Cleaning up sump
- Thread starter Raddogz
- Start date
sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
I use my wetdry for all sorts of aquarium spilling on the floor mishaps.
Only thing you should be aware of is that it'll be fairly easy to fill up the vacuum, so just keep an eye out for that.
That's why my sump is about 2 feet off the floor (and in the back
), so I can still use a siphon to suck stuff out
Only thing you should be aware of is that it'll be fairly easy to fill up the vacuum, so just keep an eye out for that.
That's why my sump is about 2 feet off the floor (and in the back
), so I can still use a siphon to suck stuff out
i think i read a thread on rc where this same question was asked and a bunch of people responded that they regularly wet/dry vac'ed their sumps monthly (or even weekly!). like mike, i've also used wet/dry for mishap cleanup before, though not for regular cleanings, though that seems fine to me.
i generally use a mj900 for waterchanges. when i put it in my sump to draw tank water out i use a baster to stir up everything, seems the regular weekly/biweekly water change with basting keeps the denitrus from building up enough to clog the mj. maybe if you do your first clean of your sump with a wet/dry if you can put it into your regular routine if you use a regular pump it won't clog? just an idea..
i generally use a mj900 for waterchanges. when i put it in my sump to draw tank water out i use a baster to stir up everything, seems the regular weekly/biweekly water change with basting keeps the denitrus from building up enough to clog the mj. maybe if you do your first clean of your sump with a wet/dry if you can put it into your regular routine if you use a regular pump it won't clog? just an idea..
yeah, makes sense eileen. once you get that 'debris' stuff out most pumps shouldn't have much of a problem with the regular denitrus build-up (unless you continually have debris 'created' in your sump).
the 'gravel vacs' should work fine too, except they use gravity siphoning normally, and since most people keep their sumps on the floor (except for mike ;D) it would be tough to get a good siphon going.
wet/drys aren't that expensive if i remember correctly, i got mine used for around $20-30 but even at HD the bare bones versions weren't too bad (unless you want the big, big commercial versions).
the 'gravel vacs' should work fine too, except they use gravity siphoning normally, and since most people keep their sumps on the floor (except for mike ;D) it would be tough to get a good siphon going.
wet/drys aren't that expensive if i remember correctly, i got mine used for around $20-30 but even at HD the bare bones versions weren't too bad (unless you want the big, big commercial versions).
yeah, maybe it wouldn't hurt to try to do a full water change in the sump and try to get everything cleaned up? dunno if there is any issues with pods, etc. or if you even worry about that.
i normally pretty much drain entirely and refill my sump each time i do a water change (comes out to about 15 gallons.. easier for me to keep track of), which includes my 'fuge' (though its more of a chaeto 'wanna-be ball' + whatever other interesting macro i got with some lr rubble). i always see pods running around in the sump anyway and my scooter blenny seems to have been happy this past year so the pods seems to survive.. i baste my chaeto too when i drain to get rid of denitrus.
didn't know about the non-gravity ones art, is it the one which you hook up to the garden hose (water pressure powered) or something else with an electrical pump? sounds interesting..
i normally pretty much drain entirely and refill my sump each time i do a water change (comes out to about 15 gallons.. easier for me to keep track of), which includes my 'fuge' (though its more of a chaeto 'wanna-be ball' + whatever other interesting macro i got with some lr rubble). i always see pods running around in the sump anyway and my scooter blenny seems to have been happy this past year so the pods seems to survive.. i baste my chaeto too when i drain to get rid of denitrus.
didn't know about the non-gravity ones art, is it the one which you hook up to the garden hose (water pressure powered) or something else with an electrical pump? sounds interesting..
sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
There's a neat attachment I use eileen, it's the very long slender hose attachment with little strips of "something" under it.. I find this is the best way to deal with spills, more so than a round hose.
I think it's actually called a "wet nozzle" it looks very similar to the old school vacuum cleaner heads for doing carpets, etc.
I think it's actually called a "wet nozzle" it looks very similar to the old school vacuum cleaner heads for doing carpets, etc.
Raddogz
Guest
Good to know.
My last big spill was five gallons of effluent from my calcium reactor the day of week long trip. Thanks goodness I packed the night before, and just cleaned up most of it before I left.
Now that I have peaked everyone's curiousity - was trying to measure out the ph of effluent, but forgot to put the tubing back into the sump.
A wet/vac would have worked way better than the crappy carpet cleaner I have.
My last big spill was five gallons of effluent from my calcium reactor the day of week long trip. Thanks goodness I packed the night before, and just cleaned up most of it before I left.
Now that I have peaked everyone's curiousity - was trying to measure out the ph of effluent, but forgot to put the tubing back into the sump.
A wet/vac would have worked way better than the crappy carpet cleaner I have.