Tips to Syphon out my Sump

[skibum9884]

I'm already begun cleaning my skimmer and pumps from my sump. I'm planning to do my weekly water change in my sump as it is quite dirty and now is almost devoid of equipment.

Any suggestions how to syphon the water since the sump sits on the floor? It's tough to get the syphon going since the water is 8" off the floor and I'm trying to syphon into a 5 gallon bucket at the same level.

I'm sure someone has encountered this problem! I hope it doesn't involve going to buy a shop-vac!

Thanks!

[boxfishpooalot]

i was going to say shop vac but since you dont want to do that... You can cup the water out then use some clean dry towels to mop up the rest. Second option is to raise the sump high enough that you can syphon it.

[Paco]

Shop-vac at Home Depot: $50 for one that will do the job. Or you can get this: http://bucketheadvac.com/ for $20 (bucket not included).

[Typlus5]

use a small power head with a hose, maybe what ever you mix your salt with?

[skibum9884]

Hmmm, maybe I'll go pick up that home-depot shop-vac thing that connects to a bucket. Seems like a great idea for the price.

[samstersam]

I can't believe no one uses a Python No Spill n Fill

http://www.amazon.com/50-ft-Python-N...8783171&sr=8-2

I've used one for over 10 years now ever since I started with Tropical Swordfish and now my reef tank. Gentle enough for my sand bed too.

It uses water pressure from a faucet to achieve a vacuum. Wastes a little water but it is SO handy.

[BFG]

If you have a strong pump, connect it to a spare media reactor. Use extra sponge and those cheap aquarium filter wool in the reactor to trap the debris. This will act as a pre-filter to your pump. You need 3 set of hose.

sump--hose--pump--hose--reactor--hose--sump

The hose from the reactor act to suck in the debris into the reactor. The hose from the pump will channel the water back to the sump. If the reactor is full of debris, clean it and repeat the step.


Hope this helps!

[d0ughb0y]

I just use a maxijet 1200 connected to a hose to a bucket. drain as much water out then just take the whole sump out and clean it outside.

[RocketEngineer]

I have a small pump that is meant to draw water from a flat bottom instead of through a round opening. Something like these:
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...5&pcatid=14665
Attached to a short hose and I can pull the gunk right from the bottom of the sump.

RocketEngineer

[Phyxius]

The shop vac is a great thing to have. I usually use a small pump and tubing to suck the water out as far as possible and then use a Lowes small shop vac to suck out the rest and all the detrius and sand left over. I paid maybe 45 for the vac and use it ONLY on the tank for this. Well worth it and its cleaning ability help.

[Chris27]

The shop vac is a very handy reefing tool, figure it this way, in addition to cleaning your sump, it's also very useful when you leave your RO Unit unattended and spill water all over the place.....

[Patrick F]

Chris,

You could consider using a submersible sump pump for removing the water out of your sump and into a five gallon pail.

Patrick

[skibum9884]

I actually went out to home depot yesterday. They had a great deal on a Rigid shop vac, 3.5 hp/9 gallons for $30. It works great. Anyone in the market for one should check it out.

Only thing, don't make a rookie mistake like me and fill it completely. Makes it hard to get it somewhere to dump it without spilling water everywhere.

[Flavordsm]

Here is what I did for a makeshift detritus sucker.

Get a NPT fitting and a small uniseal that fit together well. I think its a 1/2" uniseal but I'm not 100% sure. Like so:


They actually fit together pretty snug:


With 1/4" line attached:


The uniseal attached to the hose of the bucket shop vac (got it from lowes)


and here is your very own shop vac/make shift detritus sucker:


Only problem I ran into was that the shop vac is strong enough to collapse the bucket. So make sure you have a pretty heavy duty 5 gallon bucket if you don't want that to happen. It's really not a problem just kinda annoying.

[Phyxius]

I kind of did the same thing so I could get in-between the small space in the baffles and etc. I have tons of plumbing parts from the last 7 yrs and pieced together a few so it would slip in end of vacuum line. I can switch tubing sizes as needed fairly easy.