and you won't have to worry about clogging up your pumps this way.

donski · 04/11/2008, 11:38 PM

Thanks everyone. Crud vacuuming has begun.Pretty much grey inert stuff..but it bothered me to look at it

demonsp · 04/13/2008, 01:53 AM

Really depends on amount od detritus he has. I did get a little at first but it disappeared after time.Its a sign your fuge is working. If he is getting an excess then i suspect low flow or more then the system can handle.The baffels main purpose is micro reduction.
Detritus shouldnt happen if done right.

Quote:

Originally posted by waif
If you have no filter sock detritus is naturally going to be there. The space between the baffles allows for detritus to settle. It's not a sign of bad conditions...but a good sump design. If you have no detritus kudos...the baffles are doing one of their jobs.

sabbath · 04/13/2008, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by demonsp
Really depends on amount od detritus he has. I did get a little at first but it disappeared after time.Its a sign your fuge is working. If he is getting an excess then i suspect low flow or more then the system can handle.The baffels main purpose is micro reduction.
Detritus shouldnt happen if done right.

I disagree. I have low flow in my fuge and it traps the detritus. This is a good place for it to collect so I can clean it out. Some may not get it in there if they are using a mechanical filter as well.

The flow thru a sump it typically five times the display.

waif · 04/13/2008, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by demonsp
Really depends on amount od detritus he has. I did get a little at first but it disappeared after time.Its a sign your fuge is working. If he is getting an excess then i suspect low flow or more then the system can handle.The baffels main purpose is micro reduction.
Detritus shouldnt happen if done right.

You are assuming everyone has a refugium then are you not. My sump was designed to have a high flow through it, no refugium and now that i figured out why I had microbubbles i've cured that. Detritus settles in two of the compartments so i csn siphon it off. I don't use filter socks so i do it this way, then i get the detritus but good things (pods etc) don't get trapped in a filter sock. Detritus happens, if you have ever looked at a BB tank, then you'd know this...with good circulation that detritus is in the water coloumn, it has to go somewhere does it not? Without filter socks it settles...between baffles.

04/10/2008, 01:23 AM	#1
donski Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: oakhurst CA Posts: 115	Cleaning sump tips I need to siphon the crud that has built up in my sump. Simply put..what is the best way to accomplish this when my bucket is higher than the sump....Thanx everyone

04/10/2008, 01:36 AM	#3
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	i siphon it out.as long as you dont break the siphon in the hose your using you can take the hose from your DT to the sump.I do it this way once a month. __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

04/10/2008, 06:54 AM	#9
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	I use a piece of hose attached to a maxijet, and just move it around the sump floor. Easy as pie. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

04/10/2008, 01:31 AM	#2
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Better yet , why do you have so much crud.And what type of crud is this?

04/10/2008, 01:52 AM	#6
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Its a sign of water quality or mis managment of equipment.The goal is perfect water condition.God forbid as this is the only example i think off,if something happens to you where your gone awile and the tank suffers then it has much better chance of survival with as close to perfect readings.Yours would go down faster then wanted.

04/10/2008, 03:29 AM	#7
donski Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: oakhurst CA Posts: 115	The source is due to the AGA sump being a piece of crap. If you are not familiar with its design then I will explain....the filter media which is sold by AGA is supposed to sit directly on top of the drip tray and I must say it is a perfect fit. However..guess what happens when the media gets clogged or starts to get clogged... FLood. Believe me (or don't He He) So first I trimmed the perfect shaped filter media made for the AGA model 4 sump a bit but if one does make a mistake...and believe me I had my eye on the problem...Flood. (Wife not happy!) So now the filter media sits on top of the bio balls in the chamber below. No floods. Most of the crud is a result of no mechanical filtration while i was figuring what to do. ( One of which by the way was buying a new sump and getting rid of this one...Hard to sneak that one by my wife!!! who is very understanding of the $$$ I spend on the tank as long as it looks good). demonsp your response is dead on.... and I've eliminated the source pretty much.....thanks everyone for your advice.

04/10/2008, 05:27 AM	#8
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	You could unplug the return pump. Stir up the crud and then use a pump with some tubing and pump it right out the door. You could pump as much out as possible then use a wet/dry shop vac to clean out the rest. If you go this route you will want to have the shop vac outside or in the tub and run a hose long enough to the sump so that it doesn't leak onto the floor when the tank gets full. The syphon hose should work also until the water level gets too low.

04/10/2008, 09:57 AM	#11
jmsf7 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: San Francisco Posts: 65	How about using the Hagen reverse flow from another bucket with some water to jump start the powerhead?

04/10/2008, 11:59 AM	#12
cervicornis Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 11	I agree with waif - if you're noticing a build-up of crud in an accessible region of your sump, this is a good thing. All established aquaria will generate crud and detritus, it is part of the natural processes that are taking place. Mechnical filtration is one way of dealing with the crud, but this can be maintenance intensive. Allowing the crud to settle out in a low-flow area (like a sump) makes for easy cleaning. In your case, where siphoning the crud isn't an option, I think the best solution would be to use an inexpensive canister filter. With an extra-long hose, you can go around the sump and vac up all the crud. That is probably the least time-consuming solution, and you won't have to worry about clogging up your pumps this way.

04/11/2008, 11:38 PM	#13
donski Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: oakhurst CA Posts: 115	Thanks everyone. Crud vacuuming has begun.Pretty much grey inert stuff..but it bothered me to look at it