I have a new Eheim cannister ( an ecco). I want to plumb it into a fry tank. I have an inlet tube - with a grate on the end, but the grate is WAY too big and would suck up fry.

So I have multiple sponge filters. I would like to stick the sponge from the sponge filter that has been in their tank all along - it is seeded and cycled and will cycle the cannister's media as the needs of the fry grow. GREAT!

BUT: If I stick the intake grate down inside the sponge there is a chance that it may slide up the tube and leave a portion of the grate exposed. I can cover the grate with a stocking/net and shove it in there, but the sponge is already going to greatly slow the gph of the filter - the stocking will do even more.

I tried sticking a net over the bottom of the sponge, but it crushes the sponge and it will not sit straight. I have thought of trying to tie the intake into the actual sponge filter pieces or tubing, but that would require several fittings that do not exist - and I have not manufactured anything yet....

SO - has anyone plumbed a 1/2 inch intake tube or 1 inch intake grate to a Hydro sponge or Hydrosponge filter set? How did you do it to avoid the gap at the bottom?

I solved it. My main problem was that the Eheim is done in metric and all the fittings locally found are not. (I wish this world could get together and JUST GO METRIC!!!! ) \

Anyhoooo - I found some metric fittings in the bottom of the "creative" cabinet at work (aka - the junk cabinet". Stuff in there is legal for any invention I wish - so I Have a piece that can fit onto the one end of the HydroSponge fitting, which can be sized down by the next fitting which then attaches to the hosing....

Now all I have to do it create a spray bar for gentle returns so it does not blow the fry all around.....

***think think think***

haha congrats for solving your own problem!! as for the spray bar... any tube the size of your water output should do fine. just drill some holes onto the pipe and make sure the end of the pipe is sealed and you will have a nice spray bar! XD and unless of cos you already got the answer to your own question again!

just thought this would be another suggestion for you to consider.

Because it is metric, nothing specific fits. I did, however, find a piece of spray bar from a Fluval in the "junk bin" at the LFS going out of busniess. That, with a joiner of a piece of the Ehiem tubing, fits well. It works far better than the drilled PVC pipe I had - and is much less noticable.

Both Ehiems are up and running on fry tanks - and I am VERY pleased with them.