new to sumps questions

[robert teseo]

50 yr of keeping saltwater, yet my 1st sump. so, I,m running a mag 12 return, a mag 9 for the skimmer and a mag 3 for the fuge. I also have 2 wave's in the tank, I,m running 5 deg f above a tank with no sump. so, does this sound normal.? I assume this is from pump heat. there are no heaters running at this time. also after about 1 month I see a little coating of debris? in the bottom of the sump. how does one remove it?

 

[Ty Hamatake]

The extra heat is more than likely from the pumps. If it get to be too much, you could probably bring the temperature down with a fan or two. As far as getting rid of the detritus goes, I do my water changes from the sump so I vacuum it out then. Are you using filter socks? Whether or not they are necessary is controversial, but in my experience they do at least help keep the sump clean.

 

[robert teseo]

no on the socks, but I use 2 layers of foam blocks that the flow has to go thru. it's a lifereef sump