Ok, so I got this Aqueon 55 HOB filter used from someone.... it works great, the only thing is That I didnt put the intake on tight enough.... Well, it fell off..... one of my fish went to explore, suck the lil guy in, and bent him in half!!! Poor tropheus duboisi (maswa) .... when I found him an hour later he was all the way in except his head and tail pokin out.... it was really hard to get him out!!!
Just wanted to post the tragedy, so people make sure to double check your filter intakes. Learn from my stupid mistake yet again! lol

That totally blows sand
I had the same thing happen to me with my mbu puffer
but I was able to get to him on time

One of the times I went to conway fish store I seen on some of there tanks they were using a sponge over there intake, So I talked to jim and he showed me what I needed to set my HOB intake up same as theres. It actually works great kinda bulky but it really gives your HOB another source of bio filtering. The reason I added this to post here is because it takes up 1/2 to 3/4 of your intake tube and would be another way to make sure fish dont get sucked up. Ill take a picture of mine if anyone is interested.http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab279/Addictedtofish_photo/?action=view&current=0618101532a.jpg&t=1276901678774

That bites, poor fish.

I'm not trying to pour salt on a wound.

I have a fluval prefilter sponge - $3 petsmart. Works great! I even have it on my rena xp4.
Very effective, easy to clean. Not really a reliable source for BB, great mechanical prefiltration.
This item will reduce flow if not rinsed and cleaned of poop and stuff.

go pick up a hydro pre-filter (max III) have them on my fry tanks and work awesome and there a bigger ppi than a standard sponge

my DIY background kinda prevents me from having any larger sponge on the intake filter.... The fish in this tank are all decent sized juviniles.... about 3+ inches..... but that is exactly what I will be using on my fry tanks, well once my fish start producing.... I will hit you up icer711 once i am ready to put in that order.

Ok, the problem is circled..... the intake keeps coming off up there..... not where the sponge would be.... kinda get what I am talking about now??? I just decided Im gonna super glue the SOB

wrap it in some Teflon and it should get you a little extra bite to hang onto did it a few times to seal some o rings on a few canisters so they didn't leak and seal much better

use NSF standard 4 or 7 - food grade caulk. we use this for restaurant kitchens and is used in all restaurant kitchens and then wrap it good with teflon.
what i mean by - food grade. if this caulk ever fell into a plate of mashed potatos and is consumed, NO after effects nor food poisoning will occur.

I have foam over all my intakes except the skimmer box on my sump. Sand, I see where yours is coming off. Superglue or Silicon..that's what I did to my EX70 before I gave it to regan.

Problem solved... moved that HOB over to my 80gal tall... where the fish are bigger incase it falls off... and put the HOB from the 80gal tall over to the other tank.... this is working out perfect.... plus I put foam filter on it for extra bio.