If you're new, protect your creatures for about .75$

[Kungpaoshizi]

Suppose I might as well share this, it's what I put together for crinoids.
This applies to just about any creature and their safety is what matters.
Also over time it will be a safe-haven for pods, a buffer for any bacterial/algae growth, and it will help "clean" your water as it becomes colonized by filter feeders.
No, it doesn't look very awesome, but I NEVER have to worry about making a newb-mistake and worrying about creatures being sucked into my pumps. It also expands the flow to the pump over a larger area, so it outperforms a sponge cover.

You're welcome, and welcome to the hobby!

 

[brandon429]

do they make purple mesh that would blend nicely

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Cool man thanks for sharing!

 

[bubbaque]

That's a cool idea but do you think you could just zip tie the screen around the actual powerhead so it's not noticed as much?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Cool idea especially when introducing nems. Your can get any color at a hobby store. Just plastic cross stitch plastic.

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

That's a cool idea but do you think you could just zip tie the screen around the actual powerhead so it's not noticed as much?

I did think of that, but passed on it to create less suction. With nem's or crinoids they don't have much strength, so I could see them getting sucked against the sponge(or wrapped version of this) and then still wouldn't take damage, but just get "perma-stuck".

I'll post some pics later of what it looks like after time. I've added a couple more boxes to the sides. One houses carbon and the other is my experiment (my gf thought of it) to get crinoid 'sheds' to grow into new crinoids. So far the full-feather pieces did nothing, but one feather with some legs on it has been left alone by pods and may in fact be growing into a new crinoid. The crinoids themselves have been doing just fine over the months since introduction, but propagation will be the trick. I'll have to save that for another post. (got a blood red one and a green/black/white one currently)

I think people will be impressed as to how much of a 'live habitat' these turn into over time. Since it's a lot of flow through them algae grows, but then the pods eat the algae, and it's hydroids galore with a new type of sponge in the tank. Otherwise I realized one day just how much food the critters must be consuming since I have no mechanical filtration and a fairly undersized skimmer.

 

[Diesel]

BOOM!!

Secured the acrylic to the wood so it wouldn't move while making the rings, predrilled the center 1/4" shaft for the holesaw bit

Made my disc, 4" holesaw used

Drilled again with the smaller holesaws, using the same center hole for the holesaw's bit so it was exactly centered - 2 1/2" holesaw used for the front vortech ring, 3 1/8" holesaw for the rear back ring

Sanded the ring a bit, holesaw's not too smooth

The front ring only needed evening out, the back ring will need to be sanded just a little bit larger than 3 1/8". A little bit of sanding and the rear ring fits snugly over the back of the vortech. Don't sand too much because its the snug fit that keeps the cover on the vortech.

Small piece of window screen, superglued to the outside of both rings. Extra cut off and the cover is done!

Fits perfectly over the vortech. Easy to slide off and clean. One thing I did not add to this prototype was small pieces of acrylic joining the front and back rings to add some rigidity to the cover, I will do that with future covers.

Credit to my Friend Cat @tektite

 

[bubbaque]

That looks amazing! I just need a diy for my gyres... I am so tired of cleaning the foam pad around them, since you have to take the whole thing apart to get the foam off.

 

[Naiad]

Next diy! I've been afraid of loosing fish.

 

[oceanslide]

BOOM!!

Secured the acrylic to the wood so it wouldn't move while making the rings, predrilled the center 1/4" shaft for the holesaw bit

Made my disc, 4" holesaw used

Drilled again with the smaller holesaws, using the same center hole for the holesaw's bit so it was exactly centered - 2 1/2" holesaw used for the front vortech ring, 3 1/8" holesaw for the rear back ring

Sanded the ring a bit, holesaw's not too smooth

The front ring only needed evening out, the back ring will need to be sanded just a little bit larger than 3 1/8". A little bit of sanding and the rear ring fits snugly over the back of the vortech. Don't sand too much because its the snug fit that keeps the cover on the vortech.

Small piece of window screen, superglued to the outside of both rings. Extra cut off and the cover is done!

Fits perfectly over the vortech. Easy to slide off and clean. One thing I did not add to this prototype was small pieces of acrylic joining the front and back rings to add some rigidity to the cover, I will do that with future covers.

Credit to my Friend Cat @tektite

Wow this is an awesome idea. Might have to try this

 

[Naiad]

Suppose I might as well share this, it's what I put together for crinoids.
This applies to just about any creature and their safety is what matters.
Also over time it will be a safe-haven for pods, a buffer for any bacterial/algae growth, and it will help "clean" your water as it becomes colonized by filter feeders.
No, it doesn't look very awesome, but I NEVER have to worry about making a newb-mistake and worrying about creatures being sucked into my pumps. It also expands the flow to the pump over a larger area, so it outperforms a sponge cover.

You're welcome, and welcome to the hobby!

Did you just glue the plastic to the mp?

 

[Tegridy Reef]

Nice

 

[Leslie Tabor]

BOOM!!

Secured the acrylic to the wood so it wouldn't move while making the rings, predrilled the center 1/4" shaft for the holesaw bit

Made my disc, 4" holesaw used

Drilled again with the smaller holesaws, using the same center hole for the holesaw's bit so it was exactly centered - 2 1/2" holesaw used for the front vortech ring, 3 1/8" holesaw for the rear back ring

Sanded the ring a bit, holesaw's not too smooth

The front ring only needed evening out, the back ring will need to be sanded just a little bit larger than 3 1/8". A little bit of sanding and the rear ring fits snugly over the back of the vortech. Don't sand too much because its the snug fit that keeps the cover on the vortech.

Small piece of window screen, superglued to the outside of both rings. Extra cut off and the cover is done!

Fits perfectly over the vortech. Easy to slide off and clean. One thing I did not add to this prototype was small pieces of acrylic joining the front and back rings to add some rigidity to the cover, I will do that with future covers.

Credit to my Friend Cat @tektite

Diesel...I will pay you to make me one or 2 of these!

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

Did you just glue the plastic to the mp?

Ya, just a dab on the top center. It'll stay by itself but to be sure it's not going anywhere.

 

[cracker]

Good Job, I'm surprised the hole saws didn't crack the acrylic rings they are pretty slim !

 

[Diesel]

Diesel...I will pay you to make me one or 2 of these!

Remember my fee's are crazy

 

[Diesel]

Good Job, I'm surprised the hole saws didn't crack the acrylic rings they are pretty slim !

Use only fairly new hole saws.

 

[Diesel]

Did you just glue the plastic to the mp?

Nope, it sits really tied in there and with the pumps kinda sucks it to the wet side.

 

[smiley28]

Dang @Diesel nice work!!

 

[Diesel]

FYI to all, I'm not taking credit for something that I didn't build, could though but never had the desire for the need of these covers.
My friend Cat, her name on here is @tektite build them in a acrylic workshop she held at her house 4 years back.
Great idea and hobbyist in the Houston area who had them were 100% satisfied about them as it's a piece of mind if you have anemones.
Just brought it back to light as it ain't difficult to build them, scrap acrylic cost you almost nothing, just some valuable priceless time for your anemone is all you need.