Sump cleaning question

[jstavis]

So the other night I decided to finally get around to doing my least favorite maintenance task-- cleaning the sponges in my sump. They were really filthy and I managed to remove a horrifying amount of fish poop. Of course, I wasn't able to get them sparkling clean. When I put them back in and restarted the filter the loosened particles went spraying out of my return, instantly clouding the water.

Here's my question-- is this dangerous for my rays? Does it make a difference whether waste particles are stuck in the sponges themselves or if they are released into the water column? If yes, how do I prevent this in the future.

 

[exoticfishguy]

Maybe try sucking the water out of the chamber where the return is with a hose or gravel cleaner if the water is deep enough.

 

[spotfin]

I do this about once a year with the pot scrubbies in the sump. I do a regular water change and rinse them in the water I take out of the tank, using small quantities of water. Labor intensive though. Most of the particles released into the water will eventually end up in your sponges again. Shouldn't be dangerous to your rays as long as the beneficial bacteria in the sponges isn't killed off.

 

[BBXB]

Yup agreed, a lot of beneficial bac. You don't want to take out.

 

[jstavis]

I think there might be some confusion. I'm talking about mechanical filtration that is covered in poop. I realize that there is beneficial bacteria there, but it does need to come out unless I want my sump becoming a nitrate factory, no?

 

[hereticlosmorte]

i used to place a filter sock over my return when turning back on my pump, to catch any of that debris. it works pretty well to be honest

 

[Just Toby]

I doubt it is poop as poop only stays poop for a short while, if it is thick brown goop then it is more likely to be dead bacteria IMO, there is a natural die off that builds as mulm. This is not harmful but some people feel too much adds to the nitrate in a tank. I cleaned my sump after 2 years last weekend (100 gal sump of actual water at normal level) and it was thick and deep in goop.

 

[jstavis]

Thanks for the useful feedback.

 

[geronimo69]

You'll be fine. Happens to me every once in a while. The worst part is cloudy water. Don't worry about it.