How do you maintain your sump?

[AudiSteve]

I have a 12G JBJ retro tank with a 10 gallon sump. The sump is completely bare no live rock and no macro (can't do it b/c of open stand design). My question is I have a mess of detritus that I have to clean out every time I do a water change, is there anything I can do to reduce or further breakdown the detritus? Can I add some snails or other inverts to try to clean it up? Or do I have to break down and buy a sock? Any opinions or input would be apprecitated. Thanks.

 

[drparker]

Add a skimmer to the sump.

Drew

 

[joecos]

I use a filter sock that catches all the detritus (www.filterbag.com) I had the same problem, my sump was filled with brown powder. So I tried the sock and it worked great. I change it once a week during my water change. They are easy to maintain - and can be recycled after a good wash.

And like the above post, a skimmer in your sump.

HTH
Joe

 

[rutledgek]

Can you vaccuum the sump when you do water changes.

 

[impur]

I use a shopvac to vacuum out the detrius about once a month.

 

[rutledgek]

That could be better than a sock since its maintenance you do already.

 

[AudiSteve]

Interesting, I never thought about literally vaccuming my tanks with a wet dry vac. I might try it. Does the saltwater pose any problem to corroding our rusting any of the parts of a shopvac? I already have a skimmer it's CPR in Sump skimmer, it doesn't really skim all that much and when it does it's VERY wet!

 

[Bebo77]

a shop vac wont work on a 12 gallon tank.. it will take all the water out of it.. get a powerhead and a filtersock.. use the input of the powerhead to suck the deterius and have it shoot it into the filter sock...

 

[zapata41]

get some nassariius snails, i found them to cruze through the detritus lying in my sump, the snails make poop too that you have to clean out

Tim

 

[tygger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7020015#post7020015 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zapata41
get some nassariius snails, i found them to cruze through the detritus lying in my sump, the snails make poop too that you have to clean out

Tim

I find that counter intuitive...

I remember when I first bought mexican snails to help eat algae. They did eat the algae, but replaced it with crap. o well...

 

[impur]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7019547#post7019547 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AudiSteve
Interesting, I never thought about literally vaccuming my tanks with a wet dry vac. I might try it. Does the saltwater pose any problem to corroding our rusting any of the parts of a shopvac? I already have a skimmer it's CPR in Sump skimmer, it doesn't really skim all that much and when it does it's VERY wet!

No problems with my shopvac, internally its mostly plastic. I give it a good rinse with freshwater after i'm done just in case.

a shop vac wont work on a 12 gallon tank.. it will take all the water out of it.. get a powerhead and a filtersock.. use the input of the powerhead to suck the deterius and have it shoot it into the filter sock...

Its actually a 12 gallon tank and a 10 gallon sump if you read the OP first post. Typically people have baffles in their sumps for MB, fuge, skimmer area, etc. Also typical of sumps is that they are not usually filled to the top of the tank. So actually its more like 2-4 gallons max, just the amount you should be taking out for a 20% WC. :smokin:

 

[UCanDoIt]

i have my overflow directed to a deltec protein skimmer in sump which catches most of the powder and foams it away. whatever is leftover that goes into the sump, i vaccuum away about every 2-3 months with a hose and python faucet pump

 

[Spuds725]

I personally would use a filter sock swapped out every 2-3 days-- between your water changes you will be making nitrates..

I use these.. bought 10--- about $30 with shipping.

http://www.filterbag.com/items/PONG100P4P.html

I bought 10 so I can wash them all in the washing machine about every 3-4 weeks

 

[G-money]

I also siphon the sump at every water change (10-14 days). Aside from holding equipment, the purpose of my sump is indeed to settle detritus. I'd rather have it there than anywhere else. Baffles seem to help this, as my 4 foot long sump has about 2 feet of very reduced water flow in the center. Might not be possible with your small sump. I sometimes use a sock as well, but usually only when I'm blowing the rocks off in the main tank. That might be your best option.

 

[UCanDoIt]

Every 2 or 3 months when I vaccuum with the hose & python, I hardly have any powder as most of my overflow goes directly into my skimmer and is foamed away. If I needed to, I would vaccuum more often, but no need. My nitrates are between <5ppm consistently.