Does anybody have pics or know of a good DIY idea for powerhead guards? Chime in plz!

[Reefahholic]

I need to DIY something good to prevent the most common cause of Nem trauma.

If anybody has pics, ideas, or remember seeing a pic of good DIY idea, please share.

Or if you saw something like that for sale, please share.

I've heard of foam guards, but have never seen what they look like and not sure if they work.

There has got to be an affective way to keep these guys from walking into powerheads and getting chewed up while still keeping strong flow in our tanks.

 

[GrindingNemo]

I have used sheets of foam and zip ties, I have also carved out the middle of a foam block, but either way it ruins the flow. It's still good as a temporary safety net while a nem is being introduced. I have also used netting or pantyhose which both work well on small power heads, but they can get sucked into bigger power heads, so you run the risk of trashing your pump.
I'm sure someone out there must have a better solution.

 

[Reefahholic]

I have used sheets of foam and zip ties, I have also carved out the middle of a foam block, but either way it ruins the flow. It's still good as a temporary safety net while a nem is being introduced. I have also used netting or pantyhose which both work well on small power heads, but they can get sucked into bigger power heads, so you run the risk of trashing your pump.
I'm sure someone out there must have a better solution.

They all sound like they would work. My buddy was telling me about pantyhose.

Does anybody care to post some pics of a couple examples that you think may work well, or you own setup.

I need ideas to get started on something.

Somebody has got to have a good DIY guard.

I wonder is they sell anemone powerhead guards somewhere. Surely somebody does.

 

[Aquatron]

You can build a small box out of egg crate to cover and protect marine life. No pics but pretty straight forward if using white egg crate it can be painted with Krylon Fusion.

 

[taylor t]

You can build a small box out of egg crate to cover and protect marine life. No pics but pretty straight forward if using white egg crate it can be painted with Krylon Fusion.

I've been meaning to do this for months... Just using zip ties to hold it together around my mp40's. I haven't thought about it in depth, but I need to do something like this too. I too, wonder if flow would be reduced greatly with the light diffuser. Maybe make a square, maybe 7x7x7" box, and cut an mp40 hole on one side and zip it together? I need something like this, but don't like the idea of looking at it, or the idea of it disturbing the flow too much. But the alternative is worse... sure will be ugly though.... If you make one, can you please post a picture of it? And let us know how it works with the flow? If you wait too long, maybe I will.

That seems to be a common theme. Good flow is unsightly, or expensive to run (closed loops).

 

[ajt12]

This is what I did http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2383154

 

[davocean]

I have seen people use the black plastic mesh that is meant for knitting those yarn scene thingy's.(brain block on the name of those)
Anyway, I like those, tight mesh, black, cheap, any yarn or fabric store has it.

 

[DasCamel]

What's the min hole size we're looking for?


Light diffuser around the sides shouldn't reduce flow too much.

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

I have seen people use the black plastic mesh that is meant for knitting those yarn scene thingy's.(brain block on the name of those)
Anyway, I like those, tight mesh, black, cheap, any yarn or fabric store has it.

Yeah, " plastic canvas". That's what I use. It doesn't clog up like panty hose or sponge does. It lets water through but gives creatures something to grab while they wait for rescue. I used nylon fishing line to tie stops of it to the overflow. I raise Lettuce Seaslugs ( Elysia crispata) in the DT, and the plastic mesh works well for them so don't see why it wouldn't work for a Nem.

 

[Reefahholic]

I'm fixing to make one myself, and currently working with Marc Levenson over at Melevsreef to try and build a 100% acrylic cover for Jebao's and Vortech's. We are trying to figure out how to cocoon a square/round cover to keep Anemones from being chewed up by PH's. Need to know how many holes to drill because it's time consuming. We don't want to starve the pump or affect the flow rate (reducing it) because the pump can't suck enough water in the enclosure. Another potential issue is attaching it to the tank. Most people move their PH's around, so a glue or silicone may be out of the question for some. I personally would probably use some clear underwater glue as long as it would hold and keep my Anemones safe. We talked about magnets too, but the cover/box may spin from the pressure/force exerted from the pump. If anybody has any thoughts or suggestions please comment.


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"The only problem I have with hand drilling holes is that they chip out unless I go really slowly. And when you take a box with 40 holes and drill 40 1-minute holes, you can see how labor intensive it is. Still doable though. How would you secure it to the tank? The Vortech does fit up to 3/4" thick, so if your tank walls are 3/8" and the box has a 1/4" (or even 1/8" backing) you could make it work. I don't know if the box might try to spin though. lol"

Marc
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Check this one out: Made and designed by Tektite

Made with window screen and acrylic.

 

[Reefahholic]

Arrr....the worst nightmare:

 

[Breadman03]

I was looking for those pics! I lost my bookmark to a thread detailing those.

I'm fixing to make one myself, and currently working with Marc Levenson over at Melevsreef to try and build a 100% acrylic cover for Jebao's and Vortech's. We are trying to figure out how to cocoon a square/round cover to keep Anemones from being chewed up by PH's. Need to know how many holes to drill because it's time consuming. We don't want to starve the pump or affect the flow rate (reducing it) because the pump can't suck enough water in the enclosure. Another potential issue is attaching it to the tank. Most people move their PH's around, so a glue or silicone may be out of the question for some. I personally would probably use some clear underwater glue as long as it would hold and keep my Anemones safe. We talked about magnets too, but the cover/box may spin from the pressure/force exerted from the pump. If anybody has any thoughts or suggestions please comment.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The only problem I have with hand drilling holes is that they chip out unless I go really slowly. And when you take a box with 40 holes and drill 40 1-minute holes, you can see how labor intensive it is. Still doable though. How would you secure it to the tank? The Vortech does fit up to 3/4" thick, so if your tank walls are 3/8" and the box has a 1/4" (or even 1/8" backing) you could make it work. I don't know if the box might try to spin though. lol"

Marc
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check this one out: Made and designed by Tektite

Made with window screen and acrylic.

 

[Reefahholic]

I like this screen better. I'm fixing to design something nice. It will be H. Mag and S. Gig Proof! This can be used in the QT as well. We could make heater covers, intake guards for HOB filters (aquaclear). The possibilities are endless. I just have to get a good design drawn out.

I'm thinking about this size:

I think this is a good PH size.


This one I'm gonna build a small guard around my return pump. I don't like the sponge filter.



This one may be the best for the PH. Small enough to keep the Nems out, but big enough to let trash get through so you don't have to clean the screen every day.

 

[Kaman8]

This 1 is mine and is easy to take it off and clean it

 

[Pinkskunk]

Jared, I believe that is a woman's hand LOL

Joking aside, how did that person seal the seams together on that design?

 

[D-Nak]

This is what I did http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2383154

Unfortunately, this design won't work. It only takes one tentacle to get stuck in the powerhead to pull the entire nem into it. The holes need to be smaller -- smaller than the size of the nem's tentacle.

I'm fixing to make one myself, and currently working with Marc Levenson over at Melevsreef to try and build a 100% acrylic cover for Jebao's and Vortech's. We are trying to figure out how to cocoon a square/round cover to keep Anemones from being chewed up by PH's. Need to know how many holes to drill because it's time consuming. We don't want to starve the pump or affect the flow rate (reducing it) because the pump can't suck enough water in the enclosure. Another potential issue is attaching it to the tank. Most people move their PH's around, so a glue or silicone may be out of the question for some. I personally would probably use some clear underwater glue as long as it would hold and keep my Anemones safe. We talked about magnets too, but the cover/box may spin from the pressure/force exerted from the pump. If anybody has any thoughts or suggestions please comment.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The only problem I have with hand drilling holes is that they chip out unless I go really slowly. And when you take a box with 40 holes and drill 40 1-minute holes, you can see how labor intensive it is. Still doable though. How would you secure it to the tank? The Vortech does fit up to 3/4" thick, so if your tank walls are 3/8" and the box has a 1/4" (or even 1/8" backing) you could make it work. I don't know if the box might try to spin though. lol"

Marc
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check this one out: Made and designed by Tektite

Made with window screen and acrylic.

One problem with this design is that the window screen clogs easily. This definitely won't work long term with nems like gigantea that excrete a stringy substance that collects near their foot. I have an egg-crate barrier in my QT that's covered with window screen, and I have to periodically remove it to clear the debris. I think it's the best design I've seen so far though.

I envision a similar design, but instead of window screen, the entire cover is actually made out of acrylic, with small holes drilled (lots of them as not to impede the flow). The key to these covers is a design that doesn't hug the powerhead. The goal is to keep the nem far enough away from the powerhead where even it it gets sucked onto the guard, it doesn't get sucked in by the pressure, or die from the pressure itself. How about just cutting apart a two liter bottle and using the wide part of the neck, then punch a lot of holes in it? At least that's how imagine it looking. This would be for an MP40.

 

[Reefahholic]

This 1 is mine and is easy to take it off and clean it

Very nice, what kind of material?

 

[Reefahholic]

Jared, I believe that is a woman's hand LOL

Joking aside, how did that person seal the seams together on that design?

It is a chick. She's is a good reefer.

She glued the seams.

 

[Reefahholic]

Thanks for that information D-Nak, I didn't realize it only needs one tentacle to suck them in. I also invision a 100% acrylic guard with a lot of holes, and maybe 2-3 inches away from the powerhead itself. I just want to design something that isn't an eye sore when looking at the DT. The big problem is clogging and restricted flow. Not to mention tank attachment.

Unfortunately, this design won't work. It only takes one tentacle to get stuck in the powerhead to pull the entire nem into it. The holes need to be smaller -- smaller than the size of the nem's tentacle.



One problem with this design is that the window screen clogs easily. This definitely won't work long term with nems like gigantea that excrete a stringy substance that collects near their foot. I have an egg-crate barrier in my QT that's covered with window screen, and I have to periodically remove it to clear the debris. I think it's the best design I've seen so far though.

I envision a similar design, but instead of window screen, the entire cover is actually made out of acrylic, with small holes drilled (lots of them as not to impede the flow). The key to these covers is a design that doesn't hug the powerhead. The goal is to keep the nem far enough away from the powerhead where even it it gets sucked onto the guard, it doesn't get sucked in by the pressure, or die from the pressure itself. How about just cutting apart a two liter bottle and using the wide part of the neck, then punch a lot of holes in it? At least that's how imagine it looking. This would be for an MP40.

 

[Kaman8]

Very nice, what kind of material?

It's insect net for window and then I sewed some elastic on both side. It will keep it in place of the power head tight, but very easy to remove it for cleaning. I rinse it every week when I do my regular wc. The best part is it will not decrease the flow. Sadly I couldn't find the net in black color. Sorry for the bad English .