Danios will not stop going in filter

I got 12 orange finned danios at the weekend to go in my 180 litre tank that has a juwel filter. Since then 4 of them have died after getting stuck in there. And there are currently 4 in there now that I cannot get out. This morning after we found the dead ones we blocked the intakes with some filter floss, apart from the one round the back in between the filter and the glassglass, and the filter is siloconed in place so it can't be moved. Then I just found 4 (alive) danios in there, so as I can't get them out the filter has been turned off and all media removed and put in bucket of tank water. The heater has also been removed from the slot inside the filter and put in the main tank. I suspect that they are squeezing in between the glass and the filter and getting in that way, but it could be the front. Is there anyway to block off the back filter inlet? We ordered the juwel shrimp guard for the front sections. I really think that juwel should add this into the filter itself and make sure that the gap in between the glass and filter is thinner as when my keyhole cichlids were younger they could get round the back too, just wondering do you think I should complain? Thanks in advance, also sorry if this makes no sense, it's quite dark at the minute.

 

I'm not sure I entirely follow. But, when I've had troubles with fish going where I did not want them, I've found that plastic mesh sold to keep stuff out of gutters can work as a decent barrier.

 

I’m not sure I understand either. I have a juwel 180, which also has the attached box filter. Is yours the Rio model ? Nothing should be able to get between the glass and the filter box so I suspect they are getting through the inlets , either open side or front top.

I also have a juwel 70 where the entire box became detached which became an issue obviously. Drained the tank, cleaned , dried and used the cyanoacrylate super glue to secure it back. It’s been great since and houses shrimps which the babies are tiny and no issues.

Do you have a photo of the housing ?
Edit —- I’ve just re read your post , how can they be getting in behind the glass ? It’s a sealed unit on two sides, the right and back is fully sealed. The left has a mid way inlet and the front side has the top opening slits. There’s one small hole on the right side which has always puzzled me as it’s sealed to the glass.
That’s on the assumption of the model though !

 

Yes it is the Rio model. It is possible that they are getting in the front inlets instead of the back one, but when I'd blocked them they would have had to try really hard. The reason I think they might be going around the back is because when I first got my keyhole cichlids and they were tiny they managed to squeeze in between the glass and the filter, and so I think there is a tiny bit of space in between, and the danios are absolutely quite small at the moment. Ive attached a photo of my tank, it's quite an old one so plants have grown in a bit more etc. But the same layout.

Also 2 of the danios have made their way put of the filter which is great, but 2 are still in it.

Edit:
Also am I right in saying that I could use some grid or mesh and super glue it to the inside of the filter grid thats beside the glass, just in case they are managing to get in that way? Then for the front, the juwel shrimp guard should come tomorrow

 

so we have finally managed to get the 2 danios out of the filter using a net. But one of them seems quite injured, probably from the filter sponges or heater so I'm not sure how it's going to do.
I have decided to send juwel an email regarding this as their focus should be making equipment that is suitable for fish, and so far their filter has killed 4 if mine and potentially Life-threateningly injured another. If they don't think their filter is suitable for small fish they should also have said that in the product description so altogether very disappointed in juwel.

 

It sounds like your filter box may be coming unstuck as there shouldn’t be any gap at all for fish to get through. Gently give it a wiggle and see if it moves , if it does you’re going to either need to remove it and add a new filter , or drain the tank and stick it back. Glad you got them all out. Yes you can superglue mesh just make sure it’s aquarium safe glue.

Let us know what juwel say !

 

Thank you! Just writing the email to them now actually

 

Are you sure the filter is running 24/7? Seems like it got paused at some point and they swam in through the outflow

 

Yep definitely running 24/7.

The shrimp guard arrived yesterday and none have got in since then which is great!