need something better than a sponge

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Chris801

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 21, 2017
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Ok so I don’t know the correct terminology So bear with me. I have a 200 gallon tank with a 40 gallon filter tank below. Not sure what to call it other than a sump? Filter system? Lol. Anyway. I have a vented box and 2 pipes that suck water from the tank to an overflow box and then filtered down into the lower tank goes through it’s stages and pumps back up into the tank.

Anyway my tire track eel has decided he likes taking a pipe ride and ending up in the overflow box. First time he chased a fish into it so figured it was just chance never has gone into it before. I’ve had him in the same tank for over a year he’s about 12” now was maybe 2 when I got him.

Has plenty of hiding spaces so not sure why he has decided this is a good place for him but since the first time he’s done it 4 more times in the past month. Now he’s getting stressed and his slime coat is showing it. I don’t think he’s realized the heart attacks I have when I find him there yet lol. Anyway I can’t put a sponge over the box because it slows the water flow to much. What other options are there?
 
Chris801 said:
Ok so I don’t know the correct terminology So bear with me. I have a 200 gallon tank with a 40 gallon filter tank below. Not sure what to call it other than a sump? Filter system? Lol. Anyway. I have a vented box and 2 pipes that suck water from the tank to an overflow box and then filtered down into the lower tank goes through it’s stages and pumps back up into the tank.

Anyway my tire track eel has decided he likes taking a pipe ride and ending up in the overflow box. First time he chased a fish into it so figured it was just chance never has gone into it before. I’ve had him in the same tank for over a year he’s about 12” now was maybe 2 when I got him.

Has plenty of hiding spaces so not sure why he has decided this is a good place for him but since the first time he’s done it 4 more times in the past month. Now he’s getting stressed and his slime coat is showing it. I don’t think he’s realized the heart attacks I have when I find him there yet lol. Anyway I can’t put a sponge over the box because it slows the water flow to much. What other options are there?
Click to expand...





Some kind of mesh material may help.
 
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Here’s a pic. The water level is usually just below this but it hasn’t caught back up yet since I had to just take it out to get him out again. He has to actually jump into the box in the tank

05C6CF70-1DD7-4D12-8621-7AC12D57FA7D.jpeg
 
Chris801 said:
Here’s a pic. The water level is usually just below this but it hasn’t caught back up yet since I had to just take it out to get him out again. He has to actually jump into the box in the tank

View attachment 1283009
Click to expand...



If you are handy build a wall out of plastic light diffuser aka egg crate..build it higher than the box and flush to the glass lid.
 
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Mesh is really helpful, I got certain aspects of eel proofing down. I would buy a cheap net and use the mesh to make a cap on your pipes so he cannot sneak down. I have the same sort of issue but kind of in reverse, I like super eel proofed my canister filter, it has a head (I too am bad with the terminology, a cap you put over with a "fence" around it and a ball up higher to keep big stuff out) which I am afraid the eel will get stuck too, he cant fit in between the bars, but I was afraid he could get stuck on them. But the whole thing gets clogged so I have very little flow, so I really want to take it out, but am still a little apprehensive about removing the sponge cap I made.
 
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Narwhal said:
Mesh is really helpful, I got certain aspects of eel proofing down. I would buy a cheap net and use the mesh to make a cap on your pipes so he cannot sneak down. I have the same sort of issue but kind of in reverse, I like super eel proofed my canister filter, it has a head (I too am bad with the terminology, a cap you put over with a "fence" around it and a ball up higher to keep big stuff out) which I am afraid the eel will get stuck too, he cant fit in between the bars, but I was afraid he could get stuck on them. But the whole thing gets clogged so I have very little flow, so I really want to take it out, but am still a little apprehensive about removing the sponge cap I made.
Click to expand...
Yeah I will give the mesh a try. My fear with that is he would end up stuck on it. But there’s no suction at that point so should actually work. Thanks. Don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I was so stuck on the sponge Lol
 
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