powerhead guard

[fresh]

Hi all,

I just witnessed my sea-hare going into my powerhead and getting stuck there. Now this process lasted less than 10 seconds as I was watching and frantically turning off the powerhead and rescuing the sea-hare. In that 10sec span, I saw some blood coming out of my sea-hare. It was as if he was trying to spit out blood to release the pressure.

Anyhow, I think he is ok as after I released him he kept on moving and slept right next to a rock on the sandbed. This morning he was on the opposite side of the tank. So hopefully he will be ok.

My question to you is: how do I stop this from happening again? I mean I was really happy to be standing infront of the tank looking at the sea-hare when it happened, but what about the next time this happens?

My powerhead(s) has a grill that doesn't allow large objects to go through, but what if something as large as a sea-hare blocks the entire openning?

Anyhow please let me know how to fix this because I really don't want this anything to happen to my "Dozzer".

Thanks
Fresh.

[WWWD]

wrap a foam block around the intake of the powerhead, that should help.

[Bob I]

If it is a Maxijet you can get a foam block accessory that fits right on the intake strainer. :biggrin:

[OCDP]

If you do use a foam to cover the intake, make sure you rinse it frequently quite well under hot water. They tend to build up in detritius and gunk pretty quick

[fresh]

it is a hagen (one of their biggest ones, i think the 802 or something like that). It creates a lot of current.

The openning is just an openning for one of those filter additions that you can plug to it. It simply is an O-shaped openning with a grill inside the "O".

So when you say foam, do you mean just a sponge or something else. And do I just tie it around the O-shaped openning?

PLEASE HELP, I am really sad for "Dozzer" and I would like to help him. By the way, is he going to be ok? what was that blood that I saw?

Thank you all.

fresh.

[mr_alberta]

You can pick up a Hagen Quick Filter attachment for powerheads. It fits the 201 - 801 models.

[Beverly]

I have 802s in my 120g and use Quickfilters on them. They come with media, but I use Hagen foams in them instead. I have also cut the bottom parts off mine so they don't take up so much room in the tank.

Here's what you need to look for....

http://www.hagen.com/canada/english/aquatic/product.cfm?CAT=1&SUBCAT=119&PROD_ID=01005750010101

[impreza]

I am having the same problem with my SEIO. Killed one cleaner shrimp, numberous snails, and a baby blue tang! I have since stopped using the SEIO until I can think of a solution. Any ideas?

[fresh]

Beverly,

if you have cut the bottom parts off yours, how does the foam stays inside the cylinder? Also how much are they?

Thanks
fresh.

[Beverly]

The foams are rectangular and are meant for use with HOB Hagen AquaClear 150s. I buy them in the "three packs" because they are cheaper than buying them singly. Foams are definitely cheaper than buying new media that comes with the Quickfilters.

Anyway, the foams stay inside the cylinder because that sized foam is large enough to hold itself inside the cylinder without being too big. They slide in and out of the cylinder for easy cleaning.

I actually remove the whole powerhead and Quickfilter each weekly water change. I break down the powerhead and clean the pieces with a tank-dedicated toothbrush in outgoing changewater. The foams get cleaned in a small container of changewater. I change the water when it gets dirty, and keep sqeeezing the living heck out of the foams in new changewater until the water is quite clear, though it never seems to get absolutely clear.

If you use any kind of filter media, whether the media that comes with the Quickfilter or the foams, the media will need to be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week to prevent crud build up. Crud build up causes two things - 1. reduced water flow, and 2. accumulated crud that breaks down into nitrate and phosphate leading to nuisance algae problems over the long term.

Also, if you cut off the bottom of the Quickfilter, you will have to use a cable tie around the bottom of the remaining cylinder so it holds the cylindrical shape. The cable tie should be tight enough to stay on, but not so tight that it squishes the cyliner out of shape. Without the cable tie, the foams will fall out and the cylinder will fall apart during use.

HTH :smile:

[Pansy-Paws]

For my 802 powerheads, I just use the Quick Filter attachment without any foam or filter materials inside.

Only when I need the filtering capability, do I add the materials back in. Otherwise, no weekly cleaning, with all the protection for errant tank occupants.

If only that technique had worked when my RBTA took a field trip over one of the intakes to my closed loop powered by an AmpMaster 3000 :eek:

Puree RBTA is not helpful to tank health ... :cry:

I doubt that sea-hare would have been much better.

Good thing you were nearby ... :smile:

[Beverly]

If you don't intend to use foams in your Quickfilters, DO NOT cut off the bottom.

[hawk]

I bought a heater guard for one of my 802's. It is about 1.25" diameter and fits the bottom perfectly. I cut it to about 3" long . On another 802 I used an old Aquaclear tube with a grill on the bottom, this is shoved into the tapered ferrule accessory that came with the 802. Both guards are pretty small and easy to hide.

[Beverly]

I bought a heater guard for one of my 802's. It is about 1.25" diameter and fits the bottom perfectly. I cut it to about 3" long . On another 802 I used an old Aquaclear tube with a grill on the bottom, this is shoved into the tapered ferrule accessory that came with the 802. Both guards are pretty small and easy to hide.

The heater guard idea sounds okay. IMO, it provides a larger surface area than the 802's regular intake for water to continue entering the powerhead, even if something small attaches itself to it. I would not trust it with an anemone, though.

The AquaClear tube's grilled bottom does not provide very much more surface area than the 802's regular intake, IMO. I would not use it to protect anemones or other animals, except maybe snails, that may find their way to the intake.