What to do with my sump...

[Boolay1978]

Hi, I need some help it's my first tank with a sump, main tank 300L. Sump has filters and skimmer then bio balls then return pump. Have had the tank for two months and already the bottom of the sump is very dirty, should I empty it to clean the bottom?

Should I take the bio balls out there is a plastic shelf with holes they sit on, do I leave that in and put live rock in there? Should i put some sand in there too?

Any advise or pictures would be grateful!!

 

[Andrew McFadden]

Can you show us a picture of what your working with? They do need cleaned just like a regular filter

 

[Boolay1978]

Here it is.....

 

[OscarFan76]

I normally try to vacuum the sump during water changes. Yours looks closed in so I'm not sure you can do that easily.

I have heard of people putting powerheads in their sump so it doesn't settle.

 

[Boolay1978]

Can you show us a picture of what your working with? They do need cleaned just like a regular filter

Here it is....

 

[Andrew McFadden]

Here it is....

It does need cleaned, its what I thought it would look like. However the way it's setup is about the only way you.can do it if you was leaving it as a sump. If you wanted to make it into a refugium then the bioballs would come out. The rocks,plants and sand that you put in would hold the BB. The rocks should be very porous the plants will help lower your nitrates. You'll have to add a light to grow algae that helps with multiple different things. If you was gonna go that way.