Removing sand from rocks

[lonestar]

My tank is a bare bottom tank with approx 2000 lbs of live rock. Several yrs back, i shut down 4 of the 6 pumps that were the circulation. Over that period, sand (and other debris (no algae or harmful organisms))has built up on the rocks. Is there an easy way to get rid of this? I have another 6000 gal an hour pump that I can stir the sand up with and catch it in the overflows via 2 filter socks. I will completely clog a sock in 1 cleaning.
Just wondering if anyone has a better idea.
Thanks,
J

 

[snakeblitz33]

Siphon it out? Use an internal pump and attach a huge sock or nylon pantyhose to the output and go in the tank and vacuum it all out into the sock. You could let the sock sit in your sump or in the tank. If a sock gets clogged quick, change it out. Sometimes there is no easy way. Make sure you don't turn off your circ pumps next time.
Give us some pics of this tank your talking about.