How do I get the stink out of my sump

[Jan]

My skimmer cup is empty and clean but there's always a very strong ocean smell coming from my sump. How do some folks keep their sumps so clean and odor free? All my sump has in it a skimmer, some chemi pure elite, a heater, 1 large LR and a return pump. It's loaded with pods but it also has sponge and and grit in it. The smell of the ocean is overwhelming at times. I've seen other setups where the sump is pristine and there is no odor. What can I do to get rid of the smell?

[reefhunter]

I use filter socks on every input to the sump... so from my tank, from my skimmer, from my refugium... this prevents stuff from getting into the sump. Not only does it prevent build up in the sump (smell) but it also prevent pumps from getting clogged from stray hermits, algae, calcium deposits.

 

I would drain and clean the sump and then find a way to incorporate some filter socks.

 

I have a filter sock hanger (90% sure, need to check) and some extra socks I can bring to the meeting if you want.

[steveoutlaw]

Keep your filter sponge clean and stir up the detritus to keep it in the water column so you're skimmer can take it out. I hit the bottom of my sump once a week with a turkey baster just to get the sediment off the bottom.

[jason the filter freak]

The smell of the ocean? Man thats what I live for. Well having a good and great big cheato wad growing really helps cut down on smell a tad I find but that could be a purely subjective observation. You can spend $25ish and build an air cleaner less if you have spare parts around. Get a zeolite carbon mixture from your local fish store. You can hang it passively and hope that is absorbs the odor if not you can fin a way to trap a thin layer no more than say and 1.5" between two layers of grid/mesh for sewing samplers and then use a computer fan to force air through it. The best way I can think is going to Home Depot or Lowes(t) and buying a piece of 4" union, or elbow or something if you can find it. Better if you can some how get a scrap of 4" pvc thats only about 2" long. If you get a union or and elbow/90 you're going to havde to cut it down till its only 2" long. at any rate find a way glue a piece of mesh to one end of the part, let dry, fill with carbon zeolite mixture, then find a way to attach another piece of mesh to the other end of the piece of pipe so that it's easily removable, then add the fan and then hook it up so it sucks air though the whole thing. She bam! instant air scrubber

[rioreef]

Keep your filter sponge clean and stir up the detritus to keep it in the water column so you're skimmer can take it out. I hit the bottom of my sump once a week with a turkey baster just to get the sediment off the bottom.

 

 

Oops. I have not cleaned my sump in 5 years (no sponge filter) .

 

I do like the air scrubber idea. I may have to try that one out.

Edited February 20, 2010 by rioreef

[Coral Hind]

Are you missing any fish that might have jumped behind the sump? I use carbon which helps a lot. Make sure the macro aglae is completely submerged. When it is out of the water it can smell.

[Ryan S]

carbon helps Jan...

[Gadgets]

Use carbon in a reactor. Also u should add a powerhead to the sump. That way it keeps anything that passes the filter socks in suspension so the skimmer can pull it out.

[CHUBAKAH]

Use carbon in a reactor. Also u should add a powerhead to the sump. That way it keeps anything that passes the filter socks in suspension so the skimmer can pull it out.

Winner Winner chicken dinner.

[John]

I use a filter sock that I exchange them every 3 days and I also have a powerhead in the sump that runs on/off two hour cycle...no smell

[Grav]

Lots of good ideas already listed.

 

Skimmers can really cause a stink. Bacteria can form in the collection cup and create a funk very quickly after you clean it. Next time you clean the cup, really clean it good with hot water and even a diluted bleach bath.

 

Another option is to add a dab of Kalk to the skimmate collection area (especally useful if you drain the cup into a larger resivoir like a 5g bucket) this raises the PH and will not allow bacteria to grow. You could have 2 months of skimmate in there and still not smell a thing.

[Coral Hind]

The kalk in the collection cup is good idea. I will have to try that.