Fish keep getting sucked in filter

[23578]

Does anyone have any ideas on what to cover the filter intake with so my guppies/tetras stop getting pulled in? I want to make sure it is a safe material for tanks and will allow the filter to still work well. Thanks

 

[Aiken Drum]

Prefilter sponge? Something like this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LTWHOME-Co...t=&hvlocphy=9046377&hvtargid=pla-803937752151

 

[Colin_T]

Cylindrical sponge with a hole through the centre designed for some brands of internal power filter. They look like the sponge in the link Aiken provided and you slide them over the intake strainer of the filter.

-----------------

Most healthy fish can stay away from the intake of a power filter. If your fish are being sucked onto the intake strainer, either the filter is too strong or the fish are sick.

What sort of filter is on the tank?
Can you adjust the flow on the filter to reduce the current in the tank?
What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

 

[Joe_D]

Yeah, what kind of filter do you have?
That would dictate what your options might be

 

[23578]

It’s an old version of the Aqueon quietflow 20 so the intake is an inch wide tube.
I have a 26 gallon bow front so it is the right size filter I think.

 

[Andy Sager]

It’s an old version of the Aqueon quietflow 20 so the intake is an inch wide tube.
I have a 26 gallon bow front so it is the right size filter I think.

It might be the right sized filter for the tank but not the right sized filter for your fish selection.
I'd either downsize your filter or switch the filter to an in-tank air driven sponge filter.

 

[Joe_D]

OK so, it is a HOB filter which makes it easy
Just get a very inexpensive sponge "pre filter" that slips over the filter's intake tube.
They come in S, and L sizes. You should get a small size
https://www.ebay.com/itm/144971844325?hash=item21c0fecae5:g:Q4AAAOSwUp5kAqmt&amdata=enc%253AAQAHAAAA8Ph

This serves two benefits
1) It will prevent fry, etc from being sucked into the intake.
2) It will act as an easily cleaned and reusable pre filter that will make your main filter last much longer.

 

[Jacky12]

I take apart a plastic dish scrubber. It’s a rolled tube, a fine mesh that can be doubled over to create a finer mesh. I cut off a section and rubber band it to the uptake. I’ve done the same for certain types of gravel vacuums that are also used to drain water.

 

[Joe_D]

Yeah....whatever works.

 

[Jacky12]

Especially when it’s sitting by your kitchen sink because you’re too lazy to use it.