john&jen

I have two AquaClear filters, one on a 29gal and one on a 75gal. I love them because of the water clarity and the one on the 29 cleared up trace amounts of ammonia and nitrite that my previous Walmart filter couldn't handle... I believe due to Aquaclears superior biological setup. The traces went away within hours! The problem is both filters have consumed about eight mystery snails combined. Their bodies get sucked into the intake and the snails cannot get out. Every occurence happens overnight. I lost an African dwarf frog the same way. I rescued him twice and cut the bag open from a charcoal cartridge and wiretied it around the intake. It worked but them the filter wouldn't receive the larger chunks of waste and it needed to be cleaned very frequently. The frog succumbed to traumatic injuries received about two days later. Any ideas?

MagpieTear

Take one of the sponge filters and cut it into a cube, Slice a slot in the middle of the cube and slide it over the inlet. If it works for fry, should keep the snails out too.

COBettaCouple

You could take a fish net, cut the netting off the frame and cover the intake slots with the netting, using a rubber band to hold it in place. This should let small particles through but not the snails.

john&jen

COBetta,
Thats what I tried with the mesh from a charcoal bag. It worked, was just alot of cleaning. Maybe what you are saying is the broader mesh of a net would allow more to pass. I cut a replacement foam square from my filter and it is working so far. My wife says it is gawdy. I'll keep an eye on the set up and post a pic later. Just put two new snails in yesterday and they made it through the night.

COBettaCouple

Yea, I think the mesh for a carbon bag is probably closer to the netting on a brine shrimp net. Not as bad as pantyhose, but still fairly small holes.