Newbie: tetras sucked into filter

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mgw4jc

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Apr 19, 2004
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We got 8 tetras saturday night. By Sunday afternoon, one was dead and stuck to the filter intake. By 3:30 am Monday morning, two more had suffered the same fate.

We suspect the tetras just got too close or drifted too close while sleeping and got stuck on the intake. None were actually sucked into the filter, only clinging to the outside of it.

I read on another post that putting a sponge on the intake can help this. Can anyone elaborate on this? Will a normal 'kitchen sponge' from the grocery store or Walmart suffice?

My wife saw our frog get too close and almost get stuck, but was able to turn off the filter so he could get away. Now he is hiding under a rock.

(29 gal. tank)
 
Be careful with sponges--many kitchen sponges are treated with chemicals and have soap, and that's not good in a tank. You can buy sponge inserts and cut a slot into one side, and fit it over the intake.

However, most healthy fish will not get sucked into an intake. IMO, it's more likely that the fish were unhealthy, and died before getting stuck to the intake. Very young juvenile fish are an exception.
 
You can also use a pump pre-filter. They come with a plastic strainer inside that will typically fit over the standard sized filter strainer...(giving you a strainer within a strainer).

But also agree that typically only a highly weakened fish won't be strong enough to escape a filter's syphon.

Bill
 
what kind of filter is it? how far down into the tank is the inlet? i think your fish were just not strong enuf to get away, probably from being sick or bad water? no fish is dumb enuf to get stuck like that...
 
Thanks for the responses. It could be that the fish aren't healthy. And maybe they aren't healthy because they are adjusting to the our tank.

Oriongirl, is the sponge insert you talk about something I should only get at an LFS? I understand that chemicals and soap are bad, but where do I get an 'untainted' sponge?
 
I seen articles on people using hypo-allergenic foam (used for pillows, etc), but then you'll have a block of yellow foam in your tank (not too pretty). Also this kind of foam tends to have a very small pore size so will be prone to clogging.

I think the inserts Oriongirl is referring to are those used in HOB filters, like an AquaClear. These are rectangular foam blocks, but again, most are white so aren't too pretty to look at in the tank.
 
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I use AquaClear 200 or 300 sponge inserts. They are rectangular, easy to cut to size, and pretty cheap.
 
I also cover my filter intakes with AC sponges, it works quite well in preventing crude from getting into the filters, which reduces filter maintanence time. Just do a good rinsing of the sponges once a week (basically everytime you do a water change).

I'm curious, did you cycle your tank prior to putting in the fish?

-Richer
 
Thanks for the help. I'll give it the sponge insert a try.

As far as other questions: The filter is a Penguin Biwheel 170. The intake is about 8-10" into the water. We did not cycle the water before adding the tetras.

Bill, I agree that a block of foam or whatever wouldn't be pretty. But anything is prettier that a dead fish stuck against the intake.

We'll get the insert and maybe a few more tetras. If all goes well, perhaps we'll say the unlucky ones just weren't strong enough yet. Prior to dying, they had eaten very little to nothing. Today, the still alive tetras have begun eating well.
 
I wouldn't add anymore fish until the tank cycles. This is likely why you lost some--the toxins build up pretty quickly. Please check the threads on cycling in the newbie forum and in the FW archives.
 
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