detritus free sump??

philpot · 08/14/2007, 05:52 AM

Can anyone tell me how they stop detritus build up in their sumps? I like using over flow and sump to hide equipment and grow chaeto but removing detritus becomes a pain.
Cheers.

ndas2976 · 08/14/2007, 06:27 AM

You could put a power head in the area where the detritus settles. That will keep it suspended in the sump and give your skimmer a chance to get rid of it.

rustybucket145 · 08/14/2007, 06:56 AM

More flow!! Don't give it a chance to settle.

iwishtofish · 08/14/2007, 06:57 AM

Also, a filter sock may keep a lot of detritus from the tank from reaching your sump.

JetCat USA · 08/14/2007, 06:57 AM

i second the filter sock.

philpot · 08/14/2007, 07:10 AM

Could someone show me a link to a filter sock - never heard that in the UK?
Cheers.

SSalty · 08/14/2007, 07:14 AM

I am with you, I was tired of the build up. I am trying a thicker filter sock, I beleive its 200 micron, it hasn't been in there long enough to tell a difference yet.

JetCat USA · 08/14/2007, 07:16 AM

Click Here for Filter Socks

Zucker26 · 08/14/2007, 07:17 AM

I was extremely skeptical of removable baffles when I first read this article, but I have since made a sump utilizing this method and it's worked flawlessly!! The baffles are completely removable, you can sponge out the sump during every water change, and it's extremely versatile in the event you want to install more hardware. It's always an idea.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume...es/baffles.htm

InLimbo87 · 08/14/2007, 07:41 AM

Do you turn the return pump off when you feed the tank? Detritus is usually caused by the break down of food, and if you don't let uneaten food into the sump, you will have less detritus to worry about. I went through the same thing with my old sump, but when I started turning the pump off and light feedings, it got much better.

gary faulkner · 08/14/2007, 08:14 AM

I actually encourage detritus in my sump so that I can siphon it out. I can remove it from the sump better than anywhere else and it lets my skimmer do the job it was intended to do.

philpot · 08/14/2007, 08:24 AM

My sump is on the floor so I can't siphon from it. Bi weekly siphon from the display is easier for me.
I think I need more mechanical filtering seeing the comments here.

JetCat USA · 08/14/2007, 08:50 AM

just keep in mind that the filter socks need to be cleaned at least every other day. i have quite a few of them and swap them out daily and toss them in the washer once a week to keep the supply of clean ones up.

GS-Rock · 08/14/2007, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by philpot
My sump is on the floor so I can't siphon from it. Bi weekly siphon from the display is easier for me.
I think I need more mechanical filtering seeing the comments here.

here is what i do to rid my sump of unwanted nastys, i use a turky baster to get it out, but all that stuff on the bottom if a great area to grow pods, i only clean out half of a side every time i do it which is about every 2-3 months

RichConley · 08/14/2007, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by iwishtofish
Also, a filter sock may keep a lot of detritus from the tank from reaching your sump.

Yeah, rather than letting it settle where it can be siphoned out, or dealt with by animals, lets hold it in a highly oxygenated area so that it breaks down into Nitrate and Phosphate as quickly as possible.

JetCat USA · 08/14/2007, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
Yeah, rather than letting it settle where it can be siphoned out, or dealt with by animals, lets hold it in a highly oxygenated area so that it breaks down into Nitrate and Phosphate as quickly as possible.

or rather then being lazy we can swap them out every other day with a clean one and then we don't have NO3/PO4 problems or detritus in the sump to deal with.

discocarp · 08/14/2007, 10:00 AM

Quote:

My sump is on the floor so I can't siphon from it.

A cheap wet dry vac is what I've always used. Works like a champ.

RichConley · 08/14/2007, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JetCat USA
or rather then being lazy we can swap them out every other day with a clean one and then we don't have NO3/PO4 problems or detritus in the sump to deal with.

Or, you can just feed all of your overflow water into your skimmer, and not worry about it in the first place.

You sure as heck can siphon from a tank on the floor. You just can't siphon all that much out. Its the top of the water that matters, not the bottom.

A powerhead with a filtersock strapped to its outlet is a good way to clean a detritus filled sump.

JetCat USA · 08/14/2007, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
Or, you can just feed all of your overflow water into your skimmer, and not worry about it in the first place.

unfortunately I've not been able to productively get an overflow to drive a Beckett and on my other skimmers they don't fair so well at the higher flow rates that i have from my overflows, so if it's OK with you, i'll continue to use the filter socks and swap them out every other day.

seapug · 08/14/2007, 10:44 AM

My sump is on the floor too, so I use a powerhead and some tubing in my sump to pump out water when I do a water change. While it's pumping out the water into a bucket I use my hand or a scrubber to kick up the crap. Any junk that has settled gets sucked right out and permanently exits the system. Problem permanently solved for $25.00 and water changes are a breeze.

old salty · 08/14/2007, 10:49 AM

I just recently vacuumed the sump bottom of my tank (I need to keep up on this area.) I used a MJ1200 and a piece of 1/2" vinyl hose to remove the junk. Took less than a minute and now the bottom is clean again. Just be careful with unplugging the MJ if your hands are wet with salt water.

trmiv · 08/14/2007, 12:17 PM

If you want to vacuum it without removing water get a canister filter and use it as a sump vac.

fatdaddy · 08/14/2007, 12:21 PM

I use a pump and vinyl hose to remove the nasties. I'll need to do it again soon.

Serioussnaps · 08/14/2007, 12:23 PM

http://www.drycleaningfilters.com/fi...ag_pricing.htm

Kiel'thalin · 08/14/2007, 12:26 PM

You guys are crazy, use a simple turkey baster and a fish net. Strain out the detrius in the net and poor the water back in. That way you don't even have to mix up any extra Salt water...

08/14/2007, 05:52 AM	#1
philpot Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK, Northern Ireland Posts: 23	detritus free sump?? Can anyone tell me how they stop detritus build up in their sumps? I like using over flow and sump to hide equipment and grow chaeto but removing detritus becomes a pain. Cheers.

08/14/2007, 06:56 AM	#3
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	More flow!! Don't give it a chance to settle. __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals

08/14/2007, 07:14 AM	#7
SSalty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 562	I am with you, I was tired of the build up. I am trying a thicker filter sock, I beleive its 200 micron, it hasn't been in there long enough to tell a difference yet. __________________ "once you've tasted excess, everything else tastes bland"

08/14/2007, 07:41 AM	#10
InLimbo87 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Central FL Posts: 3,197	Do you turn the return pump off when you feed the tank? Detritus is usually caused by the break down of food, and if you don't let uneaten food into the sump, you will have less detritus to worry about. I went through the same thing with my old sump, but when I started turning the pump off and light feedings, it got much better. __________________ We are forever responsible for that which we tame... Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

08/14/2007, 08:14 AM	#11
gary faulkner Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,468	I actually encourage detritus in my sump so that I can siphon it out. I can remove it from the sump better than anywhere else and it lets my skimmer do the job it was intended to do. __________________ Gary Current Tank Info: 300G SPS

08/14/2007, 06:27 AM	#2
ndas2976 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 137	You could put a power head in the area where the detritus settles. That will keep it suspended in the sump and give your skimmer a chance to get rid of it.

08/14/2007, 06:57 AM	#4
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Also, a filter sock may keep a lot of detritus from the tank from reaching your sump.

08/14/2007, 06:57 AM	#5
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	i second the filter sock.

08/14/2007, 07:10 AM	#6
philpot Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK, Northern Ireland Posts: 23	Could someone show me a link to a filter sock - never heard that in the UK? Cheers.

08/14/2007, 07:16 AM	#8
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	Click Here for Filter Socks

08/14/2007, 07:17 AM	#9
Zucker26 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sandusky, OH Posts: 251	I was extremely skeptical of removable baffles when I first read this article, but I have since made a sump utilizing this method and it's worked flawlessly!! The baffles are completely removable, you can sponge out the sump during every water change, and it's extremely versatile in the event you want to install more hardware. It's always an idea. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume...es/baffles.htm

08/14/2007, 08:24 AM	#12
philpot Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK, Northern Ireland Posts: 23	My sump is on the floor so I can't siphon from it. Bi weekly siphon from the display is easier for me. I think I need more mechanical filtering seeing the comments here.

08/14/2007, 08:50 AM	#13
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	just keep in mind that the filter socks need to be cleaned at least every other day. i have quite a few of them and swap them out daily and toss them in the washer once a week to keep the supply of clean ones up.

08/14/2007, 10:44 AM	#20
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	My sump is on the floor too, so I use a powerhead and some tubing in my sump to pump out water when I do a water change. While it's pumping out the water into a bucket I use my hand or a scrubber to kick up the crap. Any junk that has settled gets sucked right out and permanently exits the system. Problem permanently solved for $25.00 and water changes are a breeze. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

08/14/2007, 10:49 AM	#21
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	I just recently vacuumed the sump bottom of my tank (I need to keep up on this area.) I used a MJ1200 and a piece of 1/2" vinyl hose to remove the junk. Took less than a minute and now the bottom is clean again. Just be careful with unplugging the MJ if your hands are wet with salt water. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

08/14/2007, 12:17 PM	#22
trmiv Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,082	If you want to vacuum it without removing water get a canister filter and use it as a sump vac. __________________ Current tank: Red Sea Reefer 350 Deluxe, Avast Marine Pegleg 180 skimmer, Gyre 150, Eheim 1262 return

08/14/2007, 12:21 PM	#23
fatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 1,191	I use a pump and vinyl hose to remove the nasties. I'll need to do it again soon. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

08/14/2007, 12:23 PM	#24
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	http://www.drycleaningfilters.com/fi...ag_pricing.htm

08/14/2007, 12:26 PM	#25
Kiel'thalin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Albany, Georgia Posts: 575	You guys are crazy, use a simple turkey baster and a fish net. Strain out the detrius in the net and poor the water back in. That way you don't even have to mix up any extra Salt water...