New sump, now what?

gillianandjoe · 02/14/2007, 08:57 PM

I installed my sump this weekend, thank you to everyone who chimed in to answer my questions. My next question is, how do I clean the tank now? Do you just shut off the pump, and do a water change, or how does it work? New to the sump thing--thanks in advance!

Joe

gillianandjoe · 02/15/2007, 05:59 AM

^

Shagsbeard · 02/15/2007, 07:24 AM

I usually clean off the sides prior to doing my weekly waterchange. The sump doesn't need to be really really clean, but you should keep an eye on it and remove any mess before it gets to be a problem.

I typically don't turn off the pump if I can help it. Be really careful in a waterchange not to lower the level of the water in the sump to expose your pump if it's on.

cdangel0 · 02/15/2007, 01:58 PM

Joe,

I always find it safest to turn the return pump off. Without fail I drop the water level too low and grab one or two big bursts of air which sends billions of tiny bubbles shooting all over my tank, which inevitably scares the hell outta my fish.

rustybucket145 · 02/15/2007, 02:27 PM

If you have a glass tank you can use a razor blade to clean it. I'm not sure about acrylic though I'm sure a razorblade would scratch it up.

gillianandjoe · 02/15/2007, 03:59 PM

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the response.

mikeandjenn99 · 02/15/2007, 04:10 PM

I just do water changes from the drain side of the sump. That way, your return level should never drop enough to put any bubbles in the tank.

02/14/2007, 08:57 PM	#1
gillianandjoe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 242	New sump, now what? I installed my sump this weekend, thank you to everyone who chimed in to answer my questions. My next question is, how do I clean the tank now? Do you just shut off the pump, and do a water change, or how does it work? New to the sump thing--thanks in advance! Joe

02/15/2007, 02:27 PM	#5
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	If you have a glass tank you can use a razor blade to clean it. I'm not sure about acrylic though I'm sure a razorblade would scratch it up. __________________ 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

02/15/2007, 04:10 PM	#7
mikeandjenn99 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 437	I just do water changes from the drain side of the sump. That way, your return level should never drop enough to put any bubbles in the tank. __________________ Why are Tangs so special? Where are the Cleaner Wrasse police?? Current Tank Info: 55g mixed 12g nano

02/15/2007, 05:59 AM	#2
gillianandjoe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 242	^

02/15/2007, 07:24 AM	#3
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	I usually clean off the sides prior to doing my weekly waterchange. The sump doesn't need to be really really clean, but you should keep an eye on it and remove any mess before it gets to be a problem. I typically don't turn off the pump if I can help it. Be really careful in a waterchange not to lower the level of the water in the sump to expose your pump if it's on.

02/15/2007, 01:58 PM	#4
cdangel0 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 905	Joe, I always find it safest to turn the return pump off. Without fail I drop the water level too low and grab one or two big bursts of air which sends billions of tiny bubbles shooting all over my tank, which inevitably scares the hell outta my fish.

02/15/2007, 03:59 PM	#6
gillianandjoe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 242	Thanks everyone. I appreciate the response.