DIY sand vac ideas

[wednesday13]

Need some ideas for homemade sand vac ends… My systems are on autodrip so i basically siphon turds twice a day for “fun” ? to keep everything “squeaky clean”… the drips fill the tanks/sumps back up for me automatically. Most my tanks are bare bottom so i use a 2’ acrylic tube. Adding some expensive substrate id like to keep in the tank while being able to siphon turds. Any pics of what u guys use are appreciated ??

 

[FJB]

I too have sand (pool filter sand) in my tanks.
I have a number of vacuum hose "ends" of different lengths, shapes and diameters, which have found my way through many different ways. I used to use one or two of them, but I don't anymore.
Now I just use then end of my hose to "hover" over the sand surface, thus vacuuming turds, pieces of plants and anything else I want out. It is sufficient and better that the sand vac ends. Turds rarely and minimally go into the sand, and instead rest on its surface. This is one of the main advantages of sand over gravel, at least from the vacuuming perspective.

 

[duanes]

Old plastic isopropyl alcohol bottles with the bottom cut to, and the screw top friction fit with 1" plastic tubingfwork for my DIY siphons.
I also use sand as substrate and the wide mouth seems to provide enough suction to grab water and crud, but allows sand grains to slide back with gravity.

 

[wednesday13]

Old plastic isopropyl alcohol bottles with the bottom cut to, and the screw top friction fit with 1" plastic tubingfwork for my DIY siphons.
I also use sand as substrate and the wide mouth seems to provide enough suction to grab water and crud, but allows sand grains to slide back with gravity.
View attachment 1501400

Thank you for the response/pic ?? kinda what i was gettin at, ill give er a go.

 

[wednesday13]

I too have sand (pool filter sand) in my tanks.
I have a number of vacuum hose "ends" of different lengths, shapes and diameters, which have found my way through many different ways. I used to use one or two of them, but I don't anymore.
Now I just use then end of my hose to "hover" over the sand surface, thus vacuuming turds, pieces of plants and anything else I want out. It is sufficient and better that the sand vac ends. Turds rarely and minimally go into the sand, and instead rest on its surface. This is one of the main advantages of sand over gravel, at least from the vacuuming perspective.

Appreciate the response, basically what ive been doing also with no worry. New substrate i picked up is $100 for 55lbs so i figured i shouldn’t waste any down the drain lol. Im sure eventually ill end up just back with my 1” acrylic tube…

 

[fishdance]

What water depth(s) are your tanks? With sand substrate a good method is to add an adjustable clamp onto your siphon tube so you can control water flow speed. Can speed up your cleaning as the sand will fall back by itself with the right flow rate.

I made an adjustable length bell chamber that worked too but the clamp was simpler and easier.

If you have shallow tanks, use a sand trap (ie bucket that over flows) at the other end. This is good to catch smaller fish or plecos you accidentally stuck up too. Just return any sand you have removed at the end.

 

[wednesday13]

What water depth(s) are your tanks? With sand substrate a good method is to add an adjustable clamp onto your siphon tube so you can control water flow speed. Can speed up your cleaning as the sand will fall back by itself with the right flow rate.

I made an adjustable length bell chamber that worked too but the clamp was simpler and easier.

If you have shallow tanks, use a sand trap (ie bucket that over flows) at the other end. This is good to catch smaller fish or plecos you accidentally stuck up too. Just return any sand you have removed at the end.

Aye! Smart… didn’t think to throttle the siphon speed back ?… worst case scenario is the bucket… extra work lol… maybe necessary to save the expensive substrate tho if i have too ??‍