How clean do you keep your sump?

[BlueTang<3]

Every few months I clean it right out and vacuum it with shop vac and and clean the equipment. But I walk up to mine and stand above it so its easy to do. I drilled my sump bottom when I got it so my water changes a done right from the bottom of the sump so I chase any debris down then.

I do it more for aesthetics than anything.

[Magickiwi]

I have a refugium in my sump so I don't empty it out for cleaning either. I do take a scrubber pad to the walls and bottom of the skimmer and return chambers every week or so but that's about it. I keep crabs in both chambers so all I'm scraping is diatom film, bacteria blooms etc. The refugium gets left alone.

[mark]

did my usual WC yesterday, siphoned about 180l from display and another 45l between the fuge and sump. Easy enough with the last 2 since both above a laundry sink.

[mseepman]

My water changes come right from the sump with the turn of a couple valves. While its emptying into the drain, I use a turkey baster and just blow any gunk towards the drain hole. Its not spotless but pretty clean.

[Reef Pilot]

Have never cleaned my sump (in 3.5 years). Have pretty strong flow in tight qtrs so sediment does not accumulate, and no light. Also have never cleaned my return pump or skimmer and its pump (except of course the neck and cup every few days). But I should probably do all my pumps one of these days...

[Flash]

I have a REALLY big Hermit that keeps my sump clean for me!!

[KPG007]

In over 3 1/2 years I had never cleaned out my sump before. I recently shutdown my 60g, and had to clean everything out. I was surprised to find that the sump contained about 2 inches of muck! The tank ran like a dream though and the water was perfect.
In the future, I will probably keep a closer eye on it, but if there are no issues, I don't see a reason to clean it.

PS - Lots of bristle worms ect, living in that muck, so one more reason to leave it be.

[wreck]

I do my wc through my sump.

[ddarkz]

Originally Posted by Flash

I have a REALLY big Hermit that keeps my sump clean for me!!

I had a big one too, except he found a way into my reeflo pump one day...