sump question

[esoxlucius]

I have a basic 3 compartment sump tank filtering my 160g tank. 1st area for sponges, coarse and fine for mechanical. 2nd area for bio balls, ceramic rings for biological and 3rd area where i've got my pump, heaters and also a bag of crushed coral to help me with a low ph problem i used to have.
I'm aware of the need to periodically wash my sponges out in tank water, which i do. However, I've also been told that my biological filtering media also requires a rinse out though maybe only once a year. This scares me a little, hence this post. I believe that the biological compartment of any sump is basically the engine of the tank, mess with it and your water parameters will go ballistic so don't touch it. Am i right or is it indeed safe to mess with the biological side of your set up?

 

[monkeybike]

I wouldn't do it all at once. I have bagged ceramic rings in mine, like 8 bags. I just pull one every so often and give it a good swish in a bucket of tank water. Bio balls tend to not trap as much debris, so it usually flushes thru them.

 

[esoxlucius]

This particular sump set up is the first i've had, i was a bit wet behind the ears and so stupid me didn't put the bio media into the sump in mesh bags all neat and tidy, which i now know is the sensible way to do it. No, stupid me just poured them all into the middle compartment and let them get on with their job, which in all fairness has been spot on. No probs whatsoever. But doing as you do, taking the odd bag out and rinsing now and again, is a bit tricky for me. I'll sort it somehow but next time i'll put my bio media in all bagged up. Cheers.

 

[xraycer]

If I ever do a sump, I would be using filter socks for mechanical filtration rather than sponges. So much easier for maintenances rather than wringing out those d@mn sponges.

 

[monkeybike]

I'm in the process of switching out to a filter sock setup. I currently have one on the return from my planted refugium. I have been using quilt batting on my drip tray, but socks are so easy.

 

[Ihsnshaik]

If I ever do a sump, I would be using filter socks for mechanical filtration rather than sponges. So much easier for maintenances rather than wringing out those d@mn sponges.

I have a tray in my sump I use filter fleece in mine for mechanical. i use sponges as well for good measure and also sponge filters in my tank but are hidden lol

 

[esoxlucius]

Well something else i heard was that sponges can quickly turn into nitrate factories (yet other people love sponges and can't speak highly enough of them) so i've been toying with the idea of getting rid of them completely and replacing them with filter socks.