Would these gravel vacuums work for cleaning a sump?

Daniel@R2R

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My sump has a pretty thick layer of detritus, and I'd like to vacuum it out without taking out water (I run an AWC, so I don't need to change that much water). I'm wondering if this would be a solution?
 

John08007

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I don't see why it wouldn't, I was looking to get this for the same purpose.

The other idea I had was the small Marineland canister filter. Turn off the return pump and put it in each chamber, let it stir it up and filter it out.
 

tautog83

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I know ya dont want to take out water but the vca vaccuum attachment makes it simple and you can probably do your whole sump and only take out 3 gallons
 
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Daniel@R2R

Daniel@R2R

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I know ya dont want to take out water but the vca vaccuum attachment makes it simple and you can probably do your whole sump and only take out 3 gallons
I haven't heard of that one. I'll look into it.
 

av8soulfly

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I don't see why it wouldn't, I was looking to get this for the same purpose.

The other idea I had was the small Marineland canister filter. Turn off the return pump and put it in each chamber, let it stir it up and filter it out.
that's what I do...works well.
 
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Daniel@R2R

Daniel@R2R

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Maybe I'll set up a DSR power filter in there.
 

hans4811

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I have one of those...it works...ok. Has a little sock on the exhaust side. The problem with it is that it has to be partially submerged to work. So it’s hard to work around the sump. Does an okay job...better than nothing.
 
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Daniel@R2R

Daniel@R2R

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Daniel@R2R

Daniel@R2R

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Daniel@R2R

Daniel@R2R

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Now I'm sad you didn't like my suggestion .. :p
Come on, now. Your suggestion reminded me that I have a power filter that I could use. :D
 

dhnguyen

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I'd suggest a maxi-jet style pump and some 1/2" hose on the outlet going back to your filter sock
LOL funny that this was suggested. Years ago I actually made a sump vac out of a MJ1200, a small section of pvc on the inlet and a hose on the outlet. It worked great.
 

Sailingeric

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I use a Home Depot bucket vac. It is about $25, fits on a 5 gallon bucket and sucks the sump cleans and dry. Get clean and water change at one time
 

LRT

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I turn off flow and pump my sump water into brute can and use my shop vac to vacuum the sludge out. About a 30 minute process. Just pump water back into sump. Think I ended up flushing about a gallon of water. Its amazing how clean a shop vac can get a sump. Lol
 

DaneGer21

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Best thing I ever did for this exact reason was to Plumb in a tee fitting and two valves on my return line. Add some extra pipe and you now have a “return line” back to your sump inlet area. Clip on a “hang on” filter sock and start stirring stuff up.

Close one valve to turn off flow to your DT, open the other valve to circulate the sump water using the return pump.
 

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