Detritus removal in sump.

[jdjeff58]

Does anybody have any suggestions on a pump that will allow me to 'vacuum' out the detritus from the bottom of my sump? The bare bottom in the return and drain sections need to be cleaned and it is too close to the floor to get a decent siphon going. I've been siphoning with a 1/4 inch tube, but it is very time consuming and difficult to get it all. I tried a bigger piece of tubing and it just won't siphon. I've tried one of the check valve type gravel cleaners and the siphon never gets going...not to mention the up and down motion just getting it all stirred up. Plus there isn't a whole lot of room to work around the skimmer.

I'd just like to find an inexpensive pump or something to be able to get the junk out of there in a reasonably quick fashion. I'm not sure where to start looking for a CHEAP pump to do something like that. Anybody got any ideas?

Thanks.

[Andrew]

I clean my sump every other week and I shut off the return pump, take the skimmer out for a cleaning.... Than I put one of my Tuzne nano steams in there and after awhile, the detritus will find a spot where the flow is less ( most of the time in one of the corners and than I just suck it all up with a turkey baster. Works pretty good for me and I also clean my skimmer at this time.

[RunDrums]

use a shop vac

[HBtank]

I just leave it.

Pod food.

I do clean the return pump area when I clean my return pump, and I still have a python that works well for that.

[hmello@bermexin]

A shop vac.....................

[Andrew]

Originally posted by hmello@bermexin
A shop vac.....................

haha... I used a shop vac to suck all the sand out of my tank when I went BB.

[jdjeff58]

Originally posted by RunDrums
use a shop vac

Good answer. You're other 53 posts must just be teeming with useful information.

[alkataz]

I must agree that a shop vac is a bit extreme.

[alkataz]

For the less daring .... if the detritus in a single corner like mine is just use a turkey baster to suck it up. If it's kinda lying around one end you may want to use a python. I have both and use either depending on my mood.

[danielmanlee]

Shop Vac is great idea... I have been looking in the same problem myself.. what size do you think is good for the sump? 4gal perhap?

[rommelgin]

you can use a mj with tubbing attached to the output nozzle and pump out the settled detritus.

[Double-J]

there are quite a few people who use little shopvacs to get the job done just put a filter sock in there and recirc the water back to the sump. search shopvac and you will get a few threads from a while back. jdjeff58 I understand on a sump like yours you don't need a shop vac but rather a small pump to get it out but on bigger tanks with 150g+ sumps it makes life easier.

[Europa13]

Originally posted by rommelgin
you can use a mj with tubbing attached to the output nozzle and pump out the settled detritus.

I agree. Get a few feet of 1/2 vinyl tubing from Home Depot or Lowes and attach it to a maxi-jet. Turn off the return pump. Then use a turkey baster to stir up the detritus, then put the pump in and pump the water into a bucket.

[chopsuey]

Originally posted by hmello@bermexin
A shop vac.....................

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=10234070#post10234070

[Nanz]

Shop Vac..