How do you vacuum your SUMP?

[Dom]

I did some sump maintenance today, and I found the bottom has a considerable amount of decayed matter which I would like to get out.

You can't use a siphon (gravity; thou art heartless), so what else is there; a net?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What does decayed matter mean?

I never once cleaned mine in 20 years. It had a thick mud layer on it.

 

[Idech]

What does decayed matter mean?

I never once cleaned mine in 20 years. It had a thick mud layer on it.

That’s nice to know ! First sump for me and I, too, thought it needed cleaning once in a while. I think I’ll just let it be then.

 

[Dom]

What does decayed matter mean?

I never once cleaned mine in 20 years. It had a thick mud layer on it.

Detritus, a big ball of Chaeto that decayed in there over time, things like that. I could easily net most of it out, but I'd like to get it thoroughly cleared out.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I use a wet/dry vac

 

[Lavey29]

Detritus, a big ball of Chaeto that decayed in there over time, things like that. I could easily net most of it out, but I'd like to get it thoroughly cleared out.

Those wet vacs that sit atop a 5g bucket work well.

 

[fishface NJ]

I don't clean my sump. Only thing that gets cleaned are the socks and skimmer

 

[DanyL]

I actually do siphon the bottom successfully.
My sump is raised by 4 cm (about 1.5”), and flow is a bit low - but if you start the siphon close to the water line and then lower it downwards it’ll work just fine.

 

[cilyjr]

I did some sump maintenance today, and I found the bottom has a considerable amount of decayed matter which I would like to get out.

You can't use a siphon (gravity; thou art heartless), so what else is there; a net?

I built mine on 2x4 rails for some height. I have unlimited room though so I understand that might not be an option for people whos sump is underneath their display. That said, I really never do it. Maybe once a year

You'd probably have to use the shop vac if your on ground level.

 

[Cthulukelele]

My understanding is most long term detritus in our tanks is biologically inert.

 

[Gtinnel]

I rarely clean mine but when I do I also use a wet/dry vac to suck it out. You can get a bucket head for cheap. I only use mine for the tank.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Greetings Dom, I’m with you on this one. Totally agree with @DanyL as I syphon my sump right from the floor. Detritus is so soft and light that even a slow 3/4” syphon tube nicely does the trick. What I do is I put two small square pillows on the floor and 4’ away from my sump. I the place a 5 gallon bucket between the pillows with the bottom of the bucket away from the tank and the top of the bucket slightly facing upwards. Then I take my 7 or 8’ piece of hose put one end in the sump and the other end just touching the bottom of the bucket. I start the syphon and begin to move it across the sump floor. Super easy, gets the crud out. Because of your topic, I thought I’d google “cleaning sumps” one of the first ten was a video produced by Reef Builders called “Take Pride in your Reef tank, Clean up that sump”. The guy cleaning the sump considered detritus, “dirt and crud”. Again, very easy, good luck.

 

[Dom]

I use a wet/dry vac

I thought about that, but, then I lose the water.
I'm trying to design a way to make something more in line with a pool vacuum. You get the dirt, and the water gets recycled into the pool.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

So I also make a 5 gallon bucket of fresh salt water. Because of the angle of the bucket being filled. You’ll only fill it 1/3 full before you need to empty it. But each time you empty it, you add an equal amount of fresh salt water to your tank. Do this 3 times and you have a clean sump. And a 5 gallon water change.

 

[DanyL]

I the place a 5 gallon bucket between the pillows with the bottom of the bucket away from the tank and the top of the bucket slightly facing upwards.

I used to use regular buckets in the past, but I’ve found that a small tub works the best for this due to the lower height.
You can find them in all shapes and sizes, usually they are used for laundry.

I thought about that, but, then I lose the water.

I usually do this during a water change, so I have spare water to use.
But sometimes I don’t have enough, and what I do is to simply siphon it right back to the system, but through the roller mat - this gives me endless amounts of water to use.

 

[edd59]

I thought about that, but, then I lose the water.
I'm trying to design a way to make something more in line with a pool vacuum. You get the dirt, and the water gets recycled into the pool.

get a small submersible pump and pump it into your filter sock in sump.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I did some sump maintenance today, and I found the bottom has a considerable amount of decayed matter which I would like to get out.

You can't use a siphon (gravity; thou art heartless), so what else is there; a net?

I never clean mine and regard the muck/mud as beneficial, the same you fine in streams with clear and pure water

 

[Dom]

get a small submersible pump and pump it into your filter sock in sump.

I tried that. But the intake gets clogged quickly and needs to be cleaned frequently.

 

[MnFish1]

I did some sump maintenance today, and I found the bottom has a considerable amount of decayed matter which I would like to get out.

You can't use a siphon (gravity; thou art heartless), so what else is there; a net?

A Python - or an electrical aquarium vacuum (it has a battery)

 

[MnFish1]

I never clean mine and regard the muck/mud as beneficial, the same you fine in streams with clear and pure water

This is the best explanation I've heard for leaving it (or at least some) behind