Kuhli Loches In Filter

[Bex]

Hi all

I have 6 Kuhli loaches in my Juwel Rekord 120. It is a sand substrate so they could bury themselves in the sand, however we keep finding 3 of them in the filter floss at the top of the filter.

Is there any way to stop them getting in there as I am worried about them not getting enough food and it's a pain having to fish them out everyday!

I don't think they are going in through the hole in the filter lid, I think it is through the little slits at the side and top of the internal filter box. They are only young so I'm hoping when they get a bit bigger they won't fit through the slits, but is there anything I can do for now?

 

[Phoenixfish]

can you put like a neting type thing over? maybe an old fish net thingy?

 

[Fillet 'O' Fish]

Or a piece of an old pair of tights over the hole?

 

[Bex]

Hadn't thought of that, good idea!

I will try that later, although, I'm not sure if I will be able to fit it all the way over as the filter is attached to the sides of the tank?

Anyone else got a Juwel tank who's had this problem?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah my thought would be put a pair of tights over the inlet, sure you'd have to keep washing them though as they'd just correct a load of crud that would get sucked into the filter

 

[Bex]

I'll give it a go when I get in from work.

I'm a bit worried about not being able to pull it tight enough though, and end up with fish getting caught up in it?

Guess I'll just have to try it and see!

 

[Fillet 'O' Fish]

Only cut enough off the tights to stretch over the opening required (say the foot section only), you can always hold on withan elastic band for extra security.

 

[Bex]

yeah, I see what you mean, but the problem with the Juwel Internal filter is that it is square, and 2 sides are attached to the tank so I'm not sure if I can get anything over those 2 sides so that it covers the inlet slits where I think the Kuhli's are getting in. I don't think I could get an elastic band over those 2 sides either

I'll have to have a bit of a fiddle tonight see what I can do. Might be able to ease the 2 attached sides away slightly, by gently slicing the silicon holding it on, and squeezing some tights and an elastic band down there.

Trial and error I guess! Hope it works. Whenever I rescue the Kuhli's from the filter they are all stressed and their colours are paled out! Silly loaches, if they want to hide they have plenty of sand to bury themselves in!

 

[Arfie]

Failing the tights suggestion, get some craft canvas or plastic canvas with a large guage and cut it into strips small enough fit inside the filter box and cover the holes from the inside, then pop your filter back in place

Arfie

 

[Edge]

Hi Bex. I had the same problem with my tank and asked the same question a few weeks ago, someone suggested attaching clothes pegs to two of the corners and stretching a piece of some tights across the pegs to form a sort of protective fence, it works quite well. Only thing is you need short pegs so they don't interfere with the light tube, hope that helped

 

[Bex]

Failing the tights suggestion, get some craft canvas or plastic canvas with a large guage and cut it into strips small enough fit inside the filter box and cover the holes from the inside, then pop your filter back in place

Arfie

Ooh, that's a great idea! Cheers Arfie!

Edge: also a good idea but I don't think the hood would fit with pegs on the side but worth a look!

Thanks guys!

 

[Dorkhedeos]

get a small sign that says no khullies allowed 8)

 

[voo]

If you use tights wont they block most of the waste getting into the filter and eventually get clogged up? it'll stop bits of leaves and larger particles getting into the filter...

i have 4 kulhi's and not one has entered the filter yet (touch wood!!), although they are a bit large. Shrimps are a different matter