Juwel Internal Filter - Clown Loach Problem

[CrystalClear16]

Hi All,

We bought a new tank at the weekend and migrated our Roma 125 into our new Juwel Rio 240 along with all of our fish, including our 6 clown loaches. Today we started getting a little worried, after feeding the loaches failed to appear and after a little investigation, we could only spot 2 of them. We then spotted one of the loaches in the area under the internal Biofilter, which is plastic-bottomed (we pulled out all the filter media and checked), but the filter box itself doesn't seem to be removable.

What we're worried about it that there are 3 or more clown loaches under there with roughly a 2cm gap between the lip and the glass tank bottom, and obviously a taller gap inside with the plastic top. At the moment we cannot see a way of removing the filter box or getting the clown loaches out. As they haven't appeared for food, should we be worried that they may be trapped under there? We didn't check the underside of the biofilter (never occurred to us) so we don't know if there's anything sharp for them to hurt themselves on, and at least one of the loaches in there never misses a meal!

Does anyone who has this tank with the internal filter have any advice?

 

[star4]

The underside of the juwel internal is smooth so no worries of them getting damaged, This gap is often used by fish to hide under, I gather your clowns are still pretty small to be able to get under it, they should be able to get out on their own (usually). To remove a juwel filter you need a long sharp knife and get it between the filter and the glass on the side and at the back to cut through the silicon holding it on. I would recomend getting an external filter and removing the juwel filter altogether as I have found fish inside the juwel filter before

 

[CrystalClear16]

Hi star, thanks for the reply. Our clowns vary from 2.5 to 4 inches long so they could easily slip through the gap, the rest of our fish are smaller neons and Harlequins that don't show much interest in going near that section of the tank at this point in time.

What I'm thinking is leaving it until the weekend, then removing the internal media, removing the external filter, and sawing off the lip on the 2 water-facing sides of the filter. That would leave a fairly hefty gap underneath the filter, but they'd still be able to burrow under it and hide (if making it super easy for us to get them out again if needs be). Also when you say you've found fish inside the filter, can you elaborate? Is there a hole or something on the bottom of the filter they can swim through or something?

I wish I'd given it more of a thorough examination prior to the migration, as now it means disturbing the fish a lot more than I'd like, however we go through great pains to ensure that we can get our loaches out of anything should the need arise, this is weighing on our minds at the moment.

 

[l33d5.dr]

Hello, I'm assuming that the filter is the compact type with the tall black filter casing that holds the sponges and pads.The only way fish can get in is through the really narrow inlets down the side and at the top of the black casing so only fry can get in that way.I lost the lid off my compact and once had a golden algea eater go missing after I had been on holiday so just thought it had died and been eaten by other fish but when I changed the filter pads there it was in the top of the filter. It must have jumped in when being chased by another algea eater. I just piled gravel higher up in the corner where the filter was to stop fish getting jammed but clowns do like to hide in any gap they can find even if the gap is too small. I've had to cut one free that got stuck in a hole in some bog wood.So don't worry there is nothing under the filter that can damage the fish it is just flat.I too ended up removing it and fitting an external one but only because the impeller got very noisy and sometimes it would not start when I plugged it back in after cleaning.

 

[star4]

It would be easier to slice the silicon from the side and remove the whole thing, trying to cut the two sides away will take time and frighten the fish, also you could end up leaving sharp edges. I found one of my Frontosa cichlids inside the filter, how she got in I dont know, I only presume she somehow managed to jump in, she was missing 3 days I presumed dead and eaten then I checked the filter. All my tanks are juwel and I remove the filters out of all of them.

I have been trying to find the photo's I took of the last filter I removed to show you, but I cant find them

 

[blackops]

U could move the sand that's near the filter so they can get in and out

 

[CrystalClear16]

It would be easier to slice the silicon from the side and remove the whole thing, trying to cut the two sides away will take time and frighten the fish, also you could end up leaving sharp edges.

Hi Star, I'll remove the filter from the tank first before taking the saw to it as I'd be too nervous otherwise, not to mention sawing it off in the tank would be awkward as hell. I'll make sure I sand the edges before putting it back in, the loaches can damage themselves too easily.

blackops, they've already moved the sand (industrious little loaches), but now they're under there I'm worried they can't get out.

 

[blackops]

How are the loaches