Pump power cord, chewed through by fish.

KingwoodMarcia · 12/29/2010, 07:55 PM

Question,

I was doing some house work today and my tank lights went off, along with other items on that electrical breaker. This is the main breaker that runs 60% of the fish stuff. After some trouble shooting and seeing a flash in my fish tank (375 fish only) it was determined it was my MAG-8, Koralia. Thank God I have the tank grounded!!!

After looking at the power chord WHERE IT WAS SPARKING IN THE WATER, it looks like some fish or fishes, where eating the goodies growing on the cord, and chewed it down to the copper twisted pair.

Anyway, this powerhead is only about 3 weeks old, any ideas on how to fix it, so it is safe in the water? Or do I just eat $90.00 or the fish eat $90.00!!

Thanks

con999 · 12/29/2010, 08:00 PM

nope im osrry but its done. if its sparking theirs just no way that i know of. also the wires will just rust in a few days

aleonn · 12/29/2010, 08:01 PM

Wow I'm glad nothing major happened. Good thing there was that electrical breaker! I'd communicate with the LFS or online store you purchased the pump for. Even if there were goodies on the cord, it shouldn't be able to get chewed down like that, and you should be sent a replacement.

Chris27 · 12/29/2010, 08:02 PM

You can splice it and re-waterproof it with a little know how, but first you need to determine if the water made it's way down the wire and into the pump. A call to hydor tech support should be able to get you cleared up.

KingwoodMarcia · 12/29/2010, 08:05 PM

Thanks for the quick replies.

Con999, your right about the rust, didn't think of that!!!

aleonn, I will email and call Koralia on your point. Thanks for the input.

Aporia · 12/29/2010, 08:14 PM

Was there that much stuff growing on the cord after 3 weeks? I bet the cord had a defective spot on it when you got it and there was enough insulation to withstand the saltwater for 3 weeks. Once it failed the arching cratered the area and made it look like it had been chewed on? I would contact customer support about a replacement.

KingwoodMarcia · 12/29/2010, 08:35 PM

Aporia thanks for the input, there was some slime with algea on the cord, but all comments have given me more ammo to call customer service.

Thanks again.

Aporia · 12/29/2010, 09:07 PM

Maybe you have some of these

http://blogs.csoonline.com/sap_saltw...sea_cable_cuts

odiest · 12/29/2010, 10:10 PM

What fish have in the tank? I have heard of larger triggers chewing power cords

tkeracer619 · 12/29/2010, 10:13 PM

Sounds like a good excuse to get some vortechs

KingwoodMarcia · 12/29/2010, 10:52 PM

Some of the suspects:

Niger trigger: 12 inch
clown trigger: 8 inch, but low on the list
unicorn tang, with lots of teeth: 12 inch
Naso tang: 12 inch
white ring tang: 10 inch
large lunar wrasse: 8 inch

those are the ones with very visable teeth.

Yes, I am sure someone is going to comment about over stocking, yep got it. Thanks.

I have a 650g, 10 footer in the garage, waiting for the sump to be built.

I tried to upload some pics, but the resolution from my new camra is set to high. Need to reed the book.

Thanks for everyones input.

KingwoodMarcia · 12/29/2010, 10:54 PM

Nice read, very funny, Aporia

syrinx · 12/30/2010, 12:00 AM

Welcome to theworldof triggers. My bet is the clown. Expect it to happen from now on. I hope you don`t have a acrylic tank- I have seen them chunk those too. Great fish- I hope you enjoy them for a long time.

rezaktp · 12/30/2010, 12:11 AM

If you bought it with a credit card, some cards carry warranties on the items purchased, it's worth a look at your CC terms!

Cahooligan · 12/30/2010, 10:11 AM

+1 on the clown trigger. ive heard alot of stories of them doing that.

Everyones Hero · 12/30/2010, 10:24 AM

Unless you decide to go with Vortechs it's probably a good idea to put the wires through PVC or vinyl tubing from now on.

syrinx · 12/30/2010, 11:12 AM

Yeah you just can`t have wires in a tank with these fish (and many others).

olemiss reb · 12/30/2010, 11:19 AM

Your going to have to eat the $90, companies can't pay for damage done by your fish. I bet if you look closely, the clown trigger is sporting a guilty smirk. Get a vortech and show them who's boss.

KingwoodMarcia · 12/30/2010, 11:27 AM

Thanks again for all the input. Yes it is an acrylic tank, 8 footer. My problem from small scratches is from the large tangs, picking at the algea buildup when I go out of town or just being lazy.

So, the clown trigger maybe the guy!!!

I agree with having to put something around the power cord, in order to protect it. I was thinking of placing the power head higher in the tank, and putting those suction clamps that hold the heatres, to route the cord from the top to the motor.

Thanks

KingwoodMarcia · 12/30/2010, 11:29 AM

Copy all on the vortech.

Thanks for all the great suggestions and comments.

12/29/2010, 07:55 PM	#1
KingwoodMarcia Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 214	Pump power cord, chewed through by fish. Question, I was doing some house work today and my tank lights went off, along with other items on that electrical breaker. This is the main breaker that runs 60% of the fish stuff. After some trouble shooting and seeing a flash in my fish tank (375 fish only) it was determined it was my MAG-8, Koralia. Thank God I have the tank grounded!!! After looking at the power chord WHERE IT WAS SPARKING IN THE WATER, it looks like some fish or fishes, where eating the goodies growing on the cord, and chewed it down to the copper twisted pair. Anyway, this powerhead is only about 3 weeks old, any ideas on how to fix it, so it is safe in the water? Or do I just eat $90.00 or the fish eat $90.00!! Thanks

12/29/2010, 10:13 PM	#10
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Sounds like a good excuse to get some vortechs __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

12/30/2010, 12:11 AM	#14
rezaktp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gurnee, IL Posts: 1,407	If you bought it with a credit card, some cards carry warranties on the items purchased, it's worth a look at your CC terms! __________________ Happy Reefing! Current Tank Info: 180g. Reef w/8-80w t-5's, 70g. Rubbermaid basement sump w/10g. fuge, APEX, Reef Octopus SRO 2000 Skimmer, 1/3hp Aqualogic chiller, 57w Aqua Ultraviolet UV, BRS 2-part w/2-Drews Dosers, 4-MP40wES

12/30/2010, 11:19 AM	#18
olemiss reb Molon Labe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,550	Your going to have to eat the $90, companies can't pay for damage done by your fish. I bet if you look closely, the clown trigger is sporting a guilty smirk. Get a vortech and show them who's boss. __________________ secesh

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12/29/2010, 08:00 PM	#2
con999 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: cary il Posts: 430	nope im osrry but its done. if its sparking theirs just no way that i know of. also the wires will just rust in a few days

12/29/2010, 08:01 PM	#3
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	Wow I'm glad nothing major happened. Good thing there was that electrical breaker! I'd communicate with the LFS or online store you purchased the pump for. Even if there were goodies on the cord, it shouldn't be able to get chewed down like that, and you should be sent a replacement.

12/29/2010, 08:02 PM	#4
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	You can splice it and re-waterproof it with a little know how, but first you need to determine if the water made it's way down the wire and into the pump. A call to hydor tech support should be able to get you cleared up.

12/29/2010, 08:05 PM	#5
KingwoodMarcia Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 214	Thanks for the quick replies. Con999, your right about the rust, didn't think of that!!! aleonn, I will email and call Koralia on your point. Thanks for the input.

12/29/2010, 08:14 PM	#6
Aporia Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 67	Was there that much stuff growing on the cord after 3 weeks? I bet the cord had a defective spot on it when you got it and there was enough insulation to withstand the saltwater for 3 weeks. Once it failed the arching cratered the area and made it look like it had been chewed on? I would contact customer support about a replacement.

12/29/2010, 08:35 PM	#7
KingwoodMarcia Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 214	Aporia thanks for the input, there was some slime with algea on the cord, but all comments have given me more ammo to call customer service. Thanks again.

12/29/2010, 09:07 PM	#8
Aporia Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 67	Maybe you have some of these http://blogs.csoonline.com/sap_saltw...sea_cable_cuts

12/29/2010, 10:10 PM	#9
odiest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 72	What fish have in the tank? I have heard of larger triggers chewing power cords

12/29/2010, 10:52 PM	#11
KingwoodMarcia Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 214	Some of the suspects: Niger trigger: 12 inch clown trigger: 8 inch, but low on the list unicorn tang, with lots of teeth: 12 inch Naso tang: 12 inch white ring tang: 10 inch large lunar wrasse: 8 inch those are the ones with very visable teeth. Yes, I am sure someone is going to comment about over stocking, yep got it. Thanks. I have a 650g, 10 footer in the garage, waiting for the sump to be built. I tried to upload some pics, but the resolution from my new camra is set to high. Need to reed the book. Thanks for everyones input.

12/29/2010, 10:54 PM	#12
KingwoodMarcia Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 214	Nice read, very funny, Aporia

12/30/2010, 12:00 AM	#13
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	Welcome to theworldof triggers. My bet is the clown. Expect it to happen from now on. I hope you don`t have a acrylic tank- I have seen them chunk those too. Great fish- I hope you enjoy them for a long time.

12/30/2010, 10:11 AM	#15
Cahooligan Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Jersey Posts: 339	+1 on the clown trigger. ive heard alot of stories of them doing that.

12/30/2010, 10:24 AM	#16
Everyones Hero Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,154	Unless you decide to go with Vortechs it's probably a good idea to put the wires through PVC or vinyl tubing from now on.

12/30/2010, 11:12 AM	#17
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	Yeah you just can`t have wires in a tank with these fish (and many others).

12/30/2010, 11:27 AM	#19
KingwoodMarcia Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 214	Thanks again for all the input. Yes it is an acrylic tank, 8 footer. My problem from small scratches is from the large tangs, picking at the algea buildup when I go out of town or just being lazy. So, the clown trigger maybe the guy!!! I agree with having to put something around the power cord, in order to protect it. I was thinking of placing the power head higher in the tank, and putting those suction clamps that hold the heatres, to route the cord from the top to the motor. Thanks

12/30/2010, 11:29 AM	#20
KingwoodMarcia Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 214	Copy all on the vortech. Thanks for all the great suggestions and comments.