AC110s and snails don't mix

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banjocat

Candiru
MFK Member
Dec 5, 2007
341
20
48
Michigan
I have an AC110 on my 75 gal. In the past I've found dead fish stuck to the filter intake with eyes missing, disembowled, etc. These were fish that had already been acting close to death though, during a sickness outbreak. So I assume they died during the night and were sucked onto the filter intake.

Yesterday I moved my apple snail to the 75. He seemed to be doing fine. When I put him in there, I didn't think about the fact that he sometimes climbed on the intake to the small hob in the 20 gal. This morning I found him stuck to the intake. Some of his body had been pulled through the grate at the opening. I turned the filter off and had to remove the intake tube. He looked pretty dead after I pried him from the intake. He was all torn up. While I was holding him, he eventually started to move and slowly pulled himself into his shell.

I think I'm going to need to euthanise the snail. He didn't look very much like a snail after being pulled out of the intake(less than a hour ago). So far he hasn't came out of his shell. I think my bichir might be taking an interest in him(probably smells blood). I can't really put him in my Q tank, because I bought an abino bichir yesterday.

My 7 inch bichir got sucked towards it once, while he was swimming near the intake, but was strong enough to resist. Are my fish safe(bichirs and opaline gourami)? The only fish I've seen get pulled in are ones already close to death.

I would have posted this on invertebrates, but I think the damage is done. Maybe someone can offer some advice on how to make powerful filters safer for inverts and slower fish.
 
Cover your intakes with a prefilter sponge.
 
Bderick67, are these common in LFS and places like petsmart? or do you need to make them yourself?

I think I've heard of these before. Wouldn't one also allow me to keep sand in my 75?

Unfortunately, the snail needed to be euthanised. I went in my room and found the snail's shell upside down with the bichir pounding on him. They had lived peacefully together for about 70 days, so it was likely the change in smell that caused the aggression.

Maybe someone will learn something from this
 
You should be able to find one at your lfs. As far as putting one on in order to have sand in your tank, you can do that, but I just raised my intake instead and have no problems.
 
put it in the oven and call it dinner :ROFL: jokes


I have several AC110's and have never had an issue of a fish being pulled into the intake...I even used one on one of my fry tanks but put a bubble filter over the input... worked very well.

Even when I had a AC110 on a 5 gallon with goldfish I never had one get stuck the the intake... and that was 100 times turn over :D
 
I run two AC 110's on my 75 gal and have never had a prob. Before my Oscar I have had smaller Tropicals in there with no prob. I think your fish that are close to death didn't have the strength to overcome the sucking power of the intake. IMO
 
I agree. None of the danios seemed in danger until they became sick/possibly died. I have two gouramis and a bichir in there now and they don't seem to be in danger. The bichir sometimes gets pulled when he swims really close to it, but has no problem overcomming the suction. The gouramis have learned to avoid the intake. Have already bought a second ac110, for when I add more fish.

I made a prefilter, but the sponge was getting dirty too quickly. I used it when I tried to introduce a small bichir to the 75, but he ended up not getting along with my bigger bichir. I would put it back if I ever add a snail again though.
 
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