Hob Filter Question

Let's say i have small creatures in an aquarium and they get sucked in by the HOB's intake.
Can i cut a sponge to fit over the intake or will that influence the filter's motor negatively?

I hate seeing them cut to pieces!

 

You can, although it seriously cuts down the intake of water to the filter, reducing the output to a trickle... if you plan on keeping smaller inhabitants, rather opt for sponge filters.

 

Problem is they need "better" filtration.

Palaeomonetes kadakensis

 

What size tank are we talking about here?

 

A 25 Liter.
The HOB is a 80lph

 

have you tried using netting to cover the intake rather than sponge?

 

Some people do just put a mesh over the intake, but anything small enough to get sucked up in the first place normally just gets sucked up against the mesh and gets badly dmaged anyway, if they don't die.

Really, if it's 25 litre, a good sponge filter will be more than sufficient. If you're really worried about water quality, do more water changes.

 

Slojo, fabric shops sell a thin mesh with holes about 1mm big. This should not influence the intake and stop your creatures.
Its synthetic so won't rot either.

 

The problem with putting a net/mesh/stocking over the intake is 2 fold...

The muck doesn't get sucked up, it simply get's sucked up against the net... eventually enough muck is stuck on the net to create a HUGE strain on the pump, as all this muck on the nut blocks the inlet. The next problem... fry see "food" on the intake... take a swim (or stroll, whatever they do) to the muck for a feast, and then realise they are being sucked onto this thing as well.

The sponge filter doesn't clean up the junk on the floor... that I've found I need to use a vacuum for... but it has definately kept my fry tank's water clean.

 

Sponge it is then for breeding

 

We had a sponge over the intake of our hob filter because the little ones were getting sucked up. It definitely reduces the intake and has a negative effect on the motor. If you go this route, make sure to keep the sponge clean and give the filter a break every now 'n then.

 

You can't just use any type of sponge, you get sponge attachments for these filters of a specific pore size. It will reduce flow when clogged, but I'm not sure how it can have negative effects on the pump. It's not like it's a mechanical motor, it's magnetic.

 

I use a coarse sponge on the intake of my HOB and it keeps the critters out. But I've only had them in for 2 weeks so I can't comment on the babies yet.

I haven't noticed any degraded performance either. Maybe you should look at getting a small canister filter with a nice fine sponge on it. That's what I have in my smaller tank.

 

I still think a sponge filter will be the best thing for a tank if you planning on using it to breed. There's no where to be sucked up!

 

Thanx guys.Did that.