Filter & Sand, Advice Please?

[ozrockhound]

I have a 20 gallon long and I'm using white sand for the bottom. It is beautiful but has killed two Whisper HOB's. What brand, kind, whatever filter will withstand the sand and not die on me?
Thanks.

[racoll]

Hi.

I don't know what sort of filter that is, but what you can do is.........

1. Raise the intake of the filter as far away from the sand as possible. Cut any pipes if needed.

2. Use different sand. The grade of sand you are using may be too fine, and gets easily swept away by the current. Try a larger grain sand.

3. Remove sand, and add gravel, or lots or decor (such as rocks or wood) under and near the filter intake. This will prevent the fish from kicking it up and letting it get sucked in.

4. Buy an external power filter such as an Ehiem. I've never had any problems with sand, but then mine never gets sucked into the filter.



Hope this helps.

[kalija]

You could try a prefilter, I use a Lustar Filter-Max III Prefilter on my aquaclear intakes, these work pretty good. Only place I could find them is Thatpetplace.com tho. HTH.