Vortech MP40 Foam Guards Coming off

[mckinney0171]

Anyone else have the same issue as me? I use the Vortech foam guards and am constantly having to stick my hands into the tank to chase these things down. About two to three days after installing them they blow off and then I have to put them back on. Wish they had a hook or something to keep them from blowing off so easily. Wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to keep this from happening like DIY idea.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Anyone else have the same issue as me? I use the Vortech foam guards and am constantly having to stick my hands into the tank to chase these things down. About two to three days after installing them they blow off and then I have to put them back on. Wish they had a hook or something to keep them from blowing off so easily. Wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to keep this from happening like DIY idea.

Could you thread the guards to it with fishing line? like weave in and out of the foam into the mp40 to hold it on? It'd be harder to take apart and clean, but that should hold it on.

 

[mckinney0171]

Could you thread the guards to it with fishing line? like weave in and out of the foam into the mp40 to hold it on? It'd be harder to take apart and clean, but that should hold it on.

Certainly that is possible. I also considered black zip ties as well. For sure it would increase maintenance time but I guess it would also force me to remove the wet sides more often for cleaning.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Certainly that is possible. I also considered black zip ties as well. For sure it would increase maintenance time but I guess it would also force me to remove the wet sides more often for cleaning.

If you could get the re-zippable zip ties that'd make it easier. They're zip ties with a little tab you push to unzip them, instead of trying to slide them on and off or cut them each time.

 

[ca1ore]

Probably means they're clogging quickly. Best solution is to not use them ..... I never do.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Probably means they're clogging quickly. Best solution is to not use them ..... I never do.

Depended on the livestock @mckinney0171 is keeping, they may be necessary. If there is an anemone that is floating around trying to find a spot it likes these are absolutely a must. Or if there is a fish that for some reason likes the powerhead the foam may be necessary to keep the fish out of it. There was a post a while back of another user who had a clown that for some reason loved his MP10 powerhead, and ended up getting sucked into it and killed.

 

[mckinney0171]

I considered that but with nudibranchs I fear them crawling in and getting diced up. I have two sets so once I week I replace them to keep them from clogging up. I am just tired of saltwater down my armpit chasing them down the tank. They always end up wrapping up around an SPS frag or something.

 

[ca1ore]

Well, I DO keep anemones, and I still don't use them. They clog so fast, and materially affect pump performance; just not worth the trouble .....

 

[Philt56]

There’s a guy in uk that sells 3d printed covers . He’s on Facebook as Paul Burns ‘Burna’
It’s been on the Red Sea owners group. You have to PM him to order, but it’s been popular in that group.

Basically it’s to protect anenomes from getting sucking in so it doesn’t trap dirt like the sponges.

 

[Jeff_H]

I've been using the sponges on four MP40s for about two years now and have only had one come off a couple of times. I'm wondering what 'mode' your MP40 is run since they tend to suck onto or stick to the cage when the mp 40 is running constantly above 5-10%. Also, I've noticed they can stretch out a little over time. When new, they seem to fit more snuggly to the cage. Are yours old? If they feel loose, you might try to take up some of the slack by trying to super glue a small seam of it making it a tighter fit. Or you can bu replacement for a relativity cheap price if you think it's just stretched out.

That said - I do agree with others who say they are a pain and get clogged easy. I see this as a plus and minus, the minus is I have to change them 1-2 times a week to keep the performance/flow up. The plus is they act like a filter sock and catch leftover food. My cleaner shrimp and cowfish have learned this is the place to go after the feed mode is over to get a second meal or a midnight snack. Most of the time they have cleaned all the extra food off by the next morning. I've also noticed they keep the cage mostly free from green algae and coralline, making the cleaning quicker and easier.

Regarding BTA protection, I have searched the Internet high and low for an alternative solution to protect my BTAs that is better than the sponges and I have not found it. The 3d printed cover Philt56 posted above might be the best thing I've seen to date if it replaced the original plastic cage of the MP40 or firmly attaches in a way that is easy to remove. I have experience with a couple of rouge anemones which just like to walk-about randomly and will often inflate and float off their rock to ride the current around the tank. (meaning five are happy and one just decided to take a stroll for no apparent reason). Three separate times the sponges have saved these anemones, but they still somehow get their tentacles through the sponge in into the power head if you don't see them right away. I think this takes a good bit of time (overnight) for this to happen so my point is the 3d printed one would likely protect your BTA for a short period, but I would guess it will quickly lose some of its tentacles if you don't cach it quickly. I guess it always a trade-off... I might look into the 3d printed ones for when I go out of town for more than 3-4 days to provide some protection and keep the flow going strong.

 

[mckinney0171]

Those 3d printed ones are such a great idea. Bummer the vendor is in the UK though.

Mine may be stretched out a bit as they are about six months old and I swap and clean them once a week. I think cleaning them may be what stretches them out more than anything (pulling on the material under the sink to get the gunk out). My mp40's run off of my reeflink and change modes throughout the day from low output tidal swell in early morning, to reef crest in the afternoon to evening hours (up to about 60%), then finishing up the evening with nutrient transport at about 60%.

 

[Philt56]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/817257271620591?view=permalink&id=1871969406149367

Here’s the guys post on the 3d printed covers. I think they are 30£ plus shipping for the mp40, but don’t quote me on it. The mp10 are a little cheaper.

 

[CindyKz]

Mine may be stretched out a bit as they are about six months old and I swap and clean them once a week. I think cleaning them may be what stretches them out more than anything (pulling on the material under the sink to get the gunk out).

I have been using them for 1 1/2 years, and have never had one come off. I clean mine every couple of weeks also. I don't stretch mine I just use the kitchen spray attachment.

BRS sells them in a 3 pack for $12.. Why not just buy new ones periodically? I'm on my second "set", I bought them after the first ones got stretched and ragged.


https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vortech-mp20-mp40w-foam-guards-3-pack.html

 

[Jeff_H]

Those 3d printed ones are such a great idea. Bummer the vendor is in the UK though.

Mine may be stretched out a bit as they are about six months old and I swap and clean them once a week. I think cleaning them may be what stretches them out more than anything (pulling on the material under the sink to get the gunk out). My mp40's run off of my reeflink and change modes throughout the day from low output tidal swell in early morning, to reef crest in the afternoon to evening hours (up to about 60%), then finishing up the evening with nutrient transport at about 60%.

I have three sets and swap them out 1-2 times a week depending on how busy I am and how clogged they look. To clean mine, I lay them on the concrete sidewalk in the backyard and spray them one at a time with the high-pressure setting on the garden hose handle. You have to hold the edge of the sponge to keep it from washing away, but it's really fast and cleans them better (for me) than doing it under the sink. After I wash them I have a PVC pipe that extends out from a shelf in the garage I hang them to dry.

I also use the reeflink to control them and use reef crest, tidal swell, and gyre modes. Maybe I should try the nutrient transport mode and see what happens. Maybe I'll add that to my profile and let you know if I get a different result. I have a new reeflink arriving today from EcoTech due to a random failure on mine last Friday... That's a whole other topic though.

 

[mckinney0171]

i love my reeflink. glad to hear you are getting a new one. did they help you out with a new one?

 

[JDowns]

Not sure if this will work with the EcoTech type of foam. But I used to either heat it up with a hair dryer or get it damp and throw it in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.

 

[mckinney0171]

i have a couple that have seen better days. I will give it a shot and let you know. good idea.

 

[Jeff_H]

Sorry for the slow response, I just fond the R2R notice in my spam folder. Yes - They did send a new ReefLink and it worked fine for a few days, but it will not communicate with any of my devices again. I'm going to be moving my Apex to a wired connection to rule out wireless interference and see if I get better results.