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Clown trigger dead

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by dead fish, Jul 5, 2012.

  1. dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Woke up this morning to my clown trigger stuck to my MJ 1200 powerhead. Second fish I've lost to that thing since I started using it as a powerhead. How do others use this thing and have their fish survive?
    Seriously bummed out.
     
  2. Pete H.

    Pete H. Well-Known ReefKeeper

    853
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Sorry to hear about the loss. That is a major bummer. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/sad.gif
     
  3. dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Thanks, Pete. I really, really liked that fish and was going to build my tank around him.
     
  4. psulion

    psulion

    276
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Are you sure the powerhead got it or did he die and his body got sucked up? How long have you had the fish?
     
  5. dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was the powerhead. He liked to swim around that thing and I saw him get sucked onto it before. He got off that time. I've had him for about 2 weeks. He seemed to be doing well otherwise.
     
  6. dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Come to think of it, I've lost 4 fish over the last year that got stuck to powerheads. Not just the MJ, but also my Koralia. This can't be normal, can it?
     
  7. PotRoast

    PotRoast Well-Known ReefKeeper

    999
    Ratings:
    +24 / 0 / -0
    Chances are your fish died before they got caught in the power heads.

    Maybe one of them got caught but most of the time they die first. My two cents.


     
  8. dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    I would agree with you in general, but I did see the CT get caught just yesterday. I guess what I'm concerned with is whether or not I'm doing something wrong with the powerheads. Don't know what that could possibly be, but I'm looking for answers/peace of mind.
     
  9. JB Veteran Reefkeeper

    Marion
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    Sorry for your loss... /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/sad.gif

    IMO, this is a problem with the fish, not the power heads.

    A healthy fish should have enough strength to easily escape the suction of a power head, especially an MJ (which isn't that powerful to begin with). The only exception to this that I can think of is if you didn't use the intake screen, maybe there would be enough suction, but the intake screen should disperse most of it.

    I have Koralia 3's in my frag tank and I regularly see shrimp skirt right over the intake without being sucked in...

    If your fish are weak from sickness, starvation, etc. they may not have the energy to escape even a small amount of suction. I had the same thing happen with a Tang that refused to eat.

    -JB
     
  10. dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Maybe you're right. I had to do a lot of in-tank work to get my skimmer running (hopefully). Now my CT's dead and my Niger is in hiding. The rest of my fish (who have been around for a while) seem totally fine. Ugh.
     
  11. stew Well-Known ReefKeeper GIRS Member

    520
    Ankeny, IA
    Ratings:
    +72 / 0 / -0
    +1 with JB - I had a tang that was a fincky eater get stuck to a Koralia.  Unfortunatley for him the sea urchin got to him before I did.
     
  12. areefoffaith

    areefoffaith Inactive User

    606
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    i have been known to put obstacles around them such as rocks or eggcrate does not look good but saves lives or either turn down the pump flow temporarilyi have done this by wrapping tape around the intake until the fish gets used to the water suction being there
     
  13. Lee

    Lee Experienced Reefkeeper

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I would recommend checking other items in your tank... As hot as it's been, is your tempature staying at a low enough level? Having the air conditioner running may cause your oxygen levels to drop and CO2 levels to be elevated. Usually a good idea to increase surface agitation in the summer to keep the tank temp down. As long as you have the intake screens on, you shouldn't be having problems with the pumps themselves - Hundreds of thousands of people use Maxi-jet pumps and if it was that common of a problem they wouldnt still be used in the hobby and would be out of business.
     
  14. Lee

    Lee Experienced Reefkeeper

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0

    Double post  -Anyone else have this problem as much as me!!
     
  15. erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    981
    Coralville, IA
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    I also agree that the cause is in the tank, not the pumps. I've got tons of powerheads and fish regularly swim close by or even sit on them (Lawnmower Blenny). Water test time... Sorry for the loss!
     
  16. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I would check your params. You have a lot of fish in that 75 and without a skimmer working your tank may not of been able to handle the bio load. I have had that happen.
     
  17. dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Nitrates high. Water change. about 8lbs more live rock.
    We shall see. That skimmer went crazy after the top off and wc, water pouring over the edges of the diffuser box. Had to adjust all over again. Still not producing any skim. The pump for the CPR I got comes tomorrow. I'll give that a try and see how things go.
     
  18. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/watercare/a/nitrates.htm
     
  19. Kpotter2 Expert Reefkeeper

    North liberty, IA
    Ratings:
    +7 / 0 / -0
    Wow I would say Nitrates would have to be really high to kill fish. Most fish can take a lot of Nitrates and even over time most don't die unless nothing is done to get it lower. A sudden spike I would think would not kill a fish unless it was very weak to begin with. How high was high?
     
  20. dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    I'm not convinced the nitrates did it. They were high but I can't say exactly. I get my water tested at the lfs. It was a nice orange yellow. The ct didn't eat yesterday. I have a feeling I was overfeeding.

    Humbling.
     

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