How to clean a snyder tank

[PhracturedBlue]

I have a 1500 gallon snyder water cistern which is fed by our deep-well pump. It was put in originally because we had a low-flow well and needed water storage. While we don't strictly need it anymore, I prefer to keep it because I can more easily power the jet-pump with alternate supplies when power goes out. The tank is about 25 years old, and because it has an 8" opening at the top, and is in a building with about 24" clearance above the lid, I've found no good way to clean it. So it has accumulated a significant (maybe 8"+) of sediment at the bottom. I'm trying to figure out how I can clean out that sediment. I've previously used a trash pump to drain the tank but with such a narrow hole, and so little clearance, I don't have any good way to manuver the inlet. how do people clean these things?

(I do run a recirculating pump now with a filter, so the sediment doesn't tend to accumulate anymore, but that doesn't help with what is already there).

 

[Valveman]

Maybe a shop vac on a stick?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

Pressure washer to stir the sediment up, and pump the water out to the ground.

You can find a utility pump that will fit thru that opening. Utility pumps pump down much lower than trash pumps, but they are not going to pump mud like a trash pump can.