HOB intake suggestions...

[FireDancer7905]

Hi there! We have an HOB in a lightly/moderately planted 40 gallon half-hex. Great tank, lovely fishies, water param's are stable. The problem is that the intake is constantly clogged with plant gunk. Any suggestions out there on how to help with this? I will happily keep up the current regime if I have to, but it seems like I am missing something obvious. I am curious about the idea of a sponge intake, would that help? And how do I go about modifying my current intake? THANK YOU!

 

[YoFishboy]

Using a sponge intake cover of some sort would help...playing with the location/intake height off the gravel might too...you can cut the intake length with a hack saw....and buy replacement parts when you cut off too much (DOH!).....good luck!

 

[FireDancer7905]

Thanks Yo. Do we buy a sponge intake (if so where?) or can we rig one up? I was under the impression that the intake should be as low as possible. Is it better if it is higher up?

 

[plah831]

is this what you're looking for?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=14687&N=2004+113808
really costly, though.

would pantyhose over the intake help? pantyhose is my new answer to all aquarium needs!

yes, with HOB's a lower intake is good to maximize circulation throughout the tank, instead of just skimming water off the top.

 

[YoFishboy]

You can buy various filter sleeves and adapt to your intake...check a store that has spare filter parts....

 

[FireDancer7905]

Thanks Paula! I was pretty sure lower was better, so I'll keep the intake low and try the pantyhose....I may have to go buy some (didn't even wear them under my wedding gown, I hate those things), but much cheaper than the filter in your link. I think that was what I was thinking of, I was going off of all the posts I have read about other things (like fry) getting sucked up by an intake. Will update after implementation. Cheers!

 

[plah831]

you're welcome. but actually I think a filter sleeve would work better. I didnt know what those were, but I did some reading and it's the cottony mechanical filter bag that holds the carbon, and you slip the sleeve over the filter frame. that might work better than 'hose. (I know, I hate that stuff, too, and have to buy it just for fish use )

with pantyhose, maybe the leaves would just stick to the stocking? But at least they wouldn't get sucked into the filter.

 

[Native American]

I've used the Marineland reverse flow kit before (put the sponge prefilter on my Magnum 350, and in both Eclipse 3's), with decent results. This too might work for you.

The latest project...I just built my daughters' 10gal into a shrimp tank with a UGF that pulls right into the HOB filter. I plumbed a 1/2" PVC manifold directly into the HOB filter intake. All water pulls through the gravel now and directly into the little Penguin Bio-Wheel Mini HOB filter, with no fear of sucking up a shrimpy.

I know UGF's aren't in vogue, but this way has surprisingly worked well for me on both a 100gal tank and this little one.

By the way, the little tank is looking much nicer since I took that pic nearly a month ago. The Java Moss has really filled in, the Sagittaria has shed the light-colored leaves in favor of darker ones, and the Hygrophila Polysperma Rosenervig is looking rosy.

Might be an idea you might want to try, or just go with the sponge. Both have worked well for me.

v/r, N-A

 

[plah831]

very intriguing...
I don't think UGF's are totally out of vogue, but most people use them in conjunction with another filter like you do here.

how does the water get sucked through the gravel through the PVC? Am I just not picturing this correctly?

edit: nevermind, I didn't see the second pic with the slots in the PVC. I think that's an ingenious way of doing it!

 

[Native American]

plah831, the PVC manifold goes directly to the two risers where the airlifts normally go on the UGF plate. It took a bit of work with various Dremel attachments and sanding to get it all together using an interference fit (I didn't have to use any epoxies or glues).

So, instead of using airstones to pull water up through those clear plastic airlifts, I just have the little HOB filter pull water from my PVC manifold, which in turn pulls water from the bottom of the UGF plate. Water has to pass down through the gravel, in turn, to make it happen.

In short, instead of using airlifts to move water through the gravel bed and down into the slots of the UGF plate, I just use the suction from the little HOB filter inlet.

So far, so good. It's only been about a month!

edit: AAggh, you did your edit before I could finish my post. And you're right...that first pic makes it look like my UGF plate has no slots! Yes, that would be just like me to not notice that, too.

v/r, N-A