eags30, I've tried that before on my 1/4 acre pond, and I got about 3 tank runs with my 3" pump before the silt ruined the pump housing, and it wouldn't prime anymore. IIRC, semi-trash pumps need 80-90% clean water to function correctly, and having that much silt content in the water sanded groves in mine. The housing on my pump is aluminum, so maybe yours will handle it better than mine did.
I am renting the pump....didn't wanna buy something and have issues that I would have to deal with my own equipment.
