How to siphon a bare bottom sump

[hnokaoi]

What is the best way to siphon a BB sump? The sump is at ground level so I am unable to start a siphon.

[DarthOcellaris]

when my tank was up ( dang I hate saying that now ), I was close enough to door that led to my back porch. I had my wife hold the tube over the back porch while I siphoned.

Her end was obviousely lower than the sump bottom. That's the ONLY way you will get a siphon out of the tank. Another trick I used to do was turn off my return, put a large powerhead in the sump to stir the water, get the junk in the water and the ph had a filter attached to it. that got nearly every bit of crap out.

[crvz]

My sump is only a couple inches higher than ground level, and I always had a pretty good siphon. I think the trick is to have a high water level in the sump before siphoning, that way you get a good pressure differential and the siphon will work. So if you add water to your sump, you should be able to get it going long enough to get the gunk out (use a smaller diameter hose, too... I use a 1/4", which is enough to suck out the gunk).

[DarthOcellaris]

Originally Posted by crvz

My sump is only a couple inches higher than ground level, and I always had a pretty good siphon. I think the trick is to have a high water level in the sump before siphoning, that way you get a good pressure differential and the siphon will work. So if you add water to your sump, you should be able to get it going long enough to get the gunk out (use a smaller diameter hose, too... I use a 1/4", which is enough to suck out the gunk).

yeah, smaller diameter definetly is a great idea..I have two tons of 5/8" diameter so that's what I always use Good advice!

[Fly Guy]

6 horse shop vac will do it in seconds

[tdwyatt]

Dedicated wet/dry vac, though I have to say it is a pain in the butt to do with all the lines and hoses going into the sump

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by tdwyatt

Dedicated wet/dry vac.

My wife got ittitated with me the other day becasue my old shop vac kind of sounds like its ready to blow up....so i run down to HD and buy another of course........I immediately used it during my next water change and assumed I bought it for my tanks and the noisy one that was abot to blow up was for her to use when she infrequently does.

??? Women

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

...I immediately used it during my next water change and assumed I bought it for my tanks and the noisy one that was about to blow up was for her to use when she infrequently does.

??? Women

HEH HEH HEH! I have the T-Shirt from that!


I just sprung the idea about running some comparison studies on the skimmer and working on developing some standards to judge skimmer performance by on Mel this morning...

You'd think I had put mud in her coffee.

[DarthOcellaris]

INteresting...never thought myself to use a wet/dry vac I might try this one day.