Vacuum question

[SueSTx]

My lily tanks are not close to  electricity.  I need to purchase a vacuum.  To use a shop vac, I have to have about 100 ft of extension cord.  Does anybody have any experience with the muck type vacuums that use suction and are hooked to a water hose.  I have read reviews with both pros and cons, but I'm still undecided.  I'm currently using a simple approx 2 qt canister on a pole that you place your finger over the air vent in the handle to creat a suction.    (www.pondvac.com/) 
I have made my shoulder sore lifting the canister out of the pond to empty it.   

I have used a shop vac, but water and a 100 ft cord worry me.

[2vetts]

bought an electric lawn edger and a 100 foot lead cord but bought a heavy lead cord , i think 14 gauge . it was about $50 but alleviated any potential electrical problems .

[SueSTx]

no suggestions

[Jerry]

Here is two:
Put and outdoor electrical outlet out there.  Yes it costs, but once there if is permanent.  A power source may be useful for other applications.

I have no idea if a small generator could do the job, but...maybe?

[SueSTx]

Does anybody have any experience with the muck type vacuums that use suction and are hooked to a water hose.     

[tlc]

Does anybody have any experience with the muck type vacuums that use suction and are hooked to a water hose.     

Sue, do you mean this type of vac? http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12830
My experience with that type of vac (I had this one) is that they suck  . Now to be fair, I have well water and not much pressure to the little pond that I had at the time. If you had super good pressure it might work OK and get you by until you could figure out your power situation at your pond. I don't know how deep your pond is but my little pond was about 18 inches and not very big at all. Every time I used this vac I would cuss like a sailor. I couldn't count on it to work correctly. Sometimes it would bless me by doing it's job for a few minutes and most of the time it was stubborn as a mule. The other thing is that you have hoses all over the place to trip on while doing your pond chore. I think I would try to save my sanity and health and figure out a way to get some power out there so you can use your shopvac. Even gettting a heavier extension cord is better than standing out there swearing and scaring the neighbors ;-) Like I said before, if you have super good water pressure you might be fine but the shopvac will save you time and not give you as many gray hairs.

[Jerry]

I to found they suck, actually they don't!  if they did it would be fine!

[SueSTx]

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/Product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=5565

This is the one I was looking at.  I was hoping since my tanks are above ground that there wouldn't be as much lift necessary and that it would work.

http://www.pondvac.com/howtheywork.html

This is what I am currently using.  It works...but is a lot "of work".

[Zoe]

I have the one you want to purchase. It worked fine in an above ground pond. It did not work well in my pond that is dug deep.  You also have to have good water pressure. Like most vacs you will have to clear debris out of the intake from time to time but it does work. I got a pond vac 3 last year and I would not be without it. 

Cindy

[Zoe]

I also had the one you are using. You are a patient person!