Covering filter intake for RCS?

O

onebyone

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Sep 19, 2009
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I'm getting my first ever red cherry shrimp for my 10g hex tomorrow and I'm very excited! I have read that you're supposed to cover the filter intake with a stocking to prevent the shrimp from getting sucked into it. I just tried covering the filter with the stocking and it's really unsightly. I was wondering if I needed to take these precautions in a tank this tall.

I have a large piece of driftwood with lots of anubias and java fern growing on it. It takes up almost the entire height of the tank (it goes diagonally from the bottom of one side to the top of the other). So if the shrimp climb the wood and plants, as I'm sure they will, they will be maybe 5 inches from the intake. Should I leave the ugly stocking there or do you think they will be okay?
 
I would cover the intake anyway or you will loose all your babies. Just stick a plant in front of it. I used an AC filter sponge on mine. It was ugly when I first set up the tank but everything grew in and the sponge turned brown, now you can hardly see it.
 
I think they will still be able to swim to it. What kind of filter is on the tank?
 
It's a Topfin 20 gallon HOB filter. Maybe a filter sponge would look a little better? It's hard to block since the tank is so tall and it sticks out like a sore thumb!
 
Your shrimp will be all over your tank. Yes you need to cover your intake with something. Plant a large plant or put a large peice of driftwood, rock ect, in front of your intake to hide it.
 
onebyone said:
It's a Topfin 20 gallon HOB filter. Maybe a filter sponge would look a little better? It's hard to block since the tank is so tall and it sticks out like a sore thumb!
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Get a new filter like an AC30 or 20, since Topfins are known to "crap" out randomly and your tank may take a blow. You can just use the new filter on the current tank. Now for the filter intake problem, pantyhose, simple as that.
Just remove the filter intake or attach it by tying a knot, if you have a removable one its easier.

The investment in the new filter is worth it as long as it isn't another Topfin.
 
blue2fyre said:
I would cover the intake anyway or you will loose all your babies. Just stick a plant in front of it. I used an AC filter sponge on mine. It was ugly when I first set up the tank but everything grew in and the sponge turned brown, now you can hardly see it.
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SAME HERE, I also use an AquaClear filter over my in tank.
Work great. Yo will lose your babies if you do not cover it.
My babies are always on the sides of the tank and would esily
get sucked up if not covered.

Steve
 
I use black colored sponge prefilters on my hob's. The shrimp pick food bits off of it constantly and while you can't really hide them, they look better than the pantyhose. And like tomany said, get a tall plant to help hide it.
 
Thanks for the input everyone! Looks like I'll keep the stocking for now and look to buy a sponge prefilter in the future. Plus, that is an excellent excuse to buy more plants :)
 
onebyone said:
Thanks for the input everyone! Looks like I'll keep the stocking for now and look to buy a sponge prefilter in the future. Plus, that is an excellent excuse to buy more plants :)
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I'm still concerned about the Topfin. Those filters are junk and deserve to be replaced. Seriously I would invest in a new filter that won't die on you at any moment.
 
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