How to Keep My Gourami From Getting Sucked Against the Filter

Filtration is essential to the health of an aquarium. A huge selection of filters is available to the hobbyist. Some models hang on the back of an aquarium while canister filters stand on the floor below and submersible box filters are places within the tank. All filters draw aquarium water into their various compartments and the danger exists that fish can be sucked against the filter stem or body of the filter, depending on the model in question. Fortunately, hobbyists can prevent their gouramis from being pulled against the filter intake by taking a few simple precautions.

Things You'll Need

  • 4-inch long piece of tubular, solid aquarium sponge
  • Sharp blade
  • Plastic cable ties
  • Piece of filter mat
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Instructions

  1. Canister and Hang-on-Back Filters

    • 1

      Turn off your filter and remove the intake stem from the tubing (canister) or from the filter housing (hang-on-back).

    • 2

      Cut off a four-inch long piece of solid tubular aquarium sponge.

    • 3

      Slice the sponge lengthways using a sharp blade. The cut should go no more than three-quarters of the way through the sponge.

    • 4

      Open the sponge gently and lay the intake stem of the filter in the middle. Allow the sponge to return to its original position and secure it around the pipe using thin plastic cable ties.

    • 5

      Reconnect the intake stem to filter and turn on the filter.

    Internal Filters

    • 6

      Turn off your internal filter. Unplug the filter from the wall, and then remove it from the fish tank.

    • 7

      Cut a piece of filter mat the same area as the filter intake section of your filter. This mat must cover the entire ribbed section of the filter.

    • 8

      Remove the lid of the filter and place the filter mat inside the filter against the intake section of the filter box.

    • 9

      Secure the filter mat over the inside of this inflow area by pushing a thin cable tie from the outside of the box through the intake section and through the mat. Turn the end of the cable tie around one of the ribs of the intake section and push it back outside the box. Secure it to the rib of the intake section. Repeat this process on the other side of the filter.

    • 10

      Place the lid back on the filter. Place the filter back in the fish tank and turn it on.