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Our tank with the firemouths has a HOB that is using a section of garden hose as the intake (original intake broke).

Unfortunately since the intake is open things tend to get stuck in it. Silk plants that stop the outflow, or fish that stop, well the fish.

Anyone ever fashion a strainer for their intake, any ideas?

^_^

I've never had to fashion one myself, but maybe just take some mesh and rubberband it to the end would work? Or maybe a piece of an old fish net?

With the word "strainer" the first thing that popped in my head that might've been appropriate was a tea strainer, but they have all these extra parts that you probably don't need, lol.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Do they have those little plastic strawberry cartons in Australia? I made do with one of those in my old ten gallon for a few months.

Hi Babel

I use a cheap old box / corner filter as a prefilter for my HOB if I happen to be stirring up lots of muck rescaping or setting up a new tank. I use a bit of filter floss in the box as it helps to get the water clear again just a little quicker, but if being used as a simple strainer the choice to add filter media is completely up to you.

Basically all I do is remove the little slotted top cap from the top of the box filter that holds the airline and airstone in place and attach the HOB tube (or the garden hose in your case) into the riser. It's usually most stable if the tube / hose is long enough for the box filter to sit on the substrate. Not exactly the prettiest or most space efficient solution, but it seems to work for me. (Photo)

G_T



Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

Hi,
I once had a similiar problem and took a trip to the
LFS. They had a box full of plastic tubes and intakes
from returned, broken filters and the piece I needed
was there and available for just pennies.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I'm not sure if everyone is like me, and I know you just moved over to AU, so this may help or not, but I save every thing that comes with equipment. So generally I have etxras of everything, you can imagine. When that doesn't work than I have to DIY it, see if you have a medicine bottle that will fit over the hose, if you got one than you can dill holes in it, thus making a strainer. Hope that helps.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

try a block of that "bio-foam" maybe a few inches square, pinch out/remove a portion so the gardenhose will fit into good and snug, better yet, that bio-foam that comes with the reverse flow kits for the marineland powerheads, a gardenhose will stuff into that quite nicely, ( just tried it hehehe)

The strawberry basket sounds the most like a strainer, but I can't remember seeing them here. They use clear plastic ones with a few small holes in the bottom same as they use for tomatoes.

Dj, Yah I do, I had a whole box of AC parts but they didn't move with me This filter was one adam got as a door prize at an auction, and we don't have any that match it in stock.

Frank, that's a good LFS to have the few here have nothing like that here

Shini, I've covered my intake with an old bit of fishnet net before they got clogged real fast, and I think the biofoam might work the same, putting too much strain on the filter. We do have some bio balls downstairs from Adams sump, I could try. Also have the remains of a corner filter that one fish has decided to make his home so I can try troppos idea as well.

Would never have thought of these myself guys thanks .

^_^

The LFS's around me have the bins of parts but in order to see whats in them you have to ask as they dont keep them in plain view. It wouldnt hurt, and you might find something that way.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

Would an Aqua-spike with some more drilling work? Not sure about the neck size but it might fit The bright orange could be a bit iffy though.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Sorry, I'm late.

I use a piece of filter sponge, works great !
As this is an open tube with no end piece, maybe elastic a piece of nylon on first, then the sponge

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