Crap in my Sump

[Bud8Fan]

My sump is a large framed box with a pond liner. It was put into service February of this year.

There is a gunk that is building up on the pond liner. Is this just what they call dissolved organic solids building up?

Should it be cleaned or just let it be?

 

[Dan F]

My sump builds up quite a bit over time, I think it is organic solids. I clean out my sump a couple times a year.

Be sure to have your return pumps shut off, because once you start messing with it it really gets the water dirty quick. I use a sump pump and a garden hose, blast off the junk and let the sump pump suck it out.

 

[gomezladdams]

Even with the best prefilter gunk will build up in the sump.The best explanation Ive heard is its the shed exoskeletons of the bacteria.

 

[Dan F]

Even with the best prefilter gunk will build up in the sump.The best explanation Ive heard is its the shed exoskeletons of the bacteria.

Your right that even with the best prefilter it will build up. However, that explanation can't be correct, since bacteria don't have exoskeletons... In the medical field it is called "biofilm", cave divers call it "mung", and Bud8Fan calls it "crap". He's probably closest to the truth

 

[Dan F]

Even with the best prefilter gunk will build up in the sump.The best explanation Ive heard is its the shed exoskeletons of the bacteria.

My mistake, bacterial cell walls are considered exoskeletons if mineralized (as in diatoms). I should do my research before I post next time.

 

[Dr Joe]

Your right that even with the best prefilter it will build up. However, that explanation can't be correct, since bacteria don't have exoskeletons... In the medical field it is called "biofilm", cave divers call it "mung", and Bud8Fan calls it "crap". He's probably closest to the truth

DING...DING...DING

We have a WINNER!


(It's actually beneficial too!)(just yucky).

Dr Joe

.

 

[Bud8Fan]

Thanks for all of the replies!

(It's actually beneficial too!)(just yucky).

Dr Joe

.

So don't worry about cleaning it?

Beneficial how? Inquiring minds need to know.
Would be cool if it promoted nitrate eating bacteria.

 

[duanes]

Nitrifying bacteria are always part of the biofilm, as long as there is something for them to convert. Many water companies that use Chloramine, find nitrifyers build up a bit in the distribution system, especially near the far end where the chlorine part has been used up by organic demand.

 

[Bud8Fan]

Nitrifying bacteria are always part of the biofilm,

Specifically the hard to come by "nitrate" eating bacteria. I know that the ammonia and nitrite converting bacteria are found everywhere in the tank.

 

[Dr Joe]

As duanes said, but there are two side problems...

1) NitrAte eating bacteria in biofilm need oxygen depleted water (as apposed to Ammonia/nitrIte bactrerias)

and

2) If the biofilm covers the bio-media it will kill the other bacteria.

If you want less, aerate the the sump.

Dr Joe

.