Sludge Sucker

[SparklesSS]

Anyone have any experience with “sludge suckers”? I have included a few links below and wonder how this would work for cleaning car wash pits and removing sludge, sand, etc.

Hotsy 8.711-112.0 ST-36 Pit Boss Sludge Sucker with Nozzle & Hose - 15ft

The base unit attaches to the end of a pressure washer lance with a quick coupler for extension to the bottom of the pit.

hotsyofnashville.com

 

[Randy]

It doesn't work!! We've tried one years ago.

 

[MEP001]

It works, but you can't just throw it in the mud and have it pull it out. It gets the soft stuff on top pretty well, but the compacted stuff lower down needs to be knocked loose with water. I'm actually going to order another to clean out the sand trap at a wash. I'll try to remember to get some video.

 

[Overachiever]

Does the suction increase with the amount of pressure?

 

[SparklesSS]

It works, but you can't just throw it in the mud and have it pull it out. It gets the soft stuff on top pretty well, but the compacted stuff lower down needs to be knocked loose with water. I'm actually going to order another to clean out the sand trap at a wash. I'll try to remember to get some video.

That would be greatly appreciated!

 

[mjwalsh]

It works, but you can't just throw it in the mud and have it pull it out. It gets the soft stuff on top pretty well, but the compacted stuff lower down needs to be knocked loose with water. I'm actually going to order another to clean out the sand trap at a wash. I'll try to remember to get some video.

We have in the distant past transferred mud from one pit to another with the Suttner Version of the sludge sucker. Why ... some of our pits have more capacity & it saved on the pit pumper cost since he charges per visit. MEP001 is correct in his description of its use.

 

[Randy]

The problem we had with it was it wouldn't push the sludge very far, it kept getting plugged up. Here's a fun video

Buy one and tell us how well it works for you. You can get the Suttner ST-36 Sludge pump for around $50 on EBay

 

[MEP001]

No, it won't lift it very high. You need a solids pump for that. They're around $3000.

 

[MEP001]

Does the suction increase with the amount of pressure?

It's basically 10:1 with the flow, and flow increases with pressure, I don't know if the generated suction power increases but I'm sure the amount of lift will.

 

[SparklesSS]

No, it won't lift it very high. You need a solids pump for that. They're around $3000.

We have shallow SS pits. We usually try to clean them once a month. Right now we use a shovel and wheelbarrow. Any recommendations on a pump or method to save my back?

 

[MEP001]

Most of the guys I know pay someone to do it. The sludge pump will lift it a decent ways, but it needs to be very liquid. I used to use one to empty a sand trap that was out in the parking lot and a good twelve feet deep and it was able to lift it, but it really took a lot of water to break it up.

 

[DiamondWash]

Has anybody used or seen this thing in action?

 

[sparkey]

Has anybody used or seen this thing in action?

I just had my interceptor tank pumped a few weeks ago and they used one of these to mix the mud up. It seemed to work pretty well.

 

[Bud's]

I tried taking a gas powered post auger and made a PVC sleeve over three auger sections with a tee at the top.
I augers dry dirt up the pipe just fine, but it gets jammed up with the muddy wet material.

So basically I'm still trying to make it work!

 

[Greg Pack]

The last time I had my pits cleaned they used a crustbuster. He was able to suck out without adding any water to the pit

 

[MEP001]

The last time I had my pits cleaned they used a crustbuster. He was able to suck out without adding any water to the pit

Crust Buster Septic Tank Agitator | Crustbusters | Monticello MN

CrustBuster Septic Tank Agitator can save you time and money for septic tank, grease trap and car wash pits pumping. CrustBuster by Crustbusters in MN.

www.crustbusters.com

It looks like an auger with an aggressive mixer prop.

 

[Greg Pack]

Crust Buster Septic Tank Agitator | Crustbusters | Monticello MN

CrustBuster Septic Tank Agitator can save you time and money for septic tank, grease trap and car wash pits pumping. CrustBuster by Crustbusters in MN.

www.crustbusters.com

It looks like an auger with an aggressive mixer prop.

Pretty much. they are not cheap. I wonder if you could convert a post hole digger into one