Fish Getting Sucked Into Wet/dry Filter

[M'al-finny]

Help!

I just brought home my first set of fish today ... 6 Danios and a lovely Betta. Got them acclimated and released them into tank ...

Within 20 minutes, 2 of the Danios went into the filter. They didn't go all the way through, we were able to get them out using super high-tech dixie cups.

While watching the news downstairs the beautiful Betta went all the way through, to be discovered between the plates of the discharge over the biomass.

Betta came out with a drinking glass. Now I'm worried my fish won't make it through the night. We have been trying several attempts at a "Betta Blocker" to shield the intake (despite warnings not to do so due to algae growth.) At this point, algae is not the issue.

First attempt worked for half hour and then another Danio went over.

Help!!!!! !!!! Has anyone successfully shielded a wet/dry intake?

1) How long can I leave 55 gal tank w/filter off?
2) How do I keep snoozing fish from being sucked in?

Please jingle for my fishies to live through the night .... Betta is ragged and his color is not good, although he's hanging in there. Advice needed! Thanks!

 

[finchfarm]

We had that happen to our Neon Tetras that we bought. Unfortunately, we couldn't fix the problem. We more or less just decided to only buy fish that were big/strong enough to be able to pull theirselvs away from the filter on their own if they start getting sucked towards it. We have some Zebra Danios now and they have no problem swimming away from the filter when they get close to it. We had two get sucked in that couldn't swim away, so apparently they were less than healthy since the other ones don't have a problem.

I really don't have any suggestions for you to take though. I've heard bad things about covering up the intake, and then I've heard people that suggest it. One half does and the other, I guess. You could probably shut the filter off for a while, but then there's the question of do you really have the time to sit in front of the tank whenever the filter's on and make sure there's no problems? As much as I'd want to keep my own fish safe, I know there's no possiblity that I'd be able to be right by the tank all the time.

Sorry, I know I wasn't much help.

 

[M'al-finny]

Thanks!

We cut up our catch net and covered the filter with it for last night. All the fish are still with us, but Betta is pretty battered. Danios seem to be less worse for wear, but they just got sucked in and went through the first tube only. Betta went all the way through to being trapped in the filter plate.

Today we'll go get some metal mesh to make a cuff around it, then cleaning that will become part of tank maint.

If ANYONE has had any other experiences, any and all ideas/suggestions are welcome!

 

[afishdude]

put a womans stocking on it.

and watch out the danios might nip at the betta.

 

[roseK]

my plec went in my filter where the water comes out.. i guess he was hungry for the algae on the inside

 

[Amerce]

If you are talking about external filters, then either use the stocking over the outake pipe or use a square of sponge on the tube, I cut an X into the sponge and jam it onto the outtake tube, this can be taken off whenever it starts to look icky. Saved many a fish this way, it also provides a nice bacterial growth area which the younger fish and plecs can feed on.

 

[M'al-finny]

Interesting ...

How does the sponge affect water flow? By that, I mean can water really POUR through the sponge? Is there any particular type of sponge needed, like, can I use a regular synthetic sponge?

I am intrigued, please tell me more!

 

[Amerce]

I buy the large pond sponges and can cut a few squares from them, the bigger holed sponges are ideal and it doesn't effect the water uptake unless you don't clean it on a regular basis, I have 3 external filters and and use these on any of the tanks that I've spotted fry in, started doing this after I found a young cory fry swimming around in the filter during a cleaning session.

You could use the sponge like this and just cut it to the length of the intake where the basket is and ensure that you don't cut the sponge all the way down the centre, just half way and then ram the intake tube into it.
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/PUMP-PREFILTER-SPONG...VQQcmdZViewItem