Koralias and Bubble Tips

[E.J. Coral]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10174681#post10174681 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iansfishy
i have 2 koralia 3 and 1 koralia 4 in my 90. they produce great flow but alot of it. i cant seem to get my carpet anemone in a place where the flow isnt as great but at the same time create enough flow for every thing else. but in a larger tank i dont worry about my anemone actually getting close enough to the powerheads. is therea way to restrict there flow. they are great powerheads if they didnt keep blowing my anemone away. i can only run one 3 right now. any ideas?

i am sorry my friend, but anemones DON'T blow away unless they are ill! How long have you had the anemone? What are your water parameters, lighting and etc.. I am sorry to say that the only anemone that I have had release into the current has died. Keep an eye out for any sign of desintigration, and COVER those powerheads being as you anemone is on the move!

Hopefully someone more experienced with carpets will chime in, as i have only kept other species....

 

[MalawianDude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10173208#post10173208 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RamPuppy
spinning parts + anemones = potential problems no matter how careful you are.

Anemone Sushi, i double dare you to try it :lol: :bum:

 

[GreenPuffers]

So did the idea work?? Any pics yet??

 

[FateX8]

cool thred pics?

 

[RamPuppy]

ok, well these aren't the best pictures, but they give you an idea.

This was my first attempt, and it worked ok, but the guard up front practically obliterated the flow. (not much point then ehh?) so basically removed that guard leaving a single opening at the front, this restored it to what i would estimate to be about 80% of normal, which is good as the 3's were a little overpowered for my tank.

The front is made out of a preformed 'egg' that sells for about 2 bucks, the back is a circular disc of the same stuff. it's all zip tied together.

the front is easily detetatched for cleaning as normal, but cleaning under the guard will require removing zip ties.

 

[monicaswizzle]

Ram Puppy--Great idea. Where did you find the egg shaped craft item? I'll start looking at the local stores, but if it is a national chain that might shorten the search.

 

[Genin]

That's pretty darn good looking man! great job on the DIY cover. Please post where you got the materials. I am thinking I will have to do the same. I have a 30gallon that I am currently making purely for clown/anemones. I would love to make it as anemone proof as possible.

 

[maxxII]

How far from the body does the egg crate mod fit? If its right on top of it, (like it looks), you're not getting much benefit protectionwise....

The pumps already have a grate to keep critters out. Anemones are soft bodied and get pulled through the grate, and then shredded by the spinning parts. A subsequent grate placed immediatly against the stock grate doesnt help much as the anemone will still be sucked through to the spinning parts. Ideally, you'll have a space of about an inch between your additional grate and the stock one. This should keep the anemone from being sucked into the pump.

Hope that makes sense.

Nick

 

[jeeperrs]

I agree maxx. My other concern is that you may be putting a lot of resistance on the pump. The open end of the pump is water moving out of the PH. I have yet to see even fish stay around that spot to much lol. I am just afraid if you start stressing the pump then you will burn it out a lot faster. Overall that is one of the best DIY projects I have seen. It was very clean looking.

For the person wanting to know if you can change the amount of flow in the number 4. Well, you have to buy a number 1 or 2 ha-ha. I am sure later some people will think of ways to modify the pump but as for now I think your only option is to buy a smaller pump.

Good luck with your new BTA!

 

[monicaswizzle]

In another thread someone said they thought that the materials came from WalMart. Well, that may be true, but my local WalMart didn't have anything like this that I could find and the staff tried to lead me to the food aisle when I mentioned embroideried eggs. So, if anyone comes up with a name for these materials and/or a chain store that supplies them, that would be great.

Regarding Maxx's comments on the design, I agree that a space between the stock cover and the add on would be ideal (certainly best for the pump and probably for the nem too), but it still may provide significant protection just because the openings are significantly smaller than the stock pump cover openings. How much stress that adds to pump function is anyone's guess--unless someone of you budding scientists out there wants to do some official experiments?

My two cents.

 

[maxxII]

I agree that a space between the stock cover and the add on would be ideal (certainly best for the pump and probably for the nem too), but it still may provide significant protection just because the openings are significantly smaller than the stock pump cover openings.

The problem w/ anemones is that they are soft bodied. They will fit through incredibly small holes because they have nothing rigid or hard internally or externally to get hung up on, so small openings in the mesh dont really protect much unless they keep the anemone from the suction...which is why you need the space. As far as stress on the pump goes....the space will actually allow greater waterflow through the small spaces in the mesh, and will therefore be less stress on the pump.

Hope all that makes sense...

Nick

 

[kypatriot]

I was thinking of building a box out of eggcrate to cover the koralias, with decent space between it and the powerhead. I was going to put zoas on the box, and see if they would grow over it, preventing the anemone from squeezing through.

I hadn't considered that this would also restrict water flow. Has anybody done this, with or without success?

 

[monicaswizzle]

Same Problem, Another Approach

Same Problem, Another Approach

Damn! I typed up a full reply and then it disappeared into cyberspace. My apologies if I post twice somehow.

Anyway, I decided to try a different approach to armoring my Koralias. I posted it in this thread if you are interested:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1157035

Regarding Nick's comment that smaller holes don't help much, I defer to those who have more experience with anemones. I have only read about them and looked at them in the local LFS. Based just on appearances, I would say the change in hole size looks to be about in the critical area where it might make a difference. It all depends on how much suction the pump produces and how soft the body of an anemone is. Without any suction I would say a raw egg might not flow through those holes very fast and something like jello definitely wouldn't. Add the pump suction and it might or might not draw in an anemone. In any case, I agree with Nick that adding space between the pump body and the "screen" is likely better for the pump and greatly improves the odds for the anemone. Which is what led me to try the solution described in the link above.

Thanks for all the ideas. Hopefully my anemone will be safe once I finally get one.

 

[marc price]

http://www.anniesattic.com/detail.html?prod_id=8247
Ovalsphere Egg
ITEM # PRICE
14266 $1.99

http://www.addictedtocrafts.com:80/ProductDetail?SKU=6-758-500027
QuickShape Plastic Canvas Egg 3" Diameter -White
Price: $2.29
SKU:
500027
Availability: In stock
Manufacturer: Uniek Crafts
Product Type: Needle Arts: Plastic Canvas

*it is 3"ø , so it should leave a 3/4" space with a koralia 1 which will be safer for bta's

Model Flow Rate Watts Dimensions
Koralia 1 400 gph 3.5 2-1/4" x 5"
Koralia 2 600 gph 9 2-7/8" x 5-7/8"
Koralia 3 850 gph 10 2-7/8" x 5-7/8"
Koralia 4 1,200 gph 12 3-1/4" x 6-1/4"

 

[monicaswizzle]

Thanks for the links Marc!