Eheim Sludge Extractor

[carb850]

Anyone tried the Eheim Sludge Extractor? Looks like it would be great for sand but not sure the bottom would provide enough suction on a smooth surface (ie. bare bottom) to help much.

Alternately, anyone know of a pump to use as a vacuum that could be used to clean the bottom of a smooth surfaced tank or sump? I been doing this so far with a simple siphon hose but there must be an easier way. Looking for suggestions. :fish1:

 

[brian@sen]

In this http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1639598&perpage=25&pagenumber=12 thread about half way down the OP gives his review of it and seems to like it pretty well. If nothing else you could possibly PM him and see if it will do what you want.

 

[carb850]

That is actually where I first ran across it. He seems very happy with it and I posted a question about using it on a BB. He says it should work just as well on a BB as it does sand/gravel.

I have a old cheap siphon gravel filter which end looks similar in size to the bellowed end of this Eheim device. The mouth is so wide it won't pick up much on a smooth surface. If you jam it into substrate it does do a good job of removing debris while letting the more dense substrate settle back to the bottom. I suppose it depends on how powerful the suction is out of the Eheim that would make a difference? Also, it looks like in the photo that it has slits around the edges. That might work against getting a good suction on the bottom of a smooth surface.

I dunno? I might try it because even if it doesn't work on the BB like I hope I can still use it on the sandbed of the 30G.

 

[coralreefer]

Mike
I've always just used a simple siphon hose to do water changes on all 3 BB tanks.
I know it's probably strange but I have several different diameters I'll use depending on the tank and what I'm cleaning out.

If I need to vacuum the bottom between water changes we use a canister packed with filter pads in the 220.
In the nano's I just use a hose and run it through an old pitcher, filled with filter floss, that has holes drilled in the sides and bottom.

I have a old cheap siphon gravel filter which end looks similar in size to the bellowed end of this Eheim device. The mouth is so wide it won't pick up much on a smooth surface. If you jam it into substrate it does do a good job of removing debris while letting the more dense substrate settle back to the bottom.

Here's a trick Jim taught me years ago to clean a shallow sand bed. I'm not sure I can explain it but...
Push the mouth of the gravel filter into the sand and then raise it an inch or so above the bed and cover the end of your hose to stop the siphon. The sand should fall while the detritus stays in suspension. When the sand has mostly dropped back down start your siphon again. You'll lose little to no substrate this way.
Another trick is "fluff" the sand with a turkey baster to blow the detritus into the water column while siphoning next to the baster.

 

[carb850]

The canister filter is a good idea. I'd surely give that a try if I had one. How does your picture work? Do you sit it in the sump then let the water just drain back in your system?

 

[coralreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15205845#post15205845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carb850
How does your picture work? Do you sit it in the sump then let the water just drain back in your system?

We would hang (clamp) it on the top of the sump and let it drain.
Since the nano's don't have sumps I clamp the pitcher on a bucket and after i vacuum the tanks the water is clean enough to pour back in.

 

[cdbias2]

Batteries are not water tight. Putting one in a SW environment makes no sense what so ever.
Seems like an act of desperation.

Put a 100 micron filter sock in your sump and siphon the water into it.

Only my 2 cents.

 

[carb850]

I imagine the battery compartment is water tight.

The filter sock in the sump would be just as effective, maybe more so. It just happens to be awkward. I tend to get a mouth full of salt water then having the hose come out of my sump before I get the other end out of my tank... messy. I thought this $60 gadget might make this take a bit easier, but I dunno.

 

[cdbias2]

Look into the "Magnums" with the diatomatious earth filter. Only crystal clear water will return to the tank.