Loaches Online Forum

I wasn't sure which forum to put this in, but since I only have sand because of my loaches, I decided to put it here.

I am losing my filters because the motors are wearing out. Either these filters are very crappily made or sand keeps getting stuck in them. Even though there is a lot of protection in the tank (plants, fake wood, real wood etc), there is a constant portion of sand that still circulates through the water (a small amount, but still there). Is it safe to put sponges over the intakes? Will that restrict their intake too much? Will that even help? I have 2 bio wheel 150's that are shot because of this.

I have aquaclear HOB filters and and eheim cannister on my sand tanks. I have sponge pre-filters on most intakes, some I trim the tube to get the intake a little higher off the substrate. I haven't had any problems. Pre-filters will restrict the flow somewhat depending on the density of the sponge/how often you clean it etc. but i don't find it to be a problem.

plaalye wrote:I have aquaclear HOB filters and and eheim canister on my sand tanks. I have sponge pre-filters on most intakes, some I trim the tube to get the intake a little higher off the substrate. I haven't had any problems. Pre-filters will restrict the flow somewhat depending on the density of the sponge/how often you clean it etc. but i don't find it to be a problem.

Agreed

I rinse the pre-filter intake sponges every time I do a partial water change.
Slip them off, rinse/squeeze a few times in a bucket of tank water you just took out of the aquarium, then put the sponge back on the intake.
Works well.
Use the a similar sponge as a pre-filter on the intake that you would use in the AquaClear HOB filter

Ditto! Ditto!
The Aquaclear line of HOB filters have good sponges for this. They will need cleaning to keep the flow of water going, but will keep a LOT of the sand out of the filters.
A slightly coarser sponge will work, too, and does not have to be cleaned quite so often. You may have to find this in the pond section of your LFS, and cut to fit.

I have sponge pre-filters on most intakes. I rinse the pre-filter intake sponges every time I do a partial water change. The Aqua clear line of HOB filters have good sponges for this. They will need cleaning to keep the flow of water going, but will keep a LOT of the sand out of the filters.

(I thought I just said that!)

The Aquaclear line of HOB filters have good sponges for this. They will need cleaning to keep the flow of water going, but will keep a LOT of the sand out of the filters.
A slightly coarser sponge will work, too, and does not have to be cleaned quite so often. You may have to find this in the pond section of your LFS, and cut to fit.

There's always one or two in every crowd (group).