Cleaning Sumps/Overflows...

[BoomerD]

You can get a "waterbed pump" almost anywhere...usually considerably cheaper than buying the Python replacement...

[sasquatch]

sock, wash it every 3 days

[ghostwolf]

We clean the fuge, overflow and returns every water change (2 wks). Any filter media is checked every other day and changed when needed. Protein skimmer is cleaned every weekend or sooner as needed. Doni, when are you going to try my water change method. I know you must have an extra small pump and tubing.


Lin

[Woodstock]

Lin, I use a pump/tubing when putting the newly made salt water back into the tank but I do use the buckets when siphoning out old water I'll get my python fixed soon...

[fidojoe]

Umm, I clean it when I feel like it... which is basically never.

I've only had this setup for 8 months now, so I guess its not that bad, and my previous setup only had a sump for the last 2 months that I had it.

I don't use filter socks 'cause I'd always forget to change/clean them, so what I do is keep a spare MJ1200 in the sump to keep it stirred up, that way my skimmer can take it out, and whatever is left over gets sent back up to the tank and devoured by my massive cleaner crew.

[Snelly40]

do u guys clean out ur skimmer ever????
not the collection cup but mine seems so be accumulating stuff on the inside too???

[swissgaurd]

i clean my skimmer when theres a time change

[Woodstock]

I rarely remove the entire skimmer and clean it. Maybe once a year.

[Frankie]

Iv'e been known to reach down in there to clean the chamber every so often.

[Humahuma]

I clean lots of sumps from a bunch of different tanks. I work with my brother sharkbait all the time. are job is cleaning fish tanks.

[Pro_builder]

I clean my sump every other water change, and the tank on opposite water changes. Well, I did do that till the tank cleared of all algae, then I just clean the sump on every other time.

[ReefDave]

being that i have no mechanical filtration except for the sponge on the outlet of my g1x(which i clean every month or so) i really get very little detritus in the sump, but even more convenient is that my tomini tang is a serious detrivore and poops in a low flow spot in the tank all the time, so, i just siphon out his little $hit pile every once and a while. so back to the sump, there is a chocolate chip star in there that eats most of the leftovers (mysis that went thru the overflow etc.) and i would assume that he also kicks up the detritus in there a bit.

[Woodstock]

I just looked in my sump lastnight... it needs vacuuming again

[Frankie]

Well, after neglecting my micron bag for a week my overflows stoped working and the tank started to over flow. Its good the wife was home and had the sense to call me quick! Well i got home and changed out the bag. NBD. I noticed my black trigger wasn't out and figured he was hiding and locked up somwhere in the rock and went to bed. The next day after work i still didn't see him and got that cold feeling in my gut. Then it clicked, I went to the back of the tank and yep! there he was swimming in the overflow box! So i got out the net and tried to fish him out but he was quicker then me and shot right across the trough to the other overflow box! In the end i got him
After tht i realized i neeed to clean my overflows, so thats what it took for me to do it

[klc317]

When I change my water, I vacuum off all the rocks/gunk in the display tank, and siphon all the stuff out of the sump. The skimmer gets cleaned once weekely and since the entire top is removeable, I can leave the base in and scrub it out without removing it. I replace the quilt batting section twice a week. I occassionally scrape down the sides of the fuge, but generally let it go. My sump area is usually pretty spic & span as it just makes things easier to maintain and look nice.