Screen Cover for Skimmer Pump?

[steve888]

Does anyone know of some sort of screen that can fit over the intake valve of a Maxi-Jet 1200 pump? I have one hooked up to my protein skimmer but yesterday my blue damsel got sucked into the intake and died. About half an inch inside the intake there’s a plastic cross that prevents large objects from being fully sucked into the pump but I’m trying to find a screen of some sort that would cover the intake opening completely (but not inhibit water flow, if that’s possible). The damsel got sucked in and folded in half up to the point where that plastic cross is located inside the intake.

I wonder if a screen would even work, though. Maybe a fish could just get sucked into the side of the intake and stay there? Not pulled halfway inside but stuck flat against the intake and unable to swim?

[SicknessRising]

I would just build one out of PVC, endcap, and a lot of holes drilled in.

I am afraid that even if you put a net over the intake, the suction would be too high. Consider distributing the suction, especially when something is blocking a portion of that intake, in which case you want suction to be strong elsewhere. I think even a simple PVC 4-way connector would do a decent job.

Good luck!

[steve888]

Originally Posted by SicknessRising

I would just build one out of PVC, endcap, and a lot of holes drilled in.

I am afraid that even if you put a net over the intake, the suction would be too high. Consider distributing the suction, especially when something is blocking a portion of that intake, in which case you want suction to be strong elsewhere. I think even a simple PVC 4-way connector would do a decent job.

Good luck!

Cool, thanks. Yeh, I was kinda thinking it would have to be something homemade. There's probably not a big enough demand for something like this to mass produce it. Not a problem. Thanks again!