Pleco Mech Filter Suggestions

[cypher1024]

Hey guys,
I recently acquired a trio of plecs (one sailfin and two gold-spots) and while I love them to death, they make a LOT of mess. They demolish at least one zucchini each day. I don't mind vacuuming up the poop, but all of the seeds and bits of zucchini that end up in the water is clogging my intake strainer and the drip tray in my sump!! There is also a noticable slime buildup on the drip tray, which reduces the holes from 3mm to about 1mm and makes them the perfect size to clog with a zucchini seed!!

I've tried adding a pool filter sock over the outlet of my overflow, but after a few hours it blows up like a baloon! There's also a lot of garbage floating around in the water that I'd like to get rid of.

I currently have a sump in this configuration:

So finally my question:

What can I do to help with mechanical filtration? (Stupidly), I was only thinking about bio filtration when I designed the sump I don't really want to get a canister, but if that's the only effective option I'll consider it.

 

[bgcoop8784]

have you tried adding a piece of filter floss/pad on top of the drip tray, or wrapping a piece of pantyhose around your strainer?

 

[johncl]

Remove the seeds from the zucchini before it goes in the tank.

 

[Toby_H]

While there are corners you could cut to make your current sump function a little better...

To be happy with your sump you may want to design a new one...

I think a sump designed with biological filtration only in mind is a poorly designed sump. Your experience has seemed to validate my thoughts on this subject...

 

[cypher1024]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll try some filter wool over the drip tray and preparing the zucchini a little more before I throw it in.

 

[wingate2581]

Slice the zuchinni from one end to the other. Dig out all the seeds leaving a zuchinni "boat". I would also try the filter floss idea. Also think about supplementing their diet with other foods(pellets, algae wafers, etc.) every other day or so to help cut down the mess the fresh veggies make.

 

[cypher1024]

I think a sump designed with biological filtration only in mind is a poorly designed sump. Your experience has seemed to validate my thoughts on this subject...

You're exactly right. I thought I could take care of mech filtration with the filter sock alone (and that might be fine for some stock - just not plecs ).

Slice the zuchinni from one end to the other. Dig out all the seeds leaving a zuchinni "boat". I would also try the filter floss idea. Also think about supplementing their diet with other foods(pellets, algae wafers, etc.) every other day or so to help cut down the mess the fresh veggies make.

That's an excellent idea. Boatbuilding, here I come!!