Filter Killing My Cories

[rotex5510]

The first cory I found stuck to the filter I thought was just a fluke. But then it just happened again yesterday. Both were about 1.5 inches long. The first had a tail stuck in the filter, the second was stuck on there sideways. I turned the filter off, but it couldn't swim free on it's own. I knocked it loose, but it wasn't swimming well, so I removed it and quarantined it. The mid section looks crushed, and there appears to be internal bleeding. I have no hope for its survival. The tank still has 4 zebra danios and one remaining peppered cory (slightly larger than the other two). The tank is a 26 gallon bowfront with the aqueon HOB power filter 30. I have read on the fry posts that a sponge can be cut and slipped over the bottom of the filter intake. Will this work as a long term solution? What sponge would you recommend? I need to make this tank safe, and I'll probably do the same to my 10 gallon just in case.

 

[forby3]

or you could you fine net to place over the bottom ov the filter mate i did this when i had my fry tank running i had a old breeding net took it apart and placed on the bottom of the filter to save my fry from getting sucked in hope that helps mate

 

[WILDER]

You can put netting over the out flow tube and tie it off with a rubberband.
Or put the filter in a pair of tights and tie off with a rubber band.

Sorry about the crushed cory bless him.

 

[rotex5510]

You can put netting over the out flow tube and tie it off with a rubberband.
Or put the filter in a pair of tights and tie off with a rubber band.

Sorry about the crushed cory bless him.

But will that do anything for the current? Wouldn't they still be held up against the netting? I just checked on the cory and he's still alive 18 hours later, but not looking great. I put some stress coat in its water last night.

 

[WILDER]

It slows the current down adding netting or putting the filter in a pair of tights.
Stops fish getting sucked into the filter.

I would end his misery if he looks crushed as he will be in pain.

 

[rotex5510]

That cory died shortly after. Within 48 hours, before we could remedy the situation, the last and largest cory was found stuck on the filter. This one managed to swim free after the filter was shut off, and was able to swim much better than the others. We left him in the tank, and he still swims around, though not as much, and he is still eating. About 24 hours after his mishap, we noticed that his tail fins are all but gone. I'm not sure if that was the part stuck in the filter since my husband found him. I thought at first it was the water quality that weakened them (we're unfortunately in a fish in cycle, 3.5 weeks so far) but then I remembered that the first one to get stuck in the filter happened in the first night we had him, before the water stats worsened. We have now attached filter sponges (the netting I could find smelled like chemicals) to the water intake of both tanks, and should never have te same problem again. We are hoping that this cory makes it, but if not we will wait a few months before trying to get more. The danios may finish the cycle on their own. Could they have eaten the cory's fins?

 

[WILDER]

Filter can soon damage the fins. Have you seen the danio's nipping the corys fins.
Corys rarely make it in bad water quality as there very sensitive fish.