For my 802 powerheads, I just use the Quick Filter attachment without any foam or filter materials inside.

Only when I need the filtering capability, do I add the materials back in. Otherwise, no weekly cleaning, with all the protection for errant tank occupants.

If only that technique had worked when my RBTA took a field trip over one of the intakes to my closed loop powered by an AmpMaster 3000 :eek:

Puree RBTA is not helpful to tank health ... :cry:

I doubt that sea-hare would have been much better.

Good thing you were nearby ... :smile:

If you don't intend to use foams in your Quickfilters, DO NOT cut off the bottom.

I bought a heater guard for one of my 802's. It is about 1.25" diameter and fits the bottom perfectly. I cut it to about 3" long . On another 802 I used an old Aquaclear tube with a grill on the bottom, this is shoved into the tapered ferrule accessory that came with the 802. Both guards are pretty small and easy to hide.

The heater guard idea sounds okay. IMO, it provides a larger surface area than the 802's regular intake for water to continue entering the powerhead, even if something small attaches itself to it. I would not trust it with an anemone, though.

The AquaClear tube's grilled bottom does not provide very much more surface area than the 802's regular intake, IMO. I would not use it to protect anemones or other animals, except maybe snails, that may find their way to the intake.