Filter sock issue, detritus everywhere

reefshawn · Apr 14, 2020

Something happened to a filter sock I had in my aquarium... long story short the detritus it was collecting got dumped out into that sump chamber it was housed in.

I decided to do a water change and pumped a lot of the water directly out of that chamber. Because it’s on the ground, it was very hard to pump the water out and there was a bit left in the chamber with lots of detritus in it.

Any suggestions on how to get out the last bit of water and all the detritus if I decide to try again?

Pntbll687 · Apr 14, 2020

Bucket Head 5 Gallon 1.75 Peak HP Wet Dry Vacuum Powerhead Shop Vac with Filter Bag and Hose (compatible with 5 Gal. Homer Bucket) BH0100 - The Home Depot

The Bucket Head Wet Dry Vacuum Powerhead can be used to turn a The Home Depot brand 5 gal. multi-use bucket (sold separately) into a powerful wet dry vacuum. The powerhead features a 1.75 peak horsepower

www.homedepot.com

I bought this. Works great.

homer1475 · Apr 14, 2020

Plain and simple..... Shop-vac. Just remember to remove the paper filter.

Or what I like to use is an aquarium specif shop vac(don't want my good shop vac to smell like dead sea life). While not quarium specific, I meant I only use it for my aquarium.

Hoem depot bucket head shop vac. Its the shop vac motor with a hose you put on a 5G bucket.

homer1475 · Apr 14, 2020

^^ beat me to posting.

redfishbluefish · Apr 14, 2020

Wet Vac....do it all the time. If you don't have a wet vac, Home Depot (and others) sell a product called a Bucket Head Wet Vac.....it's the vacuum part that simply fits on a five gallon bucket.

redfishbluefish · Apr 14, 2020

^^ LOL....I'm a slow typer and both of you beat me! Great minds....

X-37B · Apr 14, 2020

I use a quiet one 2200 with a hose attached and going back to the filter sock.
Turn off return and stir up the bottom. All detrius will go into the sock and then change sock. Been doing this for 3 years. This works well for me since I do not do water changes.
I now keep the quiet one in the sump its like 600 gph I think.
No hose attached just free flow.
I run no baffles in my 40 breeder sump and now their is no buildup of detrius at all do to the flow.

JFD · Apr 14, 2020

90's reefer said:
I use a quiet one 2200 with a hose attached and going back to the filter sock.
Turn off return and stir up the bottom. All detrius will go into the sock and then change sock. Been doing this for 3 years. This works well for me since I do not do water changes.
I now keep the quiet one in the sump its like 600 gph I think.
No hose attached just free flow.
I run no baffles in my 40 breeder sump and now their is no buildup of detrius at all do to the flow.

I do exacty this as well... Works really well and cheap!

hubble · Apr 14, 2020

I also use power heads in my sump area, one in the main body and one in the return area (I dose in this area) keeps everything stirred up and flowing well.

TriggerFinger · Apr 14, 2020

I bought an attachment from BRS that goes on a maxi jet pump. I “vacuum” my sump with this and the outlet hose from the pump goes into a 50 micron filter sock. It works very well.