Keeping The Little Ones Out Of Filters

[Jabba]

I am installing a Fluval 205 to do some mechanical filtration but the intakes on these filters concern me.

How do I keep the smaller fish from getting vacuumed up by the filter intake? - especially the Otto's who will go wherever the Algea is whether they should or not ...

I thought about hiding behind rocks and such, no point putting them behind a filter screen or burying them in gravel coz that defeats the object I think.

The intake openings of both the Eheim and the Fluval are more than big enough for Otto eating.

 

[Kiwigirl]

I thought about hiding behind rocks and such, no point putting them behind a filter screen or burying them in gravel coz that defeats the object I think.

Is your filter a hang on the back type???

Don't bury your filter intakes in the gravel if they are hang on the back type. As the filter intake will suck up your substrate(gravel) and get clogged there for preventing it from doing it's job.

I don't have the same filter as you so not familiar with them. I have a hang on the back type and it came with a grill fitting on the bottom of the intake, so that little fish like neons and yours can't get sucked up into the intake.

You will need other replies on this one, sorry I can't help you further.

 

[PaulasPets]

Sounds like you need a "Filter Inlet Strainer" have a look here: http/www.atlantisaquatics.co.uk/acatalog/filter.html the 8th product from the top is what I have on my Eheim filter intake pipe and there's not much that can fit thru there.

Paula

edit: looks to me like your filter should have come with a similar intake guard:

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i've a fluval 204/205 can't remember exactly, but very similar to yours. I have endlers in there that aren't even a cm long and they're fine, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Callum]

you could try a bit of sponge infront of the intake but that would probably stop it sucking the dirt in. but as Miss Wiggle said it should be fine

 

[BigC]

Use a ladies hairnet over the filters intake or use the mesh from an old aquarium net.
Regards
BigC

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

The problem I've had with the inlets on filters has been that the fish get halfway stuch in the strainer part. I would use some old fish netting as was suggested in the previous post it won't let the fish in but won't keep the dirt from being sucked in as well.

SLC