Advice on filtering fuel...

[71-C20]

Greetings,
I just purchased a 71 C-20. It had been restored and sat in a garage without being driven for almost 8 years. I started it and it ran good, initially. I made the mistake of driving it home (about 50 miles) and about half way home it started surging. I suspected a dirty fuel filter and installed a clear inline filter between the fuel pump and the Edelbrock carb when I got home. Drove it around the block a couple of times and initially it was good but then started surging again. When I got home the clear filter was clearly plugged up with a reddish brown alagae looking substance. My question is short of pulling the tank and cleaning it is there a way to filter the fuel that is in the tank? I'm afraid it will take alot of inline filters to clear what ever sediment is currently in the tank.
Thanks in advance for any advice, I am fairly new at working on vehicles.