[StrangeCloud]

What do you guys use for vacuuming the gunk in your sumps? I have a 90-gallon reef tank with a sump.

[Reefland]

That's a tough one, the sump almost has to be drained and the gunk removed manually since you can't really siphon it.

[StrangeCloud]

That's what I've done in the past but I've seen syphons designed specifically for this job. Just don't know if they are any good or not. If you look at the bottom of this page you'll see an example - http://www.northcoastmarines.com/cleaning.htm

anyone have any experience with this or other similar models?

[Reefland]

That would only work for vacuuming out the tank, not the sump. This, like others, works from a siphon, it just has a filter inside it to catch the debris and the "filtered" water enters the sump.

[StrangeCloud]

ahhh thanks. I must be blind. Can't even read.

[Shells]

I've used a regular gravel cleaner, to clean my sump when
it was time for a water change. worked pretty well. I had
to place my water collection bucket out side on the ground.
(there is a door next to the aquarium, the house is 3' off the ground)

[SeaMe]

Drain the sump down far as you can, then use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

[Penguin]

I use a manual pump siphon, like the kind you'd use for pumping kerosene.

[StrangeCloud]

Thanks!