My python or DIY python on 30' of hose sucks sand out, and the tank is 2' deep.
swirl over it, if you want to get into the sand(why unsure with vac nothing gets down there) use a rat tail comb or a hair pik, attach that to the end of the vacuum with 2" between sand and vacuum and do it that way.
I just tossed the last of my sand yesterday, got tired of that mess all the time.
He should have some MTS, I sent him a bag.
also with MTS and sand, heh get a large fish net when its time to clean the sand good once a year, I got thousands of snails out of the sand yesterday, mainly small but I found a 1.5" in there. He stayed with the new substrate but yes the sand holds many of them, you will have many in no time.