I`ve been using the above for quite awhile now.
Picture is a bit dated, as some changes have been made, but the base system is the same.
I put the filter before the pump after a couple of “Opps” encounters with gravel and a slow cory cat.
Both jammed the impeller.
When I had gravel, had to try various size pipe for getting down into it, without it all getting sucked into the filter. Got pretty good at pinching off the intake tube to get even more control.
It does take a bit of practice and decent hand/eye coordination, when using the return as a “sweeper” and your intake as the dustpan. Kind of same motions when “Gas” welding or using TIG.
Well worth the bother, if you really want to clean the tank.
When I was still deep into “MTS”, I could go from tank to tank with a minimum of fuss.
Relatively easy build.
Spent about $60 or so on it.
Pump is a 500+ gph @ 0head, CA1800 for $35, including shipping.
Generic whole house filter unit for $20, with 20-30 micron “rust/sediment” cartridges adding $8 for a twin pack.
Hose and fittings I already had, for the most part.
Whole deal went together in a couple hours from start, to testing stage.
An additional plus, is switching to a carbon “taste/odor” cartridge for water polishing.
I tried the above as an even cheaper alternative.
$40, including shipping.
You might even find one at a garage sale for next to nothing.
Filter cartridges are available at walmart, as well as allot of other places.
Actually worked pretty good., but because of the impeller being before the filter, I jammed it a couple of times.
Will probably make some kind of screening, jam grabber and give it another go.
What I liked about this was it all being a single, compact unit. Allot like the commercial, big buck thing I saw in some adds.
If you have the time and most of the components, building either of these guys is a worthwhile project.
Cool way to spend a couple hours and not a bunch of money.
BTW: Here is a link to a powerhead based cleaner
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=208483
Looks like it would be a pretty cool "spot" cleaning tool.
