do i clean?

[myrjon]

My sump is a 40 gallon tank (2014) never cleaned sand or rocks . Every time i move something in refug part ,water is really dirty .And then I run floss .Should i rip down and totally clean .Add new sand? My question is wouldn't this cause a new cycle? Seen some people that do not ?

 

[Wilson416]

Definitely a big possibility it will go thru some kind of cycle just get an Aquarium vacuum and clean as much as u can with it

 

[MadReefer]

I used a shop vac to get all the dirt out from sump during a water change.

 

[horseplay]

I vacuum out the sump every once a while. Having sand in there would make this difficult but I do have rocks. I just siphon out the detritus when I see it builds up. Do this slowly you will be fine.

 

[mnat]

Any time you are removing/replacing sand you want to be careful. If you are doing it, do it like a quarter at a time and do a water change with it. We are overdue for a sump cleanout and it really should be a part of regular maintenance.

 

[diana a]

I would not vacuum it. Let it be dirty

 

[Yates273]

Dirty + stirred up equals coral food. Leave it alone

 

[Rjmul]

My sump is a 40 gallon tank (2014) never cleaned sand or rocks . Every time i move something in refug part ,water is really dirty .And then I run floss .Should i rip down and totally clean .Add new sand? My question is wouldn't this cause a new cycle? Seen some people that do not ?

If your nutrients are fine, leave it alone

 

[ericrodriguez]

My sump is a 40 gallon tank (2014) never cleaned sand or rocks . Every time i move something in refug part ,water is really dirty .And then I run floss .Should i rip down and totally clean .Add new sand? My question is wouldn't this cause a new cycle? Seen some people that do not ?

That definitely will make the tank go into a cycle, every time you move the sand it will happen even if is very very small for you to notice it. I would stir very little a few times a month if you don’t want to vacuum

 

[Bot587]

Agreed with all the above. Your sand in the sump contains Bacteria supporting your nitrogen cycle. Removing the sand on an established system will remove a load of this bacteria that will take time to come back.

if you absolutely have to clean it (large particulates sitting on top of sand) do it in sections, not all at once) I.e. clean 1/4 of it then 1 week later clean another 1/4 etc

 

[myrjon]

I think i will leave it alone . Because ,I have no problems, Why invite them!

 

[MadReefer]

I Forgot to state no sand in my sump as I don't have a refugium so its easy to vaccum out debris.