Cleaning catchment tank

[birdmove]

Has anyone tried to clean he crud out of their catchment tank with just a section of water hose? I tried it goday with zbout a ten foot piece of msybe 5/8" water hose. One end had the thresded fitying removed, so I used that end inside the tank. Didn't want to use the threaded end, as I was worried about tearing the liner. A hose wihboth ends removed would work fine. Dip the entire hose under water to get the bubbles out. Plug thump over the opening in the hose where the fitging i, and then pull that end out, put in low on the ground, and remove thumb. Got a nice siphoning action going that lasted the whole time. I was quite amazed how much glorp the other hose end would suck up.
Two notes. 1.The flexibility of the hose the father you extend it becomes a problem. Hard to hold the sucking end down in the glorp. Maybe zip tie the hose to a broom handle or something. My tank is the big old timer that is 3-4 feet high and like 22 feet across.So, it would be good to be able to extnd the hose 10-12 feet in towards the center. Even with just the hose, I did a section of 1/4 to 1/5 the tank in under 45 minutes.
If I could put an end on that hose that would widenit, and there was enough suckment, it would go quicker. And, yeah if I had a wet vac, it would be nice. But a decent wet vac is going to run like $75.00+. And using a siphon hose requires no electricity. I wouldn't even have to completely remove he cover. Just losen the rope and fold the cover over towards the middle as I go.
I was amazed how much the hose would suck up. Like say,a patch of glorp 12" x12". About three passes would pull it all out. I'm an old retired dude, so doing it myself could save me over $100.

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[geochem]

I've used a pool cleaner brush (with just a siphon flow) and you can get the whole tank done in an hour or so. I thought it was well worth the investment...

[MarkP]

You can buy hose thread adapters for PVC pipe, male or female. Get a 10' length of 3/4" PVC pipe and get a 90 degree elbow too. That way the hose is naturally angled down towards the ground while the pipe is mostly horizontal.

[kalakoa]

buy hose thread adapters for PVC pipe, male or female

Note: Central Supply, not Home Depot; it's a combo 1/2 x 3/4 fitting, so you'll also need a 3/4 coupler if you want to use it with 3/4 pipe.

[terracore]

quote:

---

Originally posted by geochem

I've used a pool cleaner brush (with just a siphon flow) and you can get the whole tank done in an hour or so. I thought it was well worth the investment...

---

Would love to see link to such product.

[Punatic007]

quote:

---

Originally posted by terracore

quote:

---

Originally posted by geochem

I've used a pool cleaner brush (with just a siphon flow) and you can get the whole tank done in an hour or so. I thought it was well worth the investment...

---

Would love to see link to such product.

---

Got mine at Waterworks in Hilo a long time ago and it's still good. There's a Waterworks in Pahoa now too.

[Midnight Rambler]

I use the pool cleaner brush and hose but it's so big that after a while it stirs up the crud into the water so you have to let it settle. There's some kind of superfine sediment in my tank, possibly from the eruption. I didn't notice any ash where I am because I'm so far away and not downwind, but it's these very tiny grains, almost silky when you rub a glob of them, so maybe they got blown further than normal.

[Mangosteen]

Great DIY tips for cleaning catchment tanks. Just wondering what a good quality, professional company would charge for a 10,000 gallon tank?

[EightFingers]

”very tiny grains, almost silky when you rub a glob of them“

You might have the makings of a new line of cosmetics!

Puna: Our roosters crow first

[birdmove]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mangosteen

Great DIY tips for cleaning catchment tanks. Just wondering what a good quality, professional company would charge for a 10,000 gallon tank?

---

I am sure it's over $100.Not a bad pfice. But, I'm an ld retired geezer, and have more time than money.

Jon in Keaau/HPP