do i need to make my powerhead safe...

[Iain Sutherland]

Hi, i have 15 sakuras coming next week to add to a tank with amanos and cardinals. It has a small powerhead im concerned might 'chop' them up. Is this likely and how do i make it shrimp safe..?
I was thinking of tying tights around it???
thanks

 

[bogman]

i would recommend you cover it, i almost lost an otto like this even though i had a fine mesh covering the intake, luckily i spotted it and turned the power head off to allow the otto minus a few scales to swim away, also i found that fine mesh coverings like tights will clog quickly with the likes of bits of moss and leaves, the solution i found was to cover the intake with a plastic pot scrub, this does not clog easily and does not seem to impeed the flow either, i just used an elastic band to hold it in place, worked todate for me

 

[hotweldfire]

Opinion is divided on this. I personally wouldn't take the risk. Have used a filter mesh bag over mine and it works very well. Also over my filter intake.

http://www.ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3012&hilit=+koralia&start=10

Also a good way of collecting loose bits of plant that are floating around the tank.