HOB Intake Tube Problem

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pigoo

Gambusia
MFK Member
Mar 25, 2013
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I have four 10"-12" Pacu in my tank...and they are absolute monsters when it comes to feeding time, just swimming around the tank, or being occasionally startled when someone walks by the tank.

Basically what happens is...they keep knocking the intake tube off my HOB filter. I mean like within 24 hours after I reattach it.

Anybody have any secrets or tips to keep the intake tube attached? Thanks.:)
 
ecoli73 said:
Build something around the intake.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. I probably should have mentioned...this is a 150 gallon tank that's about 28" or so high. The HOB intake tube probably goes down about 12-15"...so the bottom of the tube is about 10+ off the bottom of the tank.

The Pacu knock it off in two ways...by "spazzing" right into it from the side...and by trying to swim behind it (between the tube & the glass).

I'm afraid that if I build something around it...they will knock that structure over as well (they are very very strong fish)...especially when they spazz out.

Actually this got me to thinking...and I think that I came up with a solution. Use a couple strong suction cups (at different heights) & some zip-ties (depending on the design of the suction cups). A similar setup to what is used with some canister filter intake tubes (with the suction cup & c-clip).

I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner.;) I only have about 5 canister filters in operation...including an fx5.:)

If anyone has a better or equally as good idea (especially if it costs less than the idea I posted...or is free)...please let me know. Thanks.:)
 
When I kept pacu I found running canisters to be less of a problem with them spazzing out. I could place the intake and returns right in the corners and they never had an issue.




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Jc1119 said:
When I kept pacu I found running canisters to be less of a problem with them spazzing out. I could place the intake and returns right in the corners and they never had an issue.
Click to expand...


I did consider moving my HOB so that the intake tube was closer to a corner of the tank (the HOB's intake tube is closer to one of the sides of the HOB). What's keeping me from doing this is...I have a canister filter that I bought used...and the previous owner must have used it on a much shorter tank...and trimmed the intake & outlet hoses pretty short.

So with the way I have things setup...the canister filter is in the corner where I would have to move the HOB filter to keep the Pacu from knocking off the HOB tube. I think that I'm going to give the suction cup idea a try...and see how it holds up. If it doesn't work...I may have to try the corner placement idea.:)

Thanks for the help!:)
 
Well...I thought that I found the perfect solution to my HOB intake tube problem. I got a couple of those suction cup "C" clamps that hold aquarium heaters. The clamps fit perfectly snug on the HOB intake tube (used two of them)...and I thought "This is going to work great"!:) And it did...for about 24 hours!:)

The Pacu today had a "spazz-attack"...and knocked the filter intake tube off the clamps like it wasn't even there. These darn 12" Pacu are very powerful (as most larger aquarium fish are).

I'm getting a little concerned (not so much for the filter). With the Summertime temps...there's no need for an aquarium heater. But with Fall/Winter coming...the tank is definitely going to need a heater. And there's absolutely no way an aquarium heater is going to survive a "Pacu Spazz-Attack". One "spazz-out"...and BAMM...there goes a $30-$40 aquarium heater (and maybe some dead/injured fish).

Any suggestions? I know there are lots of folks out there with big fish...there must be a solution.

Thanks.
 
yea i have my turtle who Loves bitting heater cords.. he has destroyed 4 heaters before i brought these inlines.. the last heater what i did was protecting it with 3/8" clear tubing on top i added another layer of 1/2" tubing and he still manage to bit and damage the cord..
 
Solution, don't keep Pacu in a 150 gallon tank. :) I don't mean to sound snide or harsh.

Otherwise..

Put a U end in the intake manifold and run it along the surface to the corner of the tank.
 
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