Filtration Dilemma

[DarkSoul]

It has occured to me while I was putting some screen on my background today, that the screen used to stop fish from getting stuck in the filter intakes, is of a mesh too small to allow larger particles through.

Things such as food, or detrius, wouldnt fit through the screendoor screen used to stop fish from getting in there.

what would my other options be?

there would be no real way to clean it after its installed, so getting stuff stuck in it would only clog it up.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

ever thought about a sponge? it will keep the junk out of your filter and its easy to clean. also can jump start a new tank.

 

[Que]

I have used a media bag on one intake an a stocking toe on another. I know what you're talking about and I have found that the stuck particles get pecked at by some fish thus getting smaller and going through. As the detritus gets worked on by bacteria and the constant erosion by the water flow it passes as well.

I know it doesn't look good but it keeps the fry out of the strainer. I don't plan on using it all the time though. Just until the little ones grow up.

What size fish are you preventing from getting stuck?

Q

 

[DarkSoul]

I have no fish yet, but if you have seen my background you can see I have two little caves on it, they are both water channels to allow high flow of water.

My intake tube is behind the styrofoam background, and the background will naturally be permenant.
The screen is put over the intake holes in the styrofoam to prevent fish from getting sucked in or stuck behind the background in the water channels.

I could safely say that anything less than the size of some cardinal tetras could easily swim into these areas.

one of my caves (the one with the 3 holes in it) will be able to have a fish swim into it, but the screen would prevent the fish from getting behind the foam.

im not sure what I will be keeping as of yet, but I know that once this background is mounted it isnt going anywhere, so if I have a screen in there, and its collecting crap, I wont be able to clean it off.

Im not trying to keep stuff out of my filter, Actually, I want screen enough to keep fish out, but I still want to be able to get particulate matter floating in the water, into the filter.... so it then serves its purpose.

If you go back and check through my background thread, you will see the channels im talking about, and you can easily see how a fish would get stuck in there.

You can also see the 2 holes from the back, where the screen is to be mounted.

I would say the holes in the screen are about 1/2 mm .... plus if they get clogged, it will prevent my filters, from actually filtering.