cannister intake..prefilter?

[arcab4]

question for anyone that has a cannister filter..

are you using any type of pre-filter around the intake pipe? i have this big sponge over my intake (had to drill holes into the pipe) but it's a big pain to clean. basically..by the time i take out the sponge, all the dirt and debri that was stuck in the filter is washed off.

how do you guys do it?

 

[clothahump]

I have a piece of coarse sponge inside the strainer basket, when I turn off the filter for cleaning I simply remove the basket and clean under the tap, I find this way you remove 90% of the gunge without it going up the pipe.

 

[ronrca]

I dont have a prefilter over my intake. I did have a prefilter over a powerhead with my ram fry in my 30G. The only drawback is the prefilter clogging up and therefore restricting flow. Im not sure if it helps much since the filter media in the canister should be able to handle it. Imo, Id rather have the junk in my canister and not in the tank.

 

[clothahump]

I totally agree with you ronrca but I am using a coarse sponge at the moment due to having three different broods of Ancistrus in my 75 gallon, and I noticed that when very small they get sucked into the filter.

 

[arcab4]

the problem i'm having is by the time i take out the sponge, all the debris drips out from the sponge. any techniques u guys know of?

i'm running an eheim and an aquaclear. i want to remove the aquaclear cause it causes too much surface agitation which removes my c02.

 

[hhierl]

What I do is take a fine mesh net and put it under the spnge as I take it out so all of the debris drops in.