covering powerhead intakes? help

[ahullsb]

I realize now with smaller specimens that I should cover one one my powerheads. What is the best way to do this?

 

[Izsabelle]

A sponge or mesh screen will work. What exactly are you trying to protect?

 

[Avalanche Wolf]

I have since the suction death of a humahuma trigger and a perc clown use heater guards over my powerheads.

The heater guards are cheap and usally have 3-4 sections that split up so you can use them on multible PHs. and to make sure the Phs dont clog up I just place a piece of foam in the guard to rinse out during monthly maintance.

 

[Sheldon337]

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I have the same question, how can I screen off powerheads from anenomes etc.

In the past I have used rock rubble, but occasionally I will get a forced split when one gets stuck.

Any tips?

(edit: whats a heater guard?)

 

[MandM]

I find the foam to work well if the plastic screen that comes with the power head is not doing the job. The foam sleeves are sold with the pond equipment at Home Depot.

( A heater guard is a plastic sheathe that fits over a glass tube type heater. It keeps it from getting banged on the rocks/tank side and helps protect fish from getting scorched.)

 

[Avalanche Wolf]

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=HG10778

It splits into 3 parts . I use the bottom to to attach to the intake on the Powerheads. no glue , usally tight enough but depends on the powerhead you are using as well.


Or something like this as well

 

[Justin74]

I hit two birds with one stone with a ball of chaetomorpha, allows the flow to go through but lets snails and hermits walk about on it, and naturally hides half of the power head. Depending where your powerheads are though, as it may look just odd, mine was in the back by the surface skimmer so it looked fairly discrete.

-Justin

 

[Justin74]

BTW, remember if you use any foam, it's always a good idea to rinse them in clean SW every 3 days or so, to rinse off matter before it breaks down and decays and enriches your tank. Otherwise it can keep your nitrate levels annoyingly stable

-Justin

 

[ahullsb]

thank you. I'll do that this weekend. I have a firefish that seems to get dangerously close to it. I also worry about my boxer crab in the rare instances he is up close to it.

 

[tuberider]

Some power heads will also accept a bio-ball, I've used them in the past.