Fish Swimming Into Filter Housing

[grahamjmitchell]

I've had a superfish Home40 tank for approx 5 months. Being new to keeping fish I only have the tank lightly stocked, with 6 neno tetras. However I now only have 5.

One of the fish was found dead in the filter housing (not the filter itself, but the plastic housing that holds the filter in place).

Question: How do I stop the fish getting into the housing and getting stuck?

This is the 3rd time I've found the fish in the housing. Fortunately on the other 2 occasions the fish have still been alive and I've managed to manoeuvre the fish out and back into the main tank.

Water changed and checked weekly with no issues. Fish appear healthy, (to my untrained and experienced eye.)


I've tried reducing the water level to below the top of the filter housing so the fish can't swim in from the top, but that didn't work so now turning to the forum community for advice.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Hello and welcome to the forum

 
Had to look up this Superfish Home 40 tank online as was not familair with that but I now recognise it from a certain LFS chain store. Its not a tank i have used or know much about.
 
From the online pictures i can get, it looks like a inbuilt filtration system that is under the lighting unit.
 
So, to stop your neons from swimming into the filter, perhaps the best method may be is to do a diy fix to stop fish from entering that opening at the top, you could use filter sponge, mesh netting or anything that you may think would work and not effect the filtration input or output of the filter.
 
Trail and error i would say before you find something that works best.
 
Imho seems a bit of a design fault doing that filter output right at the water surface where fish, shrimps and even snails can easily enter the filter.
 
But it would be good if you do find a solution whether short term or long term fix so that others can see and learn too, personally I'd like to know, am nosey that way

 
Now for the news you may not want to hear, Neons tend not to do very well in newly set up tanks.
 
Neon tetras - Paracheirodon innesi are quite fickle with water parameters, they are not really the 'hardy' fish many claim them to be. So they will do better in an established tank, also your 40 litre is on the smallish side for them as they are active little fish.
 
A bit more info on neons for your reading -
 
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-innesi/
 
 
 
One last note, did you happen to cycle the tank and filter before adding these neons?
Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

 

[betta fish]

Perhaps some filter floss wedged into any available gaps may keep the fish away?

 

[Chad]

Fish love to find comfortable and protective hiding places. The only solution is to block it off. 

 

[gmc1]

Yeah sponge worked for my internals to stop rummy nose going in.

 

[grahamjmitchell]

Thanks for the advice...just off to shop to get something to allow water to pass but not fish. Eg sponge.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Yep, good luck and i would suggest a coarse sponge.
 
Means lots of water can allow to flow freely though this but not fish.
 
Most LFS do stock sponges of various coarsness and colours, so just find an inexpensive one and cut to size to make a snug fit into the filter outlet part at surface of water.
 
Of course you may think of or find something else that would work

 

[lucyp]

I've had a superfish Home40 tank for approx 5 months. Being new to keeping fish I only have the tank lightly stocked, with 6 neno tetras. However I now only have 5.

One of the fish was found dead in the filter housing (not the filter itself, but the plastic housing that holds the filter in place).

Question: How do I stop the fish getting into the housing and getting stuck?

This is the 3rd time I've found the fish in the housing. Fortunately on the other 2 occasions the fish have still been alive and I've managed to manoeuvre the fish out and back into the main tank.

Water changed and checked weekly with no issues. Fish appear healthy, (to my untrained and experienced eye.)


I've tried reducing the water level to below the top of the filter housing so the fish can't swim in from the top, but that didn't work so now turning to the forum community for advice.

Thanks in advance.

Hi

I have the Superfish 80 and agree there is a design fault. I have lost 3 danios in the filter casing.

I decided to try and remove the casing and attach the filter and heater to the glass. The back of the casing was too well attached to the glass but when I pulled the front of the casing it came apart into 2 pieces. I chose to leave the rest and attached my filter and heater in the same positions that they were before, using the suction cups that came with them. This is a total solution for me as half the casing remains, looks smart, and the filter and heater suction onto it, but no places for fish to get caught.

I don't know if this is the same for the Superfish 40.

Best wishes
Lucy