How to get sand out of return chamber

[Fmellish]

I've been cycling my tank and over the course of adding sand and rock, and dislodging dead matter etc, etc. I now have quite a bed of brown sludge+fine sand in my return chamber. My pump is actually starting to be effected.

How do I get this stuff out of my return chamber? my trusty turkey baster does not have enough back pressure to suck it up.

Any ideas? My sump is on the floor, so a gravity siphon won't really be possible.

Any ideas?

I need to do the same type of clean up in my intake chamber also.

Please advise.

Thanks
Josh

[Dubbin1]

Do you have a wet/dry vac? Don't laugh, many people use them for just the same problem you are having.

[Fmellish]

I do, but it is so nasty. Last time I used it was for cleaning rat p00p out of the equipment chamber of my spa. It's nasty dirty and real loud and doesn't have a prefilter bag anymore. And it's not real powerful.

I was hoping there was some "oh yeah of course!" method. Something that was easy. I could see this happening again anytime I stir up enough crud in my tank. My filter sock doesn't seem to catch the small stuff.

Thanks
Josh

[Dubbin1]

Well they have those battery powered siphons that I would think would do the job. Let me see if I can find you a link to one.

[Dubbin1]

Well that was fast :) http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=HG11004

[Fmellish]

I added it to my cart, thank you :)

[Dubbin1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6456885#post6456885 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fmellish
I added it to my cart, thank you :)

Cool be sure to let me know how it works out if you would please. Just shoot me a PM.

[reverendmaynard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6456910#post6456910 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dubbin1
Cool be sure to let me know how it works out if you would please. Just shoot me a PM.

Ummm...

I think we'd all like to know how it works. Please post here in addition to PM'ing Dubbin1.

Thanks.

[kau_cinta_ku]

also you could use the python syphon it works great for that prob. and it uses the pressure from the sink to start the syphon.

[Fmellish]

The battery operated sipon lipped in worked well, but is cheaply constructed and can only be submerged about 12" under water or else you get the electronics area wet. It doesn't come with tubing either, thank god I had some 5/8" and 3/4" which I sto each other and then was able to slip the 5/8" over the back of the siphon.

So if you need to do shallow sump siphoning it works well. it sucked up sand and all the rock poop I had everywhere. Check out my blog here

http://members.cox.net/jgunder/aquarium/

Cheers
Josh

[mcox33]

I just syphon the overflow area when I do water changes.