Canister filter as tank vacuum?

[tygunn]

So I've had in my mind a vision of a tank vacuum. Yes I know siphoning for a water change should accomplish this. However I always find siphoning out water doesn't give me enough time to get all the cleaning done that I'd like...

My initial thought was to build something myself. However once I add up the cost of the acrylic and all that I realize diy might not be the best.

So I was looking on amazon and found a sunsun 302 canister filter for about 50...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CX...165_QL70&qid=1401564424&sr=8-7#ref=mp_s_a_1_7

I'm thinking something like this with a couple poly pads would be enough that I could go nuts sucking up algae and other detritus.

Thoughts? Anyone done this before ?

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[Coral reefer]

Chris at aquatic central used to do it all the time. Another way is to siphon into a filter sock in The sump or a bucket and reuse the water after it goes thru the sock.

 

[tygunn]

Chris at aquatic central used to do it all the time. Another way is to siphon into a filter sock in The sump or a bucket and reuse the water after it goes thru the sock.

If I had a sump under the tank that would work too.

The bucket makes me think though.... Float switches and a pump could keep the bucket from overflowing... Hmm.

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[bondolo]

I have used a siphon vaccuum for gravel cleaning on my mom's freshwater tank.This is the one you attach to the tap and run the water to create suction. Even though it had low suction the hose got clogged with gravel rather than just detritus. Sucking up too much would be my biggest concern. Do you have a sand bottom?

 

[tygunn]

I have used a siphon vaccuum for gravel cleaning on my mom's freshwater tank.This is the one you attach to the tap and run the water to create suction. Even though it had low suction the hose got clogged with gravel rather than just detritus. Sucking up too much would be my biggest concern. Do you have a sand bottom?

I have a very fine sand bottom. I suspect I would only use this to clean the rocks. In the past with my 140g tank I used to baste the rocks off often. I figure with something like this I could basically "power vacuum" them.

I think perhaps I'll look at siphoning into a filter sock in a bucket first before committing to a whole canister filter. You're right probably a lower suction would be better.


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[sfsuphysics]

I've done the siphon hose to a filter sock in the sump routine a few times when I didn't have the ability to do a water change at the time but needed crap out, and you can get the larger stuff, however even those thick felt filter socks can't stop all the gunk in the water (notice how when you siphon water out it looks brown/grey/etc) well that gets through the filter socks. Now if you put filter socks on your overflow tubes as well then you might have something. But those won't remove stuff on the molecular level (your phosphates, nitrates, etc).

However you not having a sump, then sure using a canister filter could work too, especially if you pack it with carbon and other stuff to actually clean the water a bit before returning it. Although my experience with canister filters is that their hoses while flexible aren't anywhere near as long and flexible enough to to siphon stuff from inside a tank (they're designed to be high enough to go over the lip of a tank and that's it.