shopvac to vacuum aquarium?

[Toby_H]

If I understand you correctly...

You are suggestign that you use the Shop Vac to remove water/waste/debris from the tank?

I see no reason to use a machine to do what gravity (siphon) will do by itself. It just makes more equipment you have to drag out, creates an electrical usage for no reason and makes a lot more equipment you have to clean up.

and just for reference, I've owned two shop vacs. In both cases once they were used to suck up water, they never quite worked the way they used to...


While I always agree with thinking outside the box for better/easier ways to do things... I don't think this one is worth it...

 

[bob965]

The shop vac would suck way too hard. Stick with a siphon or a python-type hose.

 

[breakspirit]

FSM, I think you missed the part about it having an integrated water pump and outlet hose. No emptying of anything. You guys are pretty much echoing my own fears about this idea. I think I might try it on an empty tank to see how it works. You never know, could be perfect.

 

[bob965]

FSM, I think you missed the part about it having an integrated water pump and outlet hose. No emptying of anything. You guys are pretty much echoing my own fears about this idea. I think I might try it on an empty tank to see how it works. You never know, could be perfect.

I don't see where it says it has any kind of water pump or outlet hose. From the description you linked, it appears to be a standard shop-vac. It doesn't say it includes a pump, it says it can be used AS a pump to remove water, same as any other shop vac. And the only thing special about the hose is it locks to the canister. This is a regular shop vac.

 

[bob965]

and just for reference, I've owned two shop vacs. In both cases once they were used to suck up water, they never quite worked the way they used to...

The mistake people usually make is leaving the filter in place. If you're going to be sucking up large quantities of water, you gotta remove the filter, otherwise, it becomes saturated and you start spewing liquid out of the blower exhaust.

 

[ITHURTZ]

bare bottom and a 1gallon vac maybe. These vacs suck water FAST. Any decor wouldn't stand a chance. Be a fast way to chance substrate though.

 

[breakspirit]

I don't see where it says it has any kind of water pump or outlet hose. From the description you linked, it appears to be a standard shop-vac. It doesn't say it includes a pump, it says it can be used AS a pump to remove water, same as any other shop vac. And the only thing special about the hose is it locks to the canister. This is a regular shop vac.

Click "Product Demo" and it goes into detail on the water pump. Does 6 gallons per minute at 50 feet of height. I have no idea if that's a lot or not =/

 

[greenterra]

Click "Product Demo" and it goes into detail on the water pump. Does 6 gallons per minute at 50 feet of height. I have no idea if that's a lot or not =/

It actually shows it in action. Click product demo and then click video.
Looks like a handy vac but I would still use the gravity method myself. It looks like it has a pretty erratic suction when you look at the movement of the hose in his hand.

 

[phillydog1958]

i use a python for cleaning the substrate, while doing my water changes. it does a great job. python is my standard for substrate cleansing, so i'm curious to see how efficient a shop vac is. keep us posted.

 

[bob965]

Click "Product Demo" and it goes into detail on the water pump. Does 6 gallons per minute at 50 feet of height. I have no idea if that's a lot or not =/

Oops, guess I shoulda looked at it more carefully.

If you really wanted to make this work, rather than just sticking the vacuum hose in your tank, you could take a standard siphon gravel vac, and build up the end of the hose with duct tape to form a "plug" that you put on the end of the vacuum hose like an attachment. This way, you eliminate the possibility of contaminating your tank if you've used the vacuum for other stuff. Also, sucking through the smaller diameter gravel vac hose might reduce the suction to acceptible levels for gravel vacuuming.