Sponge cover for intake

[NickD]

I have a Fluval 305 in my 65g. The cherry shrimp in there will soon be having babies so I'd like to put a sponge over the intake to keep the shrimp from being sucked in. My question is whether Fluval (or some other manufacturer) sells a sponge specifically for this intake? Or can I just use some brand new unused cleaning sponge and wrap it around the intake? Any type of sponge to avoid?

[The Zigman]

I used cut to size filter floss over the intake of mine and secured it with rubber bands.
I have seen the shrimp on the floss picking through it for food.

I also cut an old net, and rubber banded it to the intake for the same purpose.
both seemed to work fine as I have a bazillion baby RCS now..

[feemia]

I use these on all my filters.

http://www.petmountain.com/product/foam-sponges/504216/aquarium-systems-instant-ocean-foam-pre-filter-replacement-2-pack.html

[meili.harrison]

I use the aquaclear foam and cut a hole in middle. Works great!

[svf]

I have also used the Aqua Clear foam and cut a hole in the middle. Actually I just took a sharp pair of scissors and cut a slit and stretched it over the intake. Worked beautifully.

[NeonFlux]

Will these work great if you are using it for baby fish fries?

[Mgamer20o0]

i use cut down ac 110 sponges but there are many pre filters also.

[NickD]

Thanks folks. Now I finally know what a "pre-filter" is.

I also was doing some more searching online and saw that some people use "open cell" foam from hobby shops to make sponge filters. Anyone here use foam from hobby shops?

[Fordtrannyman]

Here's a visual aid for you. AC 20 sponge-I think.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj54/fordtrannyman/HOBPre-Filter.jpg

[Que]

I grabbed some large open cell packing foam from work that looks just like the above but mine is black/grey. Works great at keeping cherries out.

Q

[NickD]

The use of a pre-filter then brings up another question. If the pre-filter is going to trap all the particulate matter, what purpose do the foam sponges in the canister filter serve? Do they just become bio-media for the bacteria?

[Que]

Yep. And if your hoses are lining up with gunk and some tears off the internal sponges will grab it.

Q

[noodles62]

What if your intake has two openings per intake tubes like my penguins - the bottom, of course and then more intake holes further up..what should I cover those with? Any ideas?

[emptywallet]

you can move the little bar up and it will close it thats what i did

[noodles62]

but I thought it was a good thing to have the water "pulled" from diff areas of the tank? sorry for the silly questions, but I am a newbie!:shakehead:

[Que]

Not silly at all. Sure it might be better. Who really knows. If you want it to draw from all the holes then you can fashion a strainer by stretching pantyhose over the whole thing. I did that to keep fry from getting sucked into my fluval.

Q

[noodles62]

hhhhmmmm... the pantyhose sounds like a good idea as I am ready to add some RCS in the next week or so........but I do not wish to constrict my filtration as I tend to overstock! thanks for the advice!

[Lil_Stinker]

Here is my solution, works great ...

ac with an X stab cut


cleaning sponges = BAD

[NickD]

Thanks all. I got the AC sponge. Will install this weekend.