BTAs, overflow combs and Vortechs

[kaskiles]

Hi,

I do not currently have a BTA, but was just wondering if people had experience with them getting damaged from overflow traveling or Vortech power heads.

Has anyone had to cover their overflow combs with plastic mesh or gutter guard, to prevent BTAs from going into the overflow box and down into the Sump?

Is the sponge Vortech cover basically required with BTAs, to keep them from getting sucked into the propeller?

Thanks!

 

[gbreynol]

A few days after blaming my cleaner shrimp for the damage to my Gigantea I came home to find my Gigantea stuck to my new Vortech. It is alot larger than my BTA, but I could see this happening to any of them when they stretch out. I have never had a problem with them in my overflow.

I will be ordering a cover ASAP.

 

[topn0tchlefty]

overflows wont make anemone soup like powerheads do

 

[Mike31154]

I have a BTA and a VorTech. The BTA hasn't moved more than a few inches since introduced into the tank. It's near the middle and the VorTech is attached on the side of the tank. So far so good. Any powerhead, not just a VorTech is potentially a hazard to a roaming anemone. I'd even say the VorTech may be less dangerous since the intake area is more spread out, whereas many other powerheads have a smaller intake with much more suction in a concentrated spot. I don't use the foam cover for the VorTech, it just becomes a garbage trap and needs to be cleaned frequently if used.