Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating solid matter from liquid matter includes a container, a gas buster, a trough, a winch, and a filter. The gas buster is positioned above the container to dissipate energy associated with incoming solid matter and liquid matter. The trough is positioned below an outlet of the gas buster and has a bottom sloping from a high end to a low end with an opening at the low end. The filter is positionable below the opening of the trough in a way that the solid matter and the liquid matter passing from the opening of the trough enter the filter wherein the liquid matter passes through the filter and into the container and the solid matter is collected in the filter. The filter is removable from the container to permit the amount of solid matter collected in the filter to be determined.