Hello, I have a wet/dry filter under my 225gn fresh water tank. The whole set up is less than 6 mos old. I'm noticing an accumulation of "scum" brown muck at the bottom of my sump box and around the pump itself. The problem is the filter is basically at ground level and I don't have siphon suction to get in there witha hose to clear the muck. I'm asking for your suggestions.
getting the scum out
- Thread starter LeoKhomutov
- Start date
turkey baster.. takes a while.. but they are like a dollar and they work..
you can also use a wet/dry shop vac.. but not everyone has one..
you can also use a wet/dry shop vac.. but not everyone has one..
This is a common problem, and yes, the turkey baster will work. Or if you wanted, and can't get a siphon started, you could always hook a piece of tubing to a separate pump to get it out when you are doing your maintenance. Much more expensive method though!
Get a felt filter sock and a small pump. Place a hose on the output and feed it into the filter sock, then add a hose to the intake of the pump. See if you can find a cheap pump on ebay or something. I have a square tidy cat bucket and bought the gray PVC couplings to make a bulkhead. The filter sock sits in the bucket and the bulkhead feeds back into the sump, I sit the bucket on a chair. The pump I use is an aquaclear 70 that I bought dirt cheap when the LFS went out of business.
It works like a vacuum, the smaller the pump, the lower the water level that is required, and the easier it is to use. I just got finished vacuuming the sump on my 579 gallon.
I also use a regular siphon with the filter and bucket when cleaning my sand.
It works like a vacuum, the smaller the pump, the lower the water level that is required, and the easier it is to use. I just got finished vacuuming the sump on my 579 gallon.
I also use a regular siphon with the filter and bucket when cleaning my sand.
I use a Koralia I in the bottom of my sump so there is sufficient water flow in the sump so no scum can form.