Water change using shop vac question

[USMA36]

I got the idea on here to use the Home Depot bucket head shop vac to remove water and clean my sump. I love this idea and just picked one up. I would like to know if it’s safe to use the bucket head in reverse. I’d like to fill a bucket with fresh saltwater attach the bucket head and pump the water back into the sump. This method would be much easier for me and less disturbing to the corals and fish than pouring it back in the dt. The bucket Heads only job would be vacuuming water from my sump,and replacing it. I want to make sure I’m not introducing any oils or anything from the motor of the vacuum.

 

[Paul B]

I use a shop Vac to empty my pond and sometimes to suck seaweed off my algae scrubber but I never used it like you suggest. I would think it would be safe as long as you don't use it for anything else as the motor and any oils do not touch the water. I would however run a lot of fresh water through the thing first to clean out any manufacturing chemicals. They are made of vinyl or PVC so "should" be safe but I am sure no one can give you a positive answer. Remember, like most things, those things are made in China so it is pot luck what they are made of.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I got the idea on here to use the Home Depot bucket head shop vac to remove water and clean my sump. I love this idea and just picked one up. I would like to know if it’s safe to use the bucket head in reverse. I’d like to fill a bucket with fresh saltwater attach the bucket head and pump the water back into the sump. This method would be much easier for me and less disturbing to the corals and fish than pouring it back in the dt. The bucket Heads only job would be vacuuming water from my sump,and replacing it. I want to make sure I’m not introducing any oils or anything from the motor of the vacuum.

I use a shop vac for water changes on my outdoor pond. I dont see an issue removing the water.

As for replacing the water?
I dont know how you would clean the hose, the vacuum head, etc. to say your not going to be adding back decomposing material from weeks prior everytime you add water.

I add my water to the sump using milk-crates as stands. New bucket goes on the milk crates and python adds the water to sump. Allows for an easy siphon close to floor level.
Edit i Use milk crates because of high compression tolerance. I believe using instron these things withstand like 500lb before failure. 1/10 a 5 gallon bucket :)

 

[rhdoug]

The output from my shop vac is too strong to use as you suggest. It would blow water everywhere. It would (probably) be safer for the tank to use a decent sized pump (like a mag 5 or 7 or similar) with a hose attached to the output port on the pump. Just put it in a bucket of clean saltwater, hold the other end of the hose up to the tank and pump the clean water into the tank. I used to use a power strip with an on/off switch. Put that on the floor and turn the pump on and off with your foot so you are not touching it with wet hands. I did water changes that way for years.