Way to keep a sump spotless!

Clownreef

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Hi all!

Thought id start a thread about how you all keep your sump clean.

I have a large sump and I get lots of detritus. I can't seem to get nitrates under control and Im starting to think its all that build up.

Ive tried the shop vac method but it sucks so much water out.

My stand's doors have acrylic so you can see the awesome color coordinated plumbing and the sump from Synergy reef so I want it to be clean since you can see everything.

Im going to try using a powerhead to blow all the detritus around and hook up an external canister filter to filter all out.

Thoughts??

How do you keep your sump spotless???
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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I’m not convinced keeping a sump clean is needed or desirable, and I let detritus accumulate to nearly an inch thick mud over many years.
 

Bruttall

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IMO the detritus is not creating high nitrates, and I have to ask what you consider High numbers? I run a pretty simple fuge with a Neptune Gro light, chaeto and with a decent skimmer working properly my nitrates stay between 20 and 40 depending on how much I feed. and I have a very heavy bio load, 30 some fish + inverts in a 300g display.
 

ShakeyGizzard

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My whole fuge section is an algae scrubber, guess my UV light is keeping the DT from being that way, also have a large amount of pineapple sponges in my sump that must have come from recent frags. But, its working great on my water parameters. crystal clear water
 

gbroadbridge

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Mmmm..

All I heard back in the day was all that buildup was a nitrate machine. Im surprised to read no one really cleans their sumps..lol
lol, it's the engine room, not a stage show :)

Unless of course you're trying to influence or sell something ...
 

edsbeaker

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My sump

What A Mess Eww GIF by VeeFriends
 

saullman

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I am one of those reefers that likes a clean sump. I'm just a very clean person in general and my tank is an extension of me. So I use the VCA vacuum tool connected to a small pump. I run tubing from the pump into a sock which drains back into the sump again so I loose no water. I vacuum the sump probably every 4-6 weeks.
 

Dan_P

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Hi all!

Thought id start a thread about how you all keep your sump clean.

I have a large sump and I get lots of detritus. I can't seem to get nitrates under control and Im starting to think its all that build up.

Ive tried the shop vac method but it sucks so much water out.

My stand's doors have acrylic so you can see the awesome color coordinated plumbing and the sump from Synergy reef so I want it to be clean since you can see everything.

Im going to try using a powerhead to blow all the detritus around and hook up an external canister filter to filter all out.

Thoughts??

How do you keep your sump spotless???
Dirty is normal. Embrace it.

Don’t waste time on an unrealistic goal. The aquarium is a toilet and the sump and connected devices are all part of a water treatment plant.
 
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Clownreef

Clownreef

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I am one of those reefers that likes a clean sump. I'm just a very clean person in general and my tank is an extension of me. So I use the VCA vacuum tool connected to a small pump. I run tubing from the pump into a sock which drains back into the sump again so I loose no water. I vacuum the sump probably every 4-6 weeks.
Same…

Do you like the pump?
 

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