ever happen to anyone?

[44santababy]

I was admiring my tank today and was watching my Uspi Foxface trying to snag some seaweed from the grill of my mp-40. All of a sudden the fish is sucked sideways along the safety grill. Thank god i was acclimating my eel and literally saw it happen and shut off the pump and off he went. He's a big 4'' strong fish. Has this happen to anyone else? If i wasnt home, do you think he would of detached himself? or sorry and dies? also, any way to prevent this from happening? thanks

 

[prattreef]

This should not be happening to a 4' healthy fish. Chances are it would have freed itself but you can always leave the pump in pulse mode so on a "down" cycle the fish have a better chance to free themselves. IME though this only happens to weakened fish or occasionally to brand new introductions who haven't learned the current patterns yet.

 

[44santababy]

Thanks for the response:

I'm running nutrient export mode that does pulse at at high speed 3 led's from max. He is new to the tank, about 2 weeks and looks very healthy. I saw it happen, it was instant. He was totally startled and i reacted instantly and killed the pump. He might of easily detached, i dont know, thats why im asking. He did get sucked against it tightly but no side fin damage. I guess just a fluke...thanks

 

[rookie07]

Get a foam cover for the mp40

 

[jcdeng]

this is the reason why they have made a foam guard for the mps

 

[44santababy]

got em, but notice they collect a lot of junk so i removed them. Guess i'll throw em back on. thanks

 

[44santababy]

i didn't realize the foam guards would prevent this, i did have them on when i added a RBTA until it attached. I will put them on now. Thanks for the tip

 

[rookie07]

Or just turn down the mp40s and slowly build them up over the course of a few months...that way your fish willlearn at a safe rate what the "safe distance" should be.

 

[rookie07]

i didn't realize the foam guards would prevent this, i did have them on when i added a RBTA until it attached. I will put them on now. Thanks for the tip

Foam guards will help, as to what extend I have no idea, but I would bet its not a guaranteed solution.

I hate foam guards and have lost an angler and a few fish to vortechs. Still no foam guards for me.

 

[James404]

I agree it usually shouldn't happen with a healthy fish but could just be a freakish thing. I once had a very healthy yellow tang get pinned up against an acro from a vortech when it ramped up to full blast, just a case of wrong place at wrong time. I would just keep a mindful eye on it for a few.

 

[KathyC]

This should not be happening to a 4' healthy fish. Chances are it would have freed itself but you can always leave the pump in pulse mode so on a "down" cycle the fish have a better chance to free themselves. IME though this only happens to weakened fish or occasionally to brand new introductions who haven't learned the current patterns yet.

I fully agree with what Randy has posted here.
I have a 1" clonwfish on my 120 and he has decided to host my MP10 (no foam, but not cranked all the way up) and he seems to have no issue with it. The other day he ventured across the tank while I was doing a water change (had my MP 40 turned off at the time) and was worried when I had to trun that one back on...but he just swam around for a little bit and went back to the other end of the tank.

Your fish should not have been affected so adversely by it, do keep an eye on him!

 

[44santababy]

well it happened again to a NEW fish, long-nose hawkfish. Found him stuck to the side of my mp40. Turned it off and off he went with no injuries. This happened now twice to me. It only happens to new residents....