Do you clean your sump and why or why not?

[Jerlet80]

I was gifted one of those. Seemed great for the first water change but after that it never worked again....

I usually flush mine out with RODI after a water change. I’ve had it over a year.

 

[Lpschick]

Yea I do with a shop vac.

Is it only used for the sump? Curious

 

[shred5]

Is it only used for the sump? Curious

Yes.. I bought one that goes on top of a 5 gallon bucket.

I own this one:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Shop-Vac-1-5-HP-Portable-Wet-Dry-Shop-Vacuum/3160385

I know others who use this one:

Bucket Head 5 Gal. 1.75-Peak HP Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum Powerhead with Filter Bag and Hose (compatible with 5 Gal. Homer Bucket)-BH0100 - The Home Depot

Clean up both wet and dry spillages by using this excellent Wet and Dry Vacuum offered by Bucket Head. Features blower port for added versatility.

www.homedepot.com

 

[Mick51]

I have a power head on a timer in the sump, runs for a bit each night to stir up anything that settled.

How small of a power head ?

 

[glennf]

This 2-3 year doing absolutely nothing....
I have minimal equipment in my sump, so no need to clean any. The sump is just the place to put the minimal equipment like a heater, powerfilter and to dilute supplements.
I see no ill effect on the tank.
Oh... i don't do any waterchanges either.

 

[RYcube2951]

I have a Coralife biocube 29 setup. I clean the rear filtration compartments about every 2 months or so. This will keep the detritus from building up and clogging my protein skimmer intake and main pump intake.

 

[driftin]

How small of a power head ?

Haha, well I am overkill. I redid my whole tank a couple years ago and had a good-sized Tunze that wasn't getting reinstalled in the display, so I am using that in the sump. I've also used an MJ1200 with a prop and that worked well too with the wide flow (a little less reliable than the Tunze).

It will really depend on your sump size and layout, and where you can place the pump.

 

[tamanning]

I have a sand bed with macro algae growing in it with blue leg hermits and a lot of pods and snails. I sit and watch my sump as if it were a display.

 

[Dabcrusher]

Heck yeah I clean my sump. I work about 60 hours a week at algaebarn when I get ho.e lights are out so the sump is what I get to see the most of. Besides the sump is what makes the magic happen up top.

 

[McPuff]

I siphon out my sump whenever I do water changes. I do wipe down the sides once in a while too. The sump isn't hidden (well, it's in my utility room) so I see it all the time. Bothers me if it's too dirty.

 

[Lim Papa]

Cleaned yesterday