Fluval Aqua Clear Murdered my two Peppered Corydoras within 24 hours!

[Ken Sauer]

I'm sorry about your fish.
I have never heard of this happening. I have an aquaclear myself, and I haven't had an issue.
Did you actually see them getting stuck, or did you just find the bodies? Is it possible they died and the filter just sucked up their bodies?

Saw them getting sucked up

 

[Ken Sauer]

Hmm.. That's an odd one. I love my fluval hob.

You should consider just getting an intake sponge, or what I did was just bought 2 fluval sponge filter pads (got the ones with the biggest pores I could find so as to not restrict water flow), then I cut a cross shaped slit down the inside of the sponge lengthwise, and pulled it up over the intake.

Hard to get it off and on the first couple times, but it will eventually stretch and be easier. Just rinse it out in dirty tank water during changes (helps to scrub with a toothbrush too, be sure to also get inside of the sponge with the toothbrush). My pygmy Cory's sit on top of it and pick food of it safely all the time.

Here is what I did, but, why is there no information, no warning, no nothing about on or in the box or instructions stating that you need one of these to ensure your fish are not sucked up and killed? It's negligence. Pure and simple. I don't care what a supposedly good company they are, obviously they don't give a damn.

 

[Ken Sauer]

you say they were sucked up into the filter? Were they actually in the main filter compartment? I don't see that happening if the oem strainer is in place. I have had neons get sucked up against the strainer but not into the filter compartment.

Yes, sucked up, half in, half out. Laserations--fatal wounds.

 

[Ken Sauer]

These filters are great. The 110 pulls in quite a bit of water and I'd expect small fish to get stuck to the inlet as it comes out of the box.

I use pre filter sponges to avoid this. No issues in years of use with the pre filter sponge with small fish on the ac 110.

It is very likely as well that the fish died first, then got sucked up.... or was very weak where it didn't have the strength to swim away.

They did not die first. I saw it happen.

 

[Ken Sauer]

These filters are great. The 110 pulls in quite a bit of water and I'd expect small fish to get stuck to the inlet as it comes out of the box.

I use pre filter sponges to avoid this. No issues in years of use with the pre filter sponge with small fish on the ac 110.

It is very likely as well that the fish died first, then got sucked up.... or was very weak where it didn't have the strength to swim away.

nope

 

[Ken Sauer]

I have never heard of this happening. Ever ! Aquaclears are the best power filter money can buy so this is puzzling. There has to be another force at work here but I can't think what it might be.

Here is what I did, but, why is there no information, no warning, no nothing about on or in the box or instructions stating that you need one of these to ensure your fish are not sucked up and killed? It's negligence. Pure and simple. I don't care what a supposedly good company they are, obviously they don't give a damn.

 

[Fishmanic]

For very small fish, a sponge on the intake is definitely needed. Consider it a learning experience. No filter company will put that recommendation on their instructions.

 

[Ken Sauer]

For very small fish, a sponge on the intake is definitely needed. Consider it a learning experience. No filter company will put that recommendation on their instructions.

Why not? They have small fish enjoying their product on the box. Do they not care? What kind of customer service is that? How much would it cost them to throw in a sponge with their over-priced filter?

 

[Ken Sauer]

Why not? They have small fish enjoying their product on the box. Do they not care? What kind of customer service is that? How much would it cost them to throw in a sponge with their over-priced filter?

I consider those Cory's that my family and I came to love and cherish more important than a "learning experience." We did everything under the sun (that we were instructed to do through hours of research) to ensure their safety and they got mauled and killed by one of the "top company's" in this business. What would it take to write on their long list of warnings: If you have smallish fish or you don't want to take the chance of any fish being killed by this product purchase one of our $6.00 sponges!?

 

[Ken Sauer]

I consider those Cory's that my family and I came to love and cherish more important than a "learning experience." We did everything under the sun (that we were instructed to do through hours of research) to ensure their safety and they got mauled and killed by one of the "top company's" in this business. What would it take to write on their long list of warnings: If you have smallish fish or you don't want to take the chance of any fish being killed by this product purchase one of our $6.00 sponges!?

I'd have our two beloved corys alive and well and that is all it would have taken this company which should be sued for negligance.

 

[Ken Sauer]

For very small fish, a sponge on the intake is definitely needed. Consider it a learning experience. No filter company will put that recommendation on their instructions.

So should we consider it a learning experience when our dog eats tainted dog food and dies? Should we consider it a learning experience when our child is molested by a neighbor or shot down by a gang member? "Oh, well, I guess we learned she shouldn't have gone in that part of town. No one warned us, but if we are ever blessed enough to have another daughter, we'll keep her away. We sure learned our lesson. What a good thing!" Or, "Oh, our innocent little Corys that we loved. We trusted that Fluvel wouldn't put them in harm's way. They got chopped up and spit out by the Fluvel product. No bother. We learned our lesson."

 

[mbsqw1d]

We did everything under the sun (that we were instructed to do through hours of research

I hear you, but even after 20 minutes research you'd know that you should have at least 6 of these together. Seems bizarre that you'd only get 2, in a 125 gallon tank. Heck, you should have at least 20 of them for that size! Me thinks they were sold as hardy fish to use in a fish-in cycle..?

 

[Koglin]

Here is what I did, but, why is there no information, no warning, no nothing about on or in the box or instructions stating that you need one of these to ensure your fish are not sucked up and killed? It's negligence. Pure and simple. I don't care what a supposedly good company they are, obviously they don't give a damn.

That is a shame.. sorry to hear about your Cory's too.. guess I kind of lucked out when I got into the hobby because a friend of mine recommended something for the intake. Your new intake filter will definitely help, also nifty that it catches a lot of large debris - makes it easy to pull out of the tank.

My fuval hob is kind of odd to change the flow rate too, as sometimes the plastic tube will only move over on the top (like it bends a bit, very tight fitted tube) and I have to lift up on the elbow slightly so the bottom will scoot over to where I need.

 

[Ken Sauer]

I hear you, but even after 20 minutes research you'd know that you should have at least 6 of these together. Seems bizarre that you'd only get 2, in a 125 gallon tank. Heck, you should have at least 20 of them for that size! Me thinks they were sold as hardy fish to use in a fish-in cycle..?

No. Not as sly as you think. My daughter and I bought them (ignorantly, yes) from a Petco for a 10 gallon tank. Once we started learning more about fish and Pepper Corys we began the process of seeking out 4 more. We moved the 2 to the 125 gallon tank 2 weeks ago with plans to add 4 within a few weeks (can't add too many and do too many things all at once, right?) So, **** no!!!! You are not so sly. You are just dissing on a new comer to this hobby. Fluval employee?

 

[Ken Sauer]

No. Not as sly as you think. My daughter and I bought them (ignorantly, yes) from a Petco for a 10 gallon tank. Once we started learning more about fish and Pepper Corys we began the process of seeking out 4 more. We moved the 2 to the 125 gallon tank 2 weeks ago with plans to add 4 within a few weeks (can't add too many and do too many things all at once, right?) So, **** no!!!! You are not so sly. You are just dissing on a new comer to this hobby. Fluval employee?

We planned to eventually and continue to plan to have 20 or so. It takes a little time right sly?