Do you clean sump / refugium?

[Fishingandreefing]

My tank has been set up for over 5 years and I don’t clean my sandbed because it looks clean. I only clean my mid section of the sump which where I keep the caulerpas, live rocks and bio balls there. The first chamber is where the water comes down, skimmer and I put some bio balls there.

Most of the detritus got caught in the bottom of first and second chamber. Now the question is, by cleaning it weekly does it disturb amything and also siphone away the good bacteria and pods?

Also is there such things is too much bio balls? Plan on adding some more, nitrate and phosphate are high 40ppm/.40

 

[CasperOe]

I don't clean my sump or my refugium - I run with no socks and no roller mat so I have a fair bit settling in the fuge.

I have however employed a variety of crabs and snails in the fuge helping me along the way.

 

[Waters]

What does your DT look like? The bio balls probably aren't needed in the sump at all, assuming you have enough live rock in the DT. To answer your question, I clean my sump every few months.