Sucking Sump and other Sump Pump Maintenance and Tricks!

[Phillydubs]

Hey All... So I am now back to having a sump after a few years of strictly HOB filters...

I use a little pony pump hooked up to 2 hoses to siphon water out of the tank for WC. The last few weeks when I see some debris or sediment in the tank, I have been sucking the water from the sump as well and getting it all clean then adding my aged tap with prime back in and letting it flow down to the sump...

Anyone see an issue with this?

I also wanted to use this as a space for other Sump folks to share some of their tips and tricks when cleaning and maintaining the sump.

[Leland F.]

Put a pleco in the sump, you won't have to clean it as often.

-Leland

[Neptune]

No problem with what you are doing.
My routine.

1. Turn off ATO
2. Start siphoning with sump pump ON. I drain to a level where sump has pushed as much water out of the sump as possible thus changing sump water.
3. Turn off sump pump.
4. Continue siphoning, cleaning, etc.
5. Fill right back into the tank and let overflow to the sump. Dump capful Amaquel right into tank. Continue filling until sump is close to the ATO floats. Shut off water pump.
6. Turn on sump and adjust overflow levels.
7. Turn on ATO to stabilize levels in sump.

Every couple months pull foam in sump and vacuum sump with bucket head and rinse foam.

Works like a charm.

Don't plecos poop A LOT?