Dirty sump....

[Boolay1978]

Any ideas what I can do with my sump should I take every thing out and clean it?

 

[Sniperhank]

Clean it out monthly is the best way. I'm really bad at it myself...but using filter socks will help lessen the mess in there. I have panty hose on all my return lines to minimize the gunk build up.

 

[Boolay1978]

Clean it out monthly is the best way. I'm really bad at it myself...but using filter socks will help lessen the mess in there. I have panty hose on all my return lines to minimize the gunk build up.

Do I need to remove all the water from the sump and strip it all the way down?

 

[woody390]

Don't take it all out and clean it if you do you risk loosing all the beneficial bacteria in there meaning you may have a mini cycle just do it week by week a bit at a time

 

[Sniperhank]

Do I need to remove all the water from the sump and strip it all the way down?

Use a piece of airline tubing to siphon things out. Even an unused turkey baster will work for removing stuff. What I do on my system for weekly water changes is mix up 5 gallons of water the day before. When I go to do my water change I hook the new water into my ATO. I then siphon out my water and do any necessary cleaning/removal of whatever is needed. By removing things prior to/during the weekly water change, whatever is sturred up into the water column is also removed from this water change, like algae spores and poop.