deterious on sump bottom? how often to remove ?

[gfk]

first tank with a sump and after about a month im noticing deterious building up on the sump ground... should i be concerned about this, is it normal? how often should i remove it, and how do you do so?

 

[druce]

you can syphon it out every month or so...

that's normal for a sump, it's acting as a "mecanical filter" and some detritus from the water column

 

[boxfishpooalot]

detritus breaks down to nitrates and phosphates. You want to remove it because of that.

I would just syphon it out, or use a shop vacume.

 

[Fountainhead]

Once every 2 1/2 years. Or at least that's my schedule, assuming that I clean mine out as planned. I've never done it, and it's filthy. Can't be a good thing. I'm going to rig up some tubing on a maxi-jet and pump/siphon it out. Well, maybe.

 

[flfirefighter13]

Every second or third water change I drop my python in it and suck the gunk out

 

[gfk]

thanks guys... i just need to figure out a good rig to get it out, ill use a shop vac once i move but our shop vac at this house is filthy and i dont want it on the carpet

 

[gweezpie]

I am also on the 2.5 year schedule...hehehe but I have a huge sump..150g

0 phosphates 0 nitrates etc........but i would recommend not following my example....

 

[outy]

every 2 weeks when i do a water change i clean my sump/fuge out. [allot of junk comes out]