Clean Your Sump Like a Pro!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- In this video I'll share with you the secret to cleaning your sump like an absolute pro!
Yes, I had to photoshop my head onto a "Suits" promotional picture as I don't wear a suit all that often - but I can clean a sump like a pro :D
Thanks again for sharing your tricks! I clean in a loop. I use a little pump to syphon the sump and the return goes to a filter sock to catch the detritus and the clean water goes back to the sump.
Nicely done!
Excellent tip Sam. I have this exact same vacuum and have never thought to use it for this! Thanks 👍🏼
Happy to help!
Thanks for another awesome video Sam . Will be using this idea to clean our sump
Go for it!
Great video, and so helpful. I never would have thought of this and struggle to keep my sump clean. Great thing is I already own a wet dry vac so can’t wait to try it!
Glad it was helpful!
Perfect Sam. I need to do this myself. I picked up a bucket head vac that goes on a bucket. Just haven't done it yet. I thought I would have to empty all the water but you just showed me that you don't. Awesome news. Almost excited to try it out.
Give it a go, you’ll love it!!
@@ParkersReef Ya so that was a success and a total failure. Yes it worked but the bucket head I picked up has a short hose. It fell off and soaked the vacuum and power bar as the water drained out of it. Vac started smoking. you get the picture. Anyways sumps clean, water change done, vac was taken apart and cleaned, checked for damage and electrical connections sealed with marine sealant. Event filled afternoon. I will work on making an adaptor for the hose so I can extend its reach. Innovation through failure.
Just my personal choice, but I use a small submersible pump into 20 ltr buckets to get rid of the water prior to a good vacuum out. Personally I don't find it stirs up too much muck and it saves emptying the vac on numerous occasions while I am doing a water change anyway. That said, I don't have a huge volume sump so I can completely drain all chambers in about 2+ buckets. Just remember to rinse the vac in fresh water and thoroughly dry out afterwards or it will def rust out. Great video tho mate.
That is good thinking, I like it!
I have the exact same vacuum and never thought of cleaning the sump with it. I Will be doing this from now on
Glad I could help!
Man that skimmer is working its ath out that's some thick green stuff. Amazing video like always
Yeah it’s doing well!!
Really helpful video - I'm still yet to clean my sumo, but you have given me confidence 👍.
Go for it Jay!
I have been doing this for a while. I also have a metal vac. But I took one of my salt buckets with a lid. And run a small house to it the run a hose from the bucket to suck up the water. Works great and the bucket is easier to carry.
Clever thinking!!!
I bought a "Buckethead" that just goes onto any 5g bucket. Love it. Best way to keep the sump clean
Yeah wish we could get those bucket heads out here! They look ideal :)
Effective Sam. I use a bucket head attachment with a built in motor that I got from Home Depot that attaches with two clips to a 5g plastic bucket. 👌
I do wish we could get them here :)
Great video as always Sam!
Thanks again!
Aquael make a return/pump now that is in line. Looks like it would be perfect for the job!
Yeah looks great!
Saw the thumbnail and thought "Woot, new Better Call Saul!!"
Not disappointed.
Much.
Hahahaha gold
That was awesome 😊
Glad you enjoyed it Walter :D
Lovely job 👏thanks for the tip 😀
Thanks for watching :)
Great video. Very helpful.
Glad it was of use!
Another great video!!!
Thank you!!
You can also use a car cleaning attachment kit to get into tight spaces
Clever!!
I just use one of the smaller fluval canister filters. Suck in the waste and return the water back to the sump.
Clever!!!
Nice.
Hey I’m not sure if you have them available there…but I use something called a “BuckHead” . It’s essentially a wet dry vacuum head that fits over a standard 5gallon bucket. I find it’s perfect for this application.
Cheers from 🇨🇦
We don’t have them here, but they sure sound great!!
Fantastic job mate!
Thank you! Cheers!
I run small power heads in my sump section to keep the detritus in suspension to get filtered out in the floss. Never need to clean my sump that way. 👌🏻
Great tip!
@@ParkersReef try it mate. A cheap basic power head in each section running nice and fast keeps it spotless and the floss picks up all the crud. Zero maintenance 👍
Sorry Sam, a dumb question.....would that also suck up all the pods and deplete their population in the sump?
It will suck up anything, including pods
That’s very helpful video! Thanks for sharing! How are you able to see the water level in the shopvac? Does it stop itself when it’s full?
Stops itself when full :)
Hey mate could I empty out all my water in sump than give it a good clean? Would I have to add salt depending on how much litres I take out?
Yeah you could for sure. You’d need to replace any volume you removed yes
I got a cheap pump.
Flexible hose each side, put it in the sump, put the outlet into a filter sock and clean everything.
Replace the filter sock and do not lose any water.
Nice one :)
Love the video, who makes that sump I love it
that's a factory CADE sump :)
@@ParkersReef Nice, setup
Use carisea to cut down the work lol.
But i still do manual sump cleaning using fine net.after see this i am going to get one wet dry vacuum today.
You’ll love the wet dry vac!
Great tip thanks
Pleasure :)
I use one of those $15 electric gravel vacs off ebay. Its very easy and fast also
Nicely done!
In the states a cheap option is the bucket head sold at home depot....it snaps onto a 5 gallon bucket...easy..small...cheap...wonder if it's sold around you...
Yeah it’s not, looks amazing though!
Hi Sam, did you prepare the wet & dry vac in a Special way? Did you remove any filters or other components in the vac?
Yes good question. All I did was remove the paper filter (which they suggest you do for wet vacuuming anyway).
You could also put a plastic bag inside the bin to minimise rust issues - but I personally don’t bother
@@ParkersReef thnx mate
Anytime!
I've always been reluctant to clean my sump because there's so much visible life in there, I suppose I have to weigh up what's more beneficial. Although I could tip it into a mesh bag to save the critters 🤔
I'd still recommend giving it a deep clean either every 6 months, or when you start to see nitrates increasing. Not something that needs to be done too often.
Damn, I've never thought of this lol it always took me around 2-3 hours to fully clean my sump. I always do it every 2-3 months; but mainly because I don't like to see my refugium section in my sump looks nasty and making a nitrate factory. I'm gonna have to try this method the next time I'm cleaning my sump. Thanks a lot for this video.
Glad it helped!!
Wonder with the cade tank if its possible so hook something up like the python the Americans have on the manifold and run water back into the sump through a fine filter sock save the water?
Yeah totally possible, personally I like to remove it rather than filter it though. Well, once every couple months anyway :p
Sweet ✅
🤙
Hi Parker!
Would you please share the make and model of the return pump you're using here!
Thanks!
Acan
Hey Acan, I'm using the ecotech M2 return pump on this system :)
@@ParkersReef 😎 👍 Thanks Parker!
Well, just learned that I need to clean my sump 😅 my waterbox mini peninsula 25 has been going strong for six months so I wonder how much detritus is in the sump 😁😁
Should be pretty nasty in there I reckon :p
How do you fight Low nitrates and low phosphates? Is that an issue in your tank? I just got dinos and I’m thankfully have made them recessive there not fully gone but almost. Since I’m trying to build my nitrates up do you think I should wait to clean the sump?
Just keep feeding to bring them up :)
Sam, will you be putting a small powerhead in that sump to keep it clean long term? I would :P
Na, this is easy enough to do :)
Do you use the filter foam inside the vacum?
the foam you can leave in or out, just make sure you don't have any paper bags in there :)
i never clean my sump at all, just the skimmer. and it going well for 6 year
Awesome!
Works great, till your vacuum has a short circuit and electrocutes you when turning on, like mine did the other day. Not doing it again after that.
wow really?! I've never heard of that happening, nor should it happen. Is your circuit breaker/safety switch operational???
@ParkersReef GFI plugs are only in bathrooms, most people don't put GFIs in their living rooms 🤣
We've been using a wet/dry vacuum for some time, we used to use a pump which was painful. We do this about 2 or 3 times a year in conjunction with a water change so we empty the entire 4 foot sump
Perfect!
Great video Sam, I've just literally uploaded a how to siphon your sump on my channel !! Lol. Great minds eh !!
Nicely done 💪🏻
A pump with a sock filter man!
yeah have tried that, but I personally rather remove the water completely in these instances :)
ok just get a bubble magus roller filter and power head in sump lol
yeah for sure, that is one option!
@@ParkersReef i will never look back mate they are really good
I have a custom roller on my dream reef tank and it’s a beaut 💪🏻
Rightio off to Bunnings ....
Haha have fun 😅
lmao best to keep an eye on lvl it can handle loool = )
it shuts itself off when full :)
I did this yesterday 😂😂
Nice work 👍🏻
Can we define what detritus is?
Almost every one removing, but 99% knows doesn't know how is form, ingredients etc. If you think is fish poop or uneaten food you will be surprised.
Nice video, but floating particles contains bacterioplankton, zooplankton, amino accid. Stir your sand and watch coral reaction. What's the one of the maim food on coral reefs? Particles suspended in water column.
By all means! Just don’t leave too much organic waste dotting in your sump or your nitrate and phosphate will necessarily greatly :)
Coat the inside of the vacuum with a waterproof membrane ;)
I have seen people put plastic bags inside the vacuum which is genius!
Yeah I only said membrane as I'm a commercial waterproofer so it's what I know
Also, is it possible to keep a system too clean?
.... I think I need to clean my sump :(
Haha perhaps not! I just like a clean sump :)
Sam why do u put ur media the media balls in a reactor?!?
I'm also interested to know this. Good shot of it at th-cam.com/video/azHZ3XsI0Lw/w-d-xo.html
Allows easy movement from one tank to another :)
@@ParkersReef thx u
I use a python to clean mine
Have heard good things about the python
That was a dirty sump?? 😳 really? Oh dear. 😬
Hahaha it was for a newish tank 😅
Obviously did this video just to get free Ozito products :-)
hahahaha obviously!