preventing babies getting sucked into filter??

[indius]

Hi everyone, I'm fairly new to shrimp keeping (in fact I've only had my red cherry's for about 2 weeks) and I thought I'd researched everything before hand but it appears I've missed something mainly because I didn't expect it to happen quite so soon! but it looks like a couple of my shrimp might be pregnant they have the yellow 'saddle' on their back and one looks like it actually has eggs almost ready to move under its tail! so now I'm worried about any babies getting sucked into the filter, Its not an overly strong flow of water but the gaps are quite big (about 3mm wide). I've read in a few places about butting tights etc on to cover it but they are in a nano cube with a built in filter so I'm not sure how I would do that... so I'm looking for any suggestions from all you shrimpy veterans! I've attaches a couple of photos so you can see, I could only get a clear photo of one of the grates but there is one at the bottom that's exactly the same and ive taken a photo of the inside of the filter too in case that helps with suggestions thanks in advance!

[Geoff]

Does that grate thing pop off? If it does, maybe take some nylon and cut it so that it's larger than the hole. Put it over the hole and pop the grate back on. Make sense?

 

[Madmerv]

Using tights or any type of stocking material, in my opinion, does not work very well. I have tried it with the intake pipes on 2 types of canister filters and found it to get clogged very quickly. 

I would suggest you pop that grill off and try a diy stainless steel mesh tube extending into the tank a bit so you can give yourself as much surface area as possible and thus preventing any clogging as well as extending the maintenance time.

Something like this. 

You can flare the end of the tube and poke it through from the filter side so it is in there firm. A craft hot glue gun can also be used to make the tube of S/S so you dont need the heat shrink.

Something like this.

[fishmosy]

I think the previously suggested option of using a nylon mesh is the best way to go. Have to agree with @Madmerv - stockings are not suitable because they block very quickly.

Here is a similar situation to the OP where I used nylon mesh to solve the problem.

 

[indius]

Thanks everyone! I'm not sure if the grates pop off or not but it should be easy enough to find out! I like the mesh idea where would I get something like that do they sell it in aquatic shops? or is online my best bet? even if the grate doesn't come off I might be able to do something with the mesh to fit over the top

[indius]

oops I just read the links you gave me more closely and it tells me where to get the mesh on there lol that will teach me to read things properly before I comment won't it! ? I've just had a look on the mesh company website, which size would be best for me would it be the 0.2mm one?

Edited May 14, 2017 by indius
added question