Endlers And My Filter!

[rlhirth]

alright i got an Oceanic 8g Biocube about 2 months ago...it has 1 adult nerite and 3 baby nerites a dwarf frog a male betta and currently 4 male endlers...

so the problem at night the endlers keep disappearing... they go into my filter and get stuck...
if you dont know the biocube has 3 compartments of its filter (first has 2 sets of grates and a carbon filter (also contains my heater and digital therm.)
second has bioballs in it to house the bacteria
and third is the pump to push the water back into the tank...

so today i had to recsue my thrid endler out of the filter compartments... the first one died before i realized he got stuck out of the water... second one i know what to look for and the third (took me 2 days to find him) but was saved today...

my tank is completely planted and i really what to keep a nature look...

so anyone have any ideas how to stop the endlers from going into the filter???
i have thought of like panty hoes over the grates and stuff like that but there goes the natural idea...

so any ideas to help me

 

[fishnovice]

alright i got an Oceanic 8g Biocube about 2 months ago...it has 1 adult nerite and 3 baby nerites a dwarf frog a male betta and currently 4 male endlers...

so the problem at night the endlers keep disappearing... they go into my filter and get stuck...
if you dont know the biocube has 3 compartments of its filter (first has 2 sets of grates and a carbon filter (also contains my heater and digital therm.)
second has bioballs in it to house the bacteria
and third is the pump to push the water back into the tank...

so today i had to recsue my thrid endler out of the filter compartments... the first one died before i realized he got stuck out of the water... second one i know what to look for and the third (took me 2 days to find him) but was saved today...

my tank is completely planted and i really what to keep a nature look...

so anyone have any ideas how to stop the endlers from going into the filter???
i have thought of like panty hoes over the grates and stuff like that but there goes the natural idea...

so any ideas to help me

Sorry about your loss,

The only 100% certain way to keep fish out of filters is to secure the tip of an old stocking or pantyhose round the filter with a rubber band. Not attractive I agree but at least my endler fry and baby snails are safe -haven't lost one yet to the filter

 

[rlhirth]

alright i got an Oceanic 8g Biocube about 2 months ago...it has 1 adult nerite and 3 baby nerites a dwarf frog a male betta and currently 4 male endlers...

so the problem at night the endlers keep disappearing... they go into my filter and get stuck...
if you dont know the biocube has 3 compartments of its filter (first has 2 sets of grates and a carbon filter (also contains my heater and digital therm.)
second has bioballs in it to house the bacteria
and third is the pump to push the water back into the tank...

so today i had to recsue my thrid endler out of the filter compartments... the first one died before i realized he got stuck out of the water... second one i know what to look for and the third (took me 2 days to find him) but was saved today...

my tank is completely planted and i really what to keep a nature look...

so anyone have any ideas how to stop the endlers from going into the filter???
i have thought of like panty hoes over the grates and stuff like that but there goes the natural idea...

so any ideas to help me

Sorry about your loss,

The only 100% certain way to keep fish out of filters is to secure the tip of an old stocking or pantyhose round the filter with a rubber band. Not attractive I agree but at least my endler fry and baby snails are safe -haven't lost one yet to the filter

thats the thing its not a grate that can easily be covered.... its a grate on the back of the tank one at the surface and one just above the gravel... the Biocube is all self contained so the filter compartments take up the back 2 inches of the tank...

and its not even fry... its the adult endlers... i only have males...

 

[Katty]

Can you stick black sponges in/behind/inside the grate somehow? I say black because it would blend in better. A picture of the filter might help though because I'm having trouble imagining what it looks like.

 

[BettaBoysGirl]

I had this problem with guppies! None died but I always found them in the filter. Its not a 100% guarantee but it works pretty well for me, if your going for the natural look. Put java moss on the intake tube, right on the grates. You will need to clean it regularly but since its natural it might for you. Since I did this in my guppy tanks, I've never found any fish in my filters. Only the occasional dead fish against the intake tube.

 

[reeeedfish]

Could you post a picture to better show what we're dealing with?

 

[rlhirth]

Could you post a picture to better show what we're dealing with?

alright just took some pictures to help explain....

front view of tank (in top right corner is one grate into the first compartment) there is also a grate in the bottom right corner.... also the outlet for the pump on the top left...

the grate (top right corner)

this is the filter system...
first compartment on right is where the carbon filter is... (my heater and digital therm.)
second (middle) is another grate to help agravate the water and then the bio balls for the bacteria...
Third (left side) is the pump to push the water back into the main tank...

heres a picture of the first compartment (carbon)

here the second compartment (the grate)

Second compartment again but under the grate (bioballs)

Third compartment pump...

and last the nossles for the out put for the pump...

so the endlers (3/4 inch long) are enter the the grates in the first compartment and then travelling in between the 2nd and 3rd (where they get stuck)

 

[reeeedfish]

Oh ya, i see what you mean ( that its hard to secure anything over) I haven't done this, but could you somehow temporarily move the fish to another tank and use silicone to secure pantyhose or a cut up net to the grate?

P.S. absolutely marvelous decor! I love it!

 

[Katty]

Or perhaps try black pantyhose or some of that plasticy lace that they sell at fabric stores, cut a square piece and put little holes in the corners, and then tie the corner holes onto the the outermost bars with twine or fishing line or maybe even miniature zipties?

Hopefully that made sense...

 

[reeeedfish]

Or perhaps try black pantyhose or some of that plasticy lace that they sell at fabric stores, cut a square piece and put little holes in the corners, and then tie the corner holes onto the the outermost bars with twine or fishing line or maybe even miniature zipties?

Hopefully that made sense...

That's a much better idea! Ya! tie some cut up fishnet to the outer grates with string or wire. Good luck!

 

[alex.wardle]

Why not move the fish drain the tank and afix some spunge behind the grates with silicone or something. that way there would be no possible way for any fish(no mater how small, even fry) to get into the fillter. hope that helps.

 

[alex.wardle]

i have had a better idea. still goin to have to drain the tank tho i think. drill 2 very small holes on eather side of the grate (do this for both) place a small piece of sponge behind each grate and use string or fishing wire to hold it there. can easily be removed for cleaning then as anything blocking the inlet or out let will get clogged up and need cleaning every week

 

[weejen]

what about the mesh used for moss walls. maby try find some black mesh that will sit from top to bottom?

 

[rlhirth]

well im going to try something later today.... when i got my filter for my turtle tank (its a 405) i got a pond filter sponge to gove over the intake (sand substrate) well i ended up not using it... Turtle always pulled it off... and the sand wasnt as bad as i thought...

so i was thinking i couple cut it apart and wedge a piece in between my cardon filter and the back side of the grate... and is balc so thats a plus...

i just gotta keep an eye on if it restricts the flow into the first compartment... is it does the pump will out do that flow and the tank could over flow... and that would be a big old mess....

so wish me luck!!!

 

[reeeedfish]

well im going to try something later today.... when i got my filter for my turtle tank (its a 405) i got a pond filter sponge to gove over the intake (sand substrate) well i ended up not using it... Turtle always pulled it off... and the sand wasnt as bad as i thought...

so i was thinking i couple cut it apart and wedge a piece in between my cardon filter and the back side of the grate... and is balc so thats a plus...

i just gotta keep an eye on if it restricts the flow into the first compartment... is it does the pump will out do that flow and the tank could over flow... and that would be a big old mess....

so wish me luck!!!

Good Luck!