Powerheads/Foam Cover

[g_langley]

After xmas I will be getting a BTA and will need to either nem proof my Tunze 6025 or get a Vortech MP10 with the foam cover.

So, in layman terms, is it just the "sucky" bit of the powerhead which is the danger for anemones or the "blowy" bit as well?

 

[nvladik]

The risk is nem getting sucked into the powerhead and then getting shredded to pieces by the impeller. Having said that, have mine without covers and nems never got sucked in.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I personally have never had a problem with my nems exploring the powerheads and do not have covers on my sucky or blowy parts LOL

But to answer your question I believe they cover both.

 

[g_langley]

But to answer your question I believe they cover both.

So to clarify it's both the sucky and blowy bit? The Vortech foam cover just covers the sucky bit so I guess it's not 100% danger free?

 

[KSU_WILDCAT]

I don't understand why you cover the outflow, or better yet how you would get the foam to stay. I would think it would blow right off and talk about restricting flow. You don't need to cover the "blowy" part.

 

[g_langley]

I don't understand why you cover the outflow

I wouldn't want to, I'm just after clarification on the safest route to ensure my anemone doesn't get pulverised in a powerhead.

So it would seem the foam cover on the inlet (sucky bit) is the way to go and covering both inlet/outlet is impractical, at least with foam. I've seen some folks making a complete cover out of window mesh and acryclic, not sure if my diy is up to that or if I want such a thing taking up extra real estate in my tank.

 

[hotelbravo]

We had long tentacle climb into the return jet and stayed there for weeks getting blasted never moved out of it. Had that been a powerhead I bet he would have met the impeller not from the intake side but from the outbound side. All that being said ive never kept sponges on my powerheads they get to dirty and lose flow to quickly its a hassle

 

[Irishdolphin]

not sure if my diy is up to that...

You'll be fine, you already know all the technical terms like blowy bit and sucky bit

 

[marc price]

I never tried this product but it could do it for you -

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idProduct=TZ1251&child=TZ1551

https://www.google.com/search?q=Tun...QoTCNyy07ymqsgCFUXYHgodmfUK6A&biw=957&bih=506

You could probably cover the void space with plastic needlepoint canvas, the larger surface area shouldn't affect flow like a vortec sponge does, or be a detritus trap of a nitrate factory.

 

[MJV0103]

I've heard some people put panty hose over their power heads in the beginning while the nem does walkabouts to find their home and then take them off

 

[ca1ore]

Don't have Tunze, so cannot comment. On the vortech, they come (or you can buy separately) with a foam sleeve that fits around the outside of the wetside to prevent anything from being drawn in an minced up by the prop. Foam does not cover the output. Running one without the cover, if you keep anemones is a risk, but the foam covers are also a pain because they clog up rapidly and reduce flow from the pump. Personally, I do not use them. Never had an anemone get pureed, but have lost a couple of fish.

 

[g_langley]

I've decided to keep the Tunze 6025 for the time being and Imhave my BTA now.

The 6025 is a reduced output 6045, and the way they have done this is to use a "tube" inside the front housing. I'm thinking this tube also has the benefit of adding a layer of protection between the outer suction and the pump blade itself. I tried floating some thin string around the pump body and it didn't get sucked in. Am I kidding myself? I turn the pump off at night at the moment.

 

[finrod2]

My ritteri tried to commit suicide twice while in my temporary tank. Unfortunetly the last time me was successful and didn't make. I won't use pumps without a foame cover until they are settled.

 

[g_langley]

So does anyone think that the 6025 is reasonably safe due to the tube in the housing intentionally restricting suction and flow? Could it be a nice side effect that this particular Tunze pump is not as bad in shredding nems as others might be?

 

[g_langley]

I've heard some people put panty hose over their power heads in the beginning

This I tried with some fishnet type material. It did reduce flow and caused the pump to operate at a higher temperature after a few days. Can't be doing with that. After this trial I reckon the Vortech MP10 or any other foam covered pump would be going in this same direction, so it's not really an option.