Cleaning tanks

[Redbled]

Well, my question isn't so much about tanks, but a pool I have in my basement for fish. Any inexpensive ideas how to siphon out the stuff at the bottom of this pool? Its not high enough for the usual hose and bucket method. Its starting to get pretty nasty, and all I've been doing is taking buckets of water out to do the water changes. This works to a degree, but not for the muck developing at the bottom. Thanks.

 

[Teelie]

Try buying a pump and hooking a tube up to it to suck out the stuff. My LFS does something similar for cleaning the large 3,000+ gallon tub they have in back when they do water changes.

 

[Redbled]

Where would you suggest I get the pump, and what should I expect to pay for it? I was tempted to just hook up my little wet vac and see what happens

 

[crazyelece]

what ever you do, do not use a wet vac. They are designed to suck up water with air. When you suck straight water with one it is too much. Just get a non submersible type pump and plumb it up to a drain or sump hole. On the inlet attach a flexible hose attached to a small pool type sweeper cleaning head. They have a nice long sturdy handle and they are made to do this exact job, just in a swimming pool instead of a pond bottom. As far as pump cost. It depends where you live and how much quality you are willing to pay for.

 

[Redbled]

Man, thanks for saving me that mistake. I'll look into the ideas you mentioned.