External Feature For 90l

This isn't something I'd considered before now but having discovered one of my poor little minnows trapped inside my Fluval internal filter I'm wondering if I should be considering an external filter. Most of these seem to be designed for open tanks but I have cats so a cover is a vital bit of kit.

I'd be glad of some advice/guidance on this one as I'm totally clueless.

 

I Would switch to either a small canister or an HOB and just notch out the existing lid to accommodate the new filtration. unless there is a way to put a type of mesh or prefilter sponge on your internal filter to avoid that happening again.

 

Most lids have a cut out already for placement of a hang on back filter.

If not, there may be a removable section in the back that will allow for placement of one.

Otherwise, I would go with kallililly1973 suggestion.

Can you post an overhead pic of the lid on your tank?

Also, is your Fluval internal filter built into the tank, or is it removable?

 

It's a removable one. Incidentally have I got it positioned right? I'm wondering if I misread the instructions and put the whole thing underwater. Excuse the scabby looking lid. I'm running round looking after an aged parent with a broken hip, two big maine **** cats, a parrot and two tanks and I just never seem to get round to wiping it down.

 

Is that a Fluval Roma 90 aquarium?

Yes, that filter is to be submerged below the water line.

Depending on your DIY skill, or someone willing to help, the plastic lid can be cut to fit a hang on back filter.

If you use some masking tape as a guide for the cut line, either an oscillating multI tool, a jigsaw or a dremel tool can be used to cut the plastic to make room for a HOB filter.

If you go the route for a canister, you will have to do the same, but the notched out area will be a lot smaller on each corner for the intake and discharge hoses.

I'm surprised a fish actually got into that filter.

If you don't want to cut the lid, maybe look into getting 2 large sponge filters driven by a decent air pump.

Or get another internal filter.

Here is a video on the Interpet C3. Looks like its available in the UK for around 21 quid.

Instead of using the disposable cartridges, the video shows how to fill it instead with blocks of reusable foam sponge. You can top it of with a bag of bio-media of your choice.

The bottom intake area can be filled with some coarse foam sponge as well, so there is no chance for a small fish to enter and get sucked into the pump.

There are other internal filters as well, such as the Eheim Biopower, Aquaflow, Oase Bioplus, etc etc.

 

I couldn't understand it myself. Poor little thing was poking out from one of the vents on the side. Goodness knows how it got itself there because there was barely enough room to get him out. It was a pitiful sight. I do use blocks of foam in the filter rather than the cartridges.

I'll certainly have a look at the Interpet.

 

It may have just been a random accident that the fish managed to get in there. Maybe it was trying to go after a piece of food that got sucked in.

If you already have foam sponge in there, then I'd leave it be for awhile and just monitor it, and see if a fish gets trapped again.

 

A new filter would have to wait a little in any event. Fish keeping certainly isn't the cheapest hobby