How to keep detritus out of water column

So I've been running my hob filter with no media and use it just for circulation (noticing my current situation I tried running with media to try and clean the water column for 2 days and there is still a lot of stuff in the water column). My single impeller type power head is at the bottom blowing across the sandbed. I don't have a sump or skimmer this just doesn't seem right for the amount of equipment I have. Yes the object of the game is to keep the sandbed clean, but what about the water column? Money is tight this week, and my new stand and sump are still about a month away, something tells me with my setup now I should utilize the power head to agitate the water surface and let the detritus settle on the sand where I can siphon it out each week with my cleanings.. I mean being trapped in the water column is a lot worse then trapped on the sandbed right?