Detritus in sump?

[texhorns98]

Is that what I'm seeing at the bottom of my sump? If so, how the heck do you get it out? It's on the bottom of the stand, so siphoning is not really an option.

 

[mapleredta]

texhorns98;518103 wrote: Is that what I'm seeing at the bottom of my sump? If so, how the heck do you get it out? It's on the bottom of the stand, so siphoning is not really an option.

Somebody posted a link to a little shop vac that mounts on top of a 5 gallon bucket. (Think it was 20 bucks at home depot) I'll be grabbing one this weekend for reasons such as this.

 

[mapleredta]

 

[serpent]

That vac works great, but wear ear protection because it is loud. I also recommend getting a "detail" kit for the vac, that way you can get into the corners.

 

[texhorns98]

I have a wet/dry, but it seems like you would be sucking out a TON of water! I guess you would just have to shut down everything and treat this as a water change? Also, what about the pods in the fuge section? Wouldn't you be defeating the purpose by going in there with a vacuum?

 

[mikesommers]

I use a maxijet. Very simple and easy. Just pump out into a bucket.

 

[mikesommers]

texhorns98;518117 wrote: I have a wet/dry, but it seems like you would be sucking out a TON of water! I guess you would just have to shut down everything and treat this as a water change? Also, what about the pods in the fuge section? Wouldn't you be defeating the purpose by going in there with a vacuum?

I gently go after just the detritus. I do shut down the pump. Are you using a sock? That will stop 95% of that.

 

[texhorns98]

I run a sock, but like most people I don't change it as often as I should and so I get some overflow sometimes. Would there be any harm in slowly kicking it up over time and letting the skimmer pull it out? We're just talking about a light dusting on the bottom of the sump here. Not a ton of poo!

 

[mikesommers]

texhorns98;518136 wrote: I run a sock, but like most people I don't change it as often as I should and so I get some overflow sometimes. Would there be any harm in slowly kicking it up over time and letting the skimmer pull it out? We're just talking about a light dusting on the bottom of the sump here. Not a ton of poo!

You could try that. I will let mine go until it's bad enough to need cleaned out then during a water change just suck it out with my mj. I have a small hose on it that allows me to just move the mj around very slowly and u can watch it vacuum it right out. Sometimes I just change the water in my fist 2 chambers. I don't like to do that very often due to interuption of stuff.

 

[acroholic]

I use a wet dry with a detail kit like serpent said. Just incorporate it as part of a WC.

 

[ralph atl]

Acroholic;518161 wrote: I use a wet dry with a detail kit like serpent said. Just incorporate it as part of a WC.

exactly.

 

[texhorns98]

Acroholic;518161 wrote: I use a wet dry with a detail kit like serpent said. Just incorporate it as part of a WC.

Do I skip the fuge section then? My sump has a center slow flow fuge.

 

[acroholic]

I wouldn't vacuum the fuge if it has a substrate. I would vacuum it if it is bare bottom and you only have cheato or macros.