clean bottom of sump

[gusto1]

What the best way to clean the bottom of a sump, I noticed it needs a cleaning. it is inside my cabinet so I cant take it out. would shutting off the valves to it and using a shop vac to clean it out be good.

thanks

[chrismunn]

sure why not? what exactly are you trying to clean out of it? sawdust? haha just kidding. yeah it wouldnt hurt to shut down all your pumps and close your valves so you can get to scrubbing. obviously dont use any wierd chemicals or anything. you should be fine. whatever works best man..

[iwishtofish]

Is it just detritus buildup? I siphon mine out during water changes. If I have a sticky detritus that the snails don't remove, I just use a nylon brush to loosen it first.

[gusto1]

thanks, I thought about siphoning it but it's lower then the bucket so it wont hold a siphon. I remember when I tested the tank and sump for leaks with just water, I had to use my shop vac to vacuum out some water in the sump before I put in rodi and salt. I figured why not do that now. My nitrates are a little high and I see some detritus on the bottom so I thought if I cleaned it up and added some eggcrate in a corner and some cheato with a light. it might help with the nitrates. I dont know if eggcrating off a section and putting cheato in the sump like that is a good idea, I just dont have it set up as a refugium.

[shootist]

It will hold a siphon until the water level in the bucket equals the level in the sump,drains pretty slow,I can usually pull out about a gallon.

[derricksoldit]

Use the shop vac. Just make sure you clean the end well that you will be putting in the sump. You dont want to have any chemical residue on the end of that vac in your sump. Just the sightest chemical would kill off your whole system.