How to protect garbage disposal from sand and gravel when using gravel vacuum

Hi Everyone!
I have a new aquarium and was given a Python gravel vacuum and water changer as a gift. I need your wisdom! When using a vacuum, how do you keep gravel and sand in the waste water from going into your garbage disposal and causing damage? Does anyone have an ingenious way to filter out the sand and gravel before it goes down the drain and into the disposal? I can't afford to destroy a garbage disposal but since I'm not able to lift heavy buckets, the gravel vacuum is such a wonderful gift and back saver. Your answers will be appreciated tremendously!

 

Can get drain screens at walmart for a couple of bucks that will keep gravel out. Maybe put a paper towel or cheesecloth in that to help with sand, too?

 

Hi FishGrampa,
This is a guy I subscribe to , he put this video out last week. I know it’s going to upset some people?
Basically he is suggesting water needs to settle out before being tossed down the drain.

 

I don’t clean in the sand often - usually hover over it instead. I do like Estes sand because it very rarely goes up the siphon. I have finer sand in another tank that goes up the siphon all the time - drives me crazy!

Try holding the thin tubing in your other hand. When you see sand travelling too far up, bend the hose with your hand and it will make the sand drop.

 

Can get drain screens at walmart for a couple of bucks that will keep gravel out. Maybe put a paper towel or cheesecloth in that to help with sand, too?

Hi! I tried a drain screen but the tiny pieces of gravel still made it through. Cheesecloth is a GREAT idea! As long as it doesn't slow down the drainage too much, this could be a wonderful and inexpensive solution. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer. It is very much appreciated!

I don’t clean in the sand often - usually hover over it instead. I do like Estes sand because it very rarely goes up the siphon. I have finer sand in another tank that goes up the siphon all the time - drives me crazy!

Try holding the thin tubing in your other hand. When you see sand travelling too far up, bend the hose with your hand and it will make the sand drop.

Thank you for the great tip! The tubing is pliable, so it will be easy to pinch shut. I read that others said they don't have to clean the sand too often either. I will surely try your technique. Many thanks!

Hi FishGrampa,
This is a guy I subscribe to , he put this video out last week. I know it’s going to upset some people?
Basically he is suggesting water needs to settle out before being tossed down the drain.

Hi! Thanks so much for sending the video. I understand his thought process, but I'm just not able to carry buckets of water due to a back injury. He's totally right about the benefits of using the "waste water" for gardening. Hey, thank you for taking the time to answer. It is very much appreciated! Very nice folks on here to take the time to help a newbie.

 

depending on the location of your tank, When you use the python for removing water, you can start the suction, then turn the faucet off, disconnect the hose, then take that end outside and let gravity suck out the water. this is great for me, as I can aim that water at my plants.

 

depending on the location of your tank, When you use the python for removing water, you can start the suction, then turn the faucet off, disconnect the hose, then take that end outside and let gravity suck out the water. this is great for me, as I can aim that water at my plants.

Hi and thank you! That would definitely be good for the plants!

 

No need to carry any full buckets.
The suggestion is to vacuum the water into a large bucket and let it settle for 24 hours . Then a pond pump can be used to pump the water wherever you wish to dispose of it.

Large buckets on wheels are not that expensive and pond pumps are incredibly cheap compared to getting a plumper.

Here is the link .
I realise those that swear by their python are not going to what to see this . I suggest those people should not look?

 

The few times when I've dumped aquarium water down the drain with the disposal on it and it contained a little sand, I simply ran the water to flush the sand through. I never heard any grinding or telltale signs when using the disposal that there was still sand in it.
I can't say for gravel.

 

Drain into a large bucket and let sand settle. For gravel, use some sort of filter over the Vacuum?

 

I've got a ton of mylasian trumpet snails that I don't want in my septic system.

I have a fountain pump with a hose attached sitting in a bucket, I siphon the tank water into the bucket, the pump pumps the water outside.
I use a python to refill the tanks.

Edit:
oops, just notice this thread is a month old and the OP has not returned to it.

 

In the summer, I feed water and everything to the gardens outside, they won’t care about a wee bit of gravel or old snail shells. Winter, it goes in the toilet and a flush, No disposal. I have public waste water treatment, even if you have a private system, the very little that goes in there won’t hurt. You typically have the sludge pumped out every couple of years anyway.