Beware of one piece sponge filters!

JK · Post by JK » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:17 am

Having recently changed all of my filters to sponge filters I thought everything was going great. Until this morning that is.

Somehow this shrimp has managed to walk right down to the bottom elbow of my filter. Trouble is the filter is moulded in one piece, subsequently there is no way of recovering the shrimp.

I've tried turning up the flow in a bid to flush it out, but its really determined to stay put. I feel a bit mean bombarding it with tons of air anyway.

Unless it finds its own way out, I'm going to have to saw the filter up.

To prevent this happening again, I've bought some much better filters that can easily be totally dismantled.

zapisto · Post by **zapisto** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:38 am

will found his way out.
pretty sure.

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 7:11 am

I would wait a while and see if the shrimp comes out on its own, like zapisto mentioned. The air bubbles will not stress it as much as the process of trying to get it out, sine the air bubbles did not stop it from getting in there in the first place

JK · Post by JK » Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:58 am

Thanks,

I think I'll give it a couple of days, before I do anything.

It keeps going right up into the sponge..............maybe its found its own little feeding ground away from the competition.

milalic · Post by **milalic** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 1:50 pm

Give him time...we are all cheering for the little guy.

ToddnBecka · Post by **ToddnBecka** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:08 pm

If the shrimp wants out, it will come out on its own. I can't believe it's really stuck in there, more likley it's enjoying the new space it found.

JK · Post by JK » Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:02 pm

Pleased to report its finally found its own way out.

It does however look rather stressed (very pale) and the tail is rather tattered.

Thanks folks.

milalic · Post by **milalic** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:03 pm

good, good. I think the shrimp will recuperate after molting.

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:05 pm

Good news, hope your shrimp recovers soon

If this continues to happen you can put a piece of netting or mess on the opening.

Das Dee · Post by **Das Dee** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:15 pm

Neonshrimp wrote:If this continues to happen you can put a piece of netting or mess on the opening.

... nylon stocking

Br.,
Dirk

JK · Post by JK » Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:25 pm

I hope my new filters will be the answer.......they have an outlet that's about 20mm wide. Theory is they can easily wander in and out, and even if they do get stuck its easy to take it apart and free them.

I have tried using some old cut up nets over the outlets before, trouble is they are easy to forget. Then before you know it they are impairing the flow and potentially risking an ammonia spike.

Shrimp&Snails · Post by **Shrimp&Snails** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 12:05 pm

Das Dee wrote:
Neonshrimp wrote:If this continues to happen you can put a piece of netting or mess on the opening.
... nylon stocking

Br.,
Dirk

As long as there are no bn plecs or ottos in the tank nylons are fine.