The Raven Environmental Products CORETAKER® is a rugged sludge core sampler — the operator's "sludge judge" — that pulls an intact sludge core from clarifiers, tanks, and lagoons so you can see exactly what's happening in the sludge blanket. Its clear, UV-stabilized polycarbonate tube lets you inspect sludge colour, texture, and layering on the spot, while Slip-Lock couplers with four internal O-rings and a CNC-machined automatic check valve deliver a leak-proof, drip-free sample every time. It is built for daily use by Canadian municipal and industrial wastewater operators, floats if dropped, and is backed by a Lifetime Break-Free Guarantee on sales in the USA and Canada.
See the sludge, not just a sample. The clear polycarbonate tube is UV-stabilized, so it stays clear and won't turn cloudy or brittle from sun exposure the way acrylic samplers do. You can read sludge colour, texture, and settled layers right through the tube at the clarifier — no lab trip needed for a first assessment.
No threaded fittings to break. Threaded couplers are the classic failure point on sludge judges: they crack at the thread root and churn the sample as it passes through. The CORETAKER® uses Slip-Lock couplers with four internal O-rings for a 100% leak-proof connection, and every coupler and the check valve are individually CNC-machined. Assembly and disassembly take seconds with a thumbscrew — no tools required.
Drip-free retrieval. The CNC-machined automatic check valve uses a positive Hydro-Lock seal with an internal O-ring to hold the core in the tube during retrieval. Its larger flow annulus (compared with molded valves on competing samplers) means smoother filling and fewer parts to maintain.
Built for the field. A foam lanyard floats the entire unit if it's dropped in a tank, and factory-applied yellow numbered depth markers (1–7, with markers 8–15 supplied for user installation) give consistent depth readings shift after shift.
Guaranteed for life. Raven backs the CORETAKER® with a Lifetime Break-Free Guarantee on sales in the USA and Canada — if the tube breaks in normal use, it's covered.
| Model | Raven Part No. | Length | Configuration | Cambridge Price (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CORETAKER® 8 ft | B-10104-8 | 8 ft (2.4 m) | Single 8 ft section with check valve | $215.17 |
| CORETAKER® 16 ft | B-10104-16 | 16 ft (4.9 m) | Two 8 ft sections with Slip-Lock coupler | $273.29 |
| CORETAKER® 24 ft | B-10104-24 | 24 ft (7.3 m) | Three 8 ft sections with Slip-Lock couplers | $398.57 |
Shared across all models: clear UV-stabilized polycarbonate tube (1.25 in. / 32 mm OD), Slip-Lock couplers with four internal O-rings, CNC-machined automatic check valve with Hydro-Lock seal, foam float lanyard, factory-applied yellow depth markers 1–7 (markers 8–15 included), and the Lifetime Break-Free Guarantee (USA and Canada). Raven also offers custom lengths — contact Cambridge for a quote.
Match the sampler length to your basin depth. 8 ft suits shallow tanks, septic/onsite systems, and quick spot checks. 16 ft covers the clarifier depths most common in municipal plants. 24 ft is for deeper clarifiers and lagoons or anywhere you need full-depth coverage in one pull. If your depth falls between sizes, choose the longer unit — a sampler that's too short can't give you a full core profile.
| Application | How the CORETAKER® Helps |
|---|---|
| Sludge blanket depth checks in secondary clarifiers | Pull an intact core and read the settled-solids interface directly through the clear tube using the numbered depth markers. |
| WAS (waste activated sludge) percent-solids monitoring | Retrieve a representative core and spin it in a centrifuge to determine percent solids. |
| Lagoon and basin profiling | The 24 ft model captures full-depth layering in lagoons; the floating lanyard protects against loss if dropped. |
| Industrial pre-treatment compliance sampling | Leak-proof couplers and the Hydro-Lock check valve keep the sample intact from tank to inspection point. |
| Onsite/septic system assessment | The 8 ft model gives a fast, clear read on tank solids accumulation without bulky equipment. |
| Manufacturer | Raven Environmental Products, Inc. (St. Louis, MO, USA) |
| Product | CORETAKER® Regular Sludge Core Sampler |
| Manufacturer part numbers | B-10104-8 (8 ft) · B-10104-16 (16 ft) · B-10104-24 (24 ft) |
| Tube material | Clear polycarbonate with UV stabilizers — stays clear and resists breakage outdoors |
| Tube outside diameter | 1.25 in. (32 mm) |
| Section length | 8 ft (2.4 m) sections; 16 ft = 2 sections, 24 ft = 3 sections |
| Couplers | Slip-Lock, CNC-machined, no threaded fittings; four internal O-rings per coupler; thumbscrew lock — assembles without tools |
| Check valve | CNC-machined automatic check valve with internal O-ring and Hydro-Lock seal |
| Depth markers | Factory-applied yellow numbered markers 1–7; markers 8–15 supplied for user installation |
| Flotation | Foam lanyard floats the entire unit if dropped in water |
| Guarantee | Lifetime Break-Free Guarantee on sales in the USA and Canada |
| Country of manufacture | Made in USA |
Instead of replacing the whole sampler when a tube wears, swap the damaged section. Replacement sections are sold individually (Each).
| Replacement Part | Fits | Cambridge Price (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Top Tube Replacement Section | 16 ft and 24 ft models | $220.82 |
| Middle Tube Replacement Section | 24 ft model only | $234.29 |
| Bottom Tube Replacement Section | 16 ft and 24 ft models | $190.14 |
To assemble: fully insert the check-valve section tube into the coupler, rotate until the tube notch seats (this aligns it with the thumbscrew), then tighten the thumbscrew to lock the sections. A small amount of lubricant on the O-rings may help seating. To disassemble, unscrew the thumbscrew and separate the sections — no tools needed. Rinse the tube with clean water after use and don't let residue dry inside; follow your site's SOP for any disinfection steps. Storing the sampler out of constant direct sun extends its life — many operators keep it in a vertical PVC sleeve near the clarifier.
Cambridge Environmental Products stocks the CORETAKER® in Canada with CAD pricing — no cross-border ordering, brokerage, or currency surprises. The Lifetime Break-Free Guarantee applies to Canadian sales. For volume needs (multiple plants or operators), ask about quantity pricing, and for non-standard basin depths, ask about Raven's custom lengths.
It pulls an intact vertical core of sludge from clarifiers, tanks, and lagoons so operators can assess sludge blanket depth, settled-solids profile, layering, texture, and colour changes — the routine "sludge judge" check in wastewater treatment.
Yes. "Sludge judge" is the operator term for this style of sampler. The CORETAKER® is Raven's premium version: instead of threaded acrylic tubes that crack, it uses UV-stabilized polycarbonate with machined Slip-Lock couplers.
Most break at threaded joints or go cloudy and brittle from UV exposure. The CORETAKER® eliminates threads entirely (Slip-Lock couplers with four internal O-rings), uses UV-stabilized polycarbonate that stays clear outdoors, and is covered by a Lifetime Break-Free Guarantee in the USA and Canada.
Match it to your basin depth: 8 ft for shallow tanks and spot checks, 16 ft for typical municipal clarifier depths, 24 ft for deep clarifiers and lagoons. When in doubt, go longer — a short sampler can't profile the full depth. Raven also builds custom lengths on request.
No. The four internal O-rings per coupler give a 100% leak-proof connection, and the CNC-machined automatic check valve's Hydro-Lock seal retains the core during retrieval — no drips.
Yes. Top and bottom replacement sections fit the 16 ft and 24 ft models, and a middle section is available for the 24 ft model — all sold individually through Cambridge.
Tell us your basin or clarifier depth, what you're sampling (municipal clarifier, lagoon, industrial tank, septic), and how many operators need one — we'll confirm the right length and quote volume pricing.
