Covering Intake On Filter

I currently have an Aqueon Quiet Flow 75 HOB filter. The intake that sticks down into the water has pretty big slits on it and I'm worried small fish or even any fry would get sucked up into my filter. Is there anything I can do to either put over the intake so that won't happen? I can't take a picture of the part in question because I'm not home right now.

 

These work great. I use them on my larger filters but they sell smaller versions

 

I have a ton of sponge filters sitting around so I just use one of them over the intake. ALL my HOB filters get one.

 

I have a ton of sponge filters sitting around so I just use one of them over the intake. ALL my HOB filters get one.

Do you slip it over the intake part or replace the intake with a sponge filter?

 

Slip it over. And NOT all the way up, just enough to cover the slits in the intake itself. That was the WHOLE sponge has water filtering through it, not just the part over the slots.

 

I have that same filter and use the marineland sponges - you just cut a slit/X in the bottom of it.

Also when you clean the intake sponge ( I usually rinse in used tank water every water change ) you don't need to take the sponge off but take the tube down instead. This way the sponge will not be subject to tears and stuff from taking it off all of the time. The tube detached easily and is much more efficient.

 

I have that same filter and use the marineland sponges - you just cut a slit/X in the bottom of it.

Also when you clean the intake sponge ( I usually rinse in used tank water every water change ) you don't need to take the sponge off but take the tube down instead. This way the sponge will not be subject to tears and stuff from taking it off all of the time. The tube detached easily and is much more efficient.

Thank you, knowing the brand is actually very helpful because I was just looking through everything Petsmart has and had no clue what to go with so I'll look that up. Maybe try Amazon.

Also, I knew about washing them in the old tank water after doing a water change, but didn't know to take the tube part off instead of the sponge, so that's helpful.

 

There's so many different brands to use but if you look for a basic filter sponge, you can use practically any kind since you will be making the slit in the sponge itself. Just make sure the sponge is long enough to cover the entire length of the slots.
Yes, I used to take the sponge off of the tube and found that after months of doing so, the sponge gets torn and the opening gets larger. It was also harder to slip the sponge back on so now I have been just taking off the tube which is much easier and leave the sponge attached to the tube while I rinse it.

 

And as far as "washing" them goes, when I do a water change and empty tank water into a bucket, I take the sponge and put it into the bucket and just squeeze it a couple times gently. You DONT want to actually wash it or all your BB will be wiped out. And I only rinse mine out every few weeks, rotating it with the filter rinsing. I never rinse everything at once.

 

Just thought I'd throw out another option for covering the intake. I use a pair a pantyhose. I just cut off a piece big enough to go around the filter intake and then tie it so it stays. I've used this for one of my Bettas who likes to swim around the intake and when I have fry in my tank. I just take off the tube and rinse it in the water when I do my weekly water changes. It might not look as nice as a sponge would, but it works for me.

 

Just thought I'd throw out another option for covering the intake. I use a pair a pantyhose. I just cut off a piece big enough to go around the filter intake and then tie it so it stays. I've used this for one of my Bettas who likes to swim around the intake and when I have fry in my tank. I just take off the tube and rinse it in the water when I do my weekly water changes. It might not look as nice as a sponge would, but it works for me.

That's actually a really good idea too! I'll keep that in mind if I can't find a sponge filter at my LFS today (they should have one though). I'm planning on getting some more fish for my 40 gallon today and this morning it looked like one of my Platys is pregnant. Her stomach is getting bigger by the day, so I'm worried one morning I'm gonna wake up and the fry will be sucked up into my filter. So that's why I'm desperately trying to find something to cover the filter, and soon! Hopefully I can get my Angelfish in to take care of the fry.