Tip for sump hoovering

tramsden · 05/05/2012, 01:32 AM

Hi
Any tips for removing dirt which accumulates on the bottom of a bare bottom sump.

Sump is at ground level so I can't syphon, up to now ive been using a syringe but as you can imagine its slow laborious work and it means having my hands in the water which I'd rather minimise.

Cheers Tony

Metal Man 1221 · 05/05/2012, 01:45 AM

I like to use a maxi jet with the extender tube and just suck it out.

There is also the option of shutting your return pump down and scrubbing the bottom of your sump to kick up all the detritus and then completely drain and refill the sump. Doing this maybe twice a year might be a good part of your maintenance routine.

Daniel62 · 05/05/2012, 01:58 AM

Go to home depot and buy their buckethead vaccum. Cost only about $30 and uses a home depot bucket $3.00. Quick, easy and fast. Love mine

swichbeatz · 05/05/2012, 07:12 AM

I use a wet/dry vac. Best investment and makes cleanups a breeze. Just make sure you rinse the vac with freshwater after you vac out the sump.

sponger0 · 05/05/2012, 07:24 AM

You can still syphon out. I did it recently on mine. And my sump sits only a few inches of the ground

Playa-1 · 05/05/2012, 07:49 AM

I use a Shop vac aka wet/dry vac.
You can also just use a pump and a powerhead. Turn off the return pump&ATo first and then, Use the powerhead to stir detritus into the water column, and then pump the water out of the sump for a water change. Depending on your setup, you may be able to set up your return pump with a bypass valve on the return line to do the trick.

Sometimes when I'm bored I will drop a powerhead into the skimmer section and run a siphon hose to the skimmer cup. Crank up the skimmer and drain water for a water change straight from the skimmer cup. If you're going to attempt the method then I recommend that you read up on how to start a siphon without sucking on the hose

feh · 05/05/2012, 07:58 AM

I use a python to clean mine. I also use it for pulling old water out for water changes. Works great.

EllieSuz · 05/05/2012, 08:07 AM

Metal Man, could you post a picture of how you used a Maxi-Jet? I tried putting a hose on the intake, but the pump didn't pull anything. What was I doing wrong?

tramsden · 05/05/2012, 08:48 AM

When using a wet vaccum do you modify the attached hose to make it smaller bore.

postaldave · 05/05/2012, 09:01 AM

Shop vac

Never modified it but that's a great idea

Playa-1 · 05/05/2012, 09:01 AM

That depends on the hose and the Vac, but for the shop vac I use a smaller diameter hose then what comes with it. I actually put the vac in a bathtub across the hall and use a long piece of 1" ID hose. I've found that the shop vac will spill over when full. Some wet vacs don't do that so it's a good little tid bit of information to have before getting started

Be sure and flush the vac with fresh water when done.

cloak · 05/05/2012, 10:26 AM

I just use a powerhead and stir everything up so that it gets pumped into to the DT. I'll change some water change and then the filter sock catches the leftovers on the way back down. I get a great feeding response from some of the corals when this is done.

AquaReeferMan · 05/05/2012, 02:16 PM

I used the 5g Bucket Shop/Vac kit. Worked wonders.

Metal Man 1221 · 05/05/2012, 02:22 PM

Im not home right now but I will take pictures this evening.

tramsden · 05/05/2012, 02:27 PM

I'll have to invest in a ' shop vac'. It's not a known brand here in UK but I will find a similar design.

cherubfish pair · 05/05/2012, 03:51 PM

I finally setup the filter sock I had sitting around for three years. In between cleanings the detritus breaks down and is skimmed out by the skimmer.

05/05/2012, 01:32 AM	#1
tramsden Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Leeds UK Posts: 260	Tip for sump hoovering Hi Any tips for removing dirt which accumulates on the bottom of a bare bottom sump. Sump is at ground level so I can't syphon, up to now ive been using a syringe but as you can imagine its slow laborious work and it means having my hands in the water which I'd rather minimise. Cheers Tony

05/05/2012, 01:45 AM	#2
Metal Man 1221 FMMAS Executive Director Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fargo ND Posts: 1,504	I like to use a maxi jet with the extender tube and just suck it out. There is also the option of shutting your return pump down and scrubbing the bottom of your sump to kick up all the detritus and then completely drain and refill the sump. Doing this maybe twice a year might be a good part of your maintenance routine. __________________ "My advise is, always look at their aquarium before you take their advise. Because alot of people give advise and they havnt got a clue" ~David Saxby~ "Only after the last tree's cut and the last river poisoned only after the last fish is caught will you find that money cannot be eaten" ~Lamb of God~ Current Tank Info: 125g DT, 45g sump ---- 57g Illuminata, custom sump

05/05/2012, 01:58 AM	#3
Daniel62 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: kingman, AZ Posts: 1,483	Go to home depot and buy their buckethead vaccum. Cost only about $30 and uses a home depot bucket $3.00. Quick, easy and fast. Love mine __________________ Mind over matter, if you don't mind it doesn't matter Current Tank Info: 225 reef, 125 clown & haddoni tank, Haddoni's Big Bad & Beautiful, I Love Them!

05/05/2012, 08:07 AM	#8
EllieSuz Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,858	Metal Man, could you post a picture of how you used a Maxi-Jet? I tried putting a hose on the intake, but the pump didn't pull anything. What was I doing wrong? __________________ "You can't learn this hobby one question at a time." (Mr. Tuskfish) Eileen Current Tank Info: I'm out of the hobby, but used to have a60 gal. reef, refugium in sump, Internal Mag 9 return, SC 302 skimmer, two Maxi-Jet 1200's modded, four bulb T5 Lighting, Reefkeeper Lite Controller with three PC4's, Little Fishes GFO reactor.

05/05/2012, 02:16 PM	#13
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	I used the 5g Bucket Shop/Vac kit. Worked wonders. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

05/05/2012, 07:12 AM	#4
swichbeatz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 21	I use a wet/dry vac. Best investment and makes cleanups a breeze. Just make sure you rinse the vac with freshwater after you vac out the sump.

05/05/2012, 07:24 AM	#5
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	You can still syphon out. I did it recently on mine. And my sump sits only a few inches of the ground

05/05/2012, 07:49 AM	#6
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I use a Shop vac aka wet/dry vac. You can also just use a pump and a powerhead. Turn off the return pump&ATo first and then, Use the powerhead to stir detritus into the water column, and then pump the water out of the sump for a water change. Depending on your setup, you may be able to set up your return pump with a bypass valve on the return line to do the trick. Sometimes when I'm bored I will drop a powerhead into the skimmer section and run a siphon hose to the skimmer cup. Crank up the skimmer and drain water for a water change straight from the skimmer cup. If you're going to attempt the method then I recommend that you read up on how to start a siphon without sucking on the hose

05/05/2012, 07:58 AM	#7
feh Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Atlanta area Posts: 535	I use a python to clean mine. I also use it for pulling old water out for water changes. Works great.

05/05/2012, 08:48 AM	#9
tramsden Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Leeds UK Posts: 260	When using a wet vaccum do you modify the attached hose to make it smaller bore.

05/05/2012, 09:01 AM	#10
postaldave Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 54	Shop vac Never modified it but that's a great idea

05/05/2012, 10:26 AM	#12
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I just use a powerhead and stir everything up so that it gets pumped into to the DT. I'll change some water change and then the filter sock catches the leftovers on the way back down. I get a great feeding response from some of the corals when this is done.

05/05/2012, 02:22 PM	#14
Metal Man 1221 FMMAS Executive Director Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fargo ND Posts: 1,504	Im not home right now but I will take pictures this evening. __________________ "My advise is, always look at their aquarium before you take their advise. Because alot of people give advise and they havnt got a clue" ~David Saxby~ "Only after the last tree's cut and the last river poisoned only after the last fish is caught will you find that money cannot be eaten" ~Lamb of God~ Current Tank Info: 125g DT, 45g sump ---- 57g Illuminata, custom sump

05/05/2012, 02:27 PM	#15
tramsden Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Leeds UK Posts: 260	I'll have to invest in a ' shop vac'. It's not a known brand here in UK but I will find a similar design.

05/05/2012, 03:51 PM	#16
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	I finally setup the filter sock I had sitting around for three years. In between cleanings the detritus breaks down and is skimmed out by the skimmer. __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless