Fish Sucked Up Into Powerhead

FlyinggFish · 11/13/2008, 01:41 PM

I have a powerhead in my 65 gal that pumps 900gal. Pretty powerful. The bottom is up so it sucks water through.

I was wondering if anybody has ever had a bad experience with a fish getting sucked up into the powerhead.

I have really small fish in my tank and I'm worried that they may get too close to the opening in the powerhead and get sucked in.
Is there anything I can put over the opening so that my fish won't get harmed or sucked in?

MileHighFish · 11/13/2008, 01:44 PM

i have noticed if the fish is healthy it should have the strength to swim away. what type of powerhead is it?

FlyinggFish · 11/13/2008, 01:49 PM

Hmmm, um....Maxi Jet 900. I have a Engineer Goby, Pink Skunk Clown and Sixline Wrasse.
As of now I have the powerhead off, I'm really concerned.

MileHighFish · 11/13/2008, 01:52 PM

i wouldnt worry. . i guess you could place some window screen over the intake but i wouldnt bother.

texreefer · 11/13/2008, 01:53 PM

there is a little plastic screen that comes with the maxi that is more than enough protection

Don-Coraleone · 11/13/2008, 01:53 PM

my fish used to get stuck to my vortechs all the time.

FlyinggFish · 11/13/2008, 01:54 PM

I got it used. And it didn't come with a screen, is there anything I could use as a replacement?

plateboy3293 · 11/13/2008, 01:59 PM

My yellow tang got sucked in by a koralia 4. He was about 2 in at the time.

crvz · 11/13/2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FlyinggFish
I got it used. And it didn't come with a screen, is there anything I could use as a replacement?

Not sure if they sell that part by itself, I imagine you can find a local who has some laying around. A healthy fish with the screen on the mj900 and there shouldnt be an issue, but I have lost a fish to the same pump without a screen (a smaller clownfish that got sucked into the pump).

PaulieWalnuts · 11/13/2008, 02:20 PM

i would not use it without the screen...check with some LFS or club i have lots of those parts for them...but i am in VA others will have them too.

FlyinggFish · 11/13/2008, 02:21 PM

Do they die when they get sucked into the pump- do they actually get sucked up and then spit out in little pieces-, or do they just get sucked on their side or something?

kmf507 · 11/13/2008, 02:23 PM

MJ900 only pumps 230gph. It really is one of the weaker powerheads available (but very reliable). If you have coral in your tank, you are going to need increased flow via more (and bigger) powerheads.

Also, a fish won't get stuck to a powerhead intake unless it is already sick/dead.

Vapour1ze · 11/13/2008, 02:30 PM

true mine little chromis have gotten all the way up to my koralias and nipped at the front and sides, and swim away no problem, very hard work for them though its fun to watch\.

however when I have a dead fish it will be stuck to the powerhead.

happend about a month ago,

FlyinggFish · 11/13/2008, 02:49 PM

Ewwww. So I guess my fish will be okay with out the screen?

fishysteve · 11/13/2008, 02:56 PM

I'd say you're fine.

pwoller · 11/13/2008, 02:59 PM

I had a healthy clown end up doubled over in the bottom of a maxijet 1200. He didn't survive.

Sk8r · 11/13/2008, 03:02 PM

square of blue-white filter floss, rubber band, change weekly. Or small sponge, rinse out every few days; or...make a cage by stitching together (with fishing line) pieces of plastic needlepoint canvas (hobbyshop or stitchery store), .50 a sheet.

Slakker · 11/13/2008, 03:12 PM

Yeah, the MJ900 is far from a powerful pump. A healthy fish should have no trouble staying out of it, but you'll probably want to get a grate or shield for the intake just in case.

rockworm · 11/13/2008, 05:32 PM

Early in this addiction, I had a small clown and a mandarin sucked into a MJ1200. The intake was not covered with the plastic screen that comes with the powerheads.

crvz · 11/13/2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FlyinggFish
Do they die when they get sucked into the pump- do they actually get sucked up and then spit out in little pieces-, or do they just get sucked on their side or something?

The clown I had got sucked in on the side, and when I found it a number of hours later in that position it was just dead from the trauma.

syrinx · 11/13/2008, 06:04 PM

Many strong fish have died from powerheads. The only folks saying it would be sick fish only, just haven`t had the experience yet.

TWallace · 11/13/2008, 06:10 PM

I'm assuming it's a modded MJ900. That would explain the 900gph statement above. Or maybe you just assumed it was 900gph because 900 is in the name? I believe the MJs are named to reflect their liters per hour, not gallons.

If it's just a standard MJ900, I wouldn't worry about fish getting stuck to it. I'd worry more about snails crawling over it.

kmf507 · 11/13/2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crvz
The clown I had got sucked in on the side, and when I found it a number of hours later in that position it was just dead from the trauma.

How would you know it was perfectly healthy and only the trauma caused the death? Did you know the age of the fish? Did you see it get suddenly sucked to the side?

A healthy fish will not get stuck to our typical powerheads. Mag drives, and other such pumps are a different matter.

crvz · 11/13/2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kmf507
How would you know it was perfectly healthy and only the trauma caused the death? Did you know the age of the fish? Did you see it get suddenly sucked to the side?

A healthy fish will not get stuck to our typical powerheads. Mag drives, and other such pumps are a different matter.

This was a juvenile clown I had for about 3 or 4 months, maybe about 1.5" or so, and I did not have the small screen on the maxijet, just the open hole on the bottom. Clearly, I have no idea about the exact health of the fish, I am no vet and it could have had some other issue, but as I recall it was acting completely normally in the days leading up to the event and I suspect that, during the night, it swam up under the powerhead and was unable to get out (I was referring to it getting sucked in on the side of the fish, not the powerhead). I found it the next morning. I'm confident in saying the fish was healthy and that the pump intake alone was too strong for the otherwise small fish to get away from.

Agu · 11/13/2008, 06:56 PM

I agree that a Maxijet of any size is highly unlikely to suck in any fish.

However you need the screen or other guard for a different reason. Large debris sucked into the powerhead can clog the impeller and cause the powerhead to stop.

Anybody who's been in the hobby a while and used Maxijets should have spare parts laying around that could set you up.

11/13/2008, 01:41 PM	#1
FlyinggFish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,042	Fish Sucked Up Into Powerhead I have a powerhead in my 65 gal that pumps 900gal. Pretty powerful. The bottom is up so it sucks water through. I was wondering if anybody has ever had a bad experience with a fish getting sucked up into the powerhead. I have really small fish in my tank and I'm worried that they may get too close to the opening in the powerhead and get sucked in. Is there anything I can put over the opening so that my fish won't get harmed or sucked in? __________________ Most women buy clothes, I buy corals Current Tank Info: Biocube 29

11/13/2008, 01:44 PM	#2
MileHighFish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NM. Posts: 1,722	i have noticed if the fish is healthy it should have the strength to swim away. what type of powerhead is it? __________________ See "Red House" for pics!! I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: Reef tank, 100 gal Lee Mar polished.. 60 sump.. 800 watts mh 20k radium..Ran on "Taiwan HQI Ballast" 330 watt VHO.. 48 watt compacts (dawn/dusk).. sps/lps tank..

11/13/2008, 01:49 PM	#3
FlyinggFish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,042	Hmmm, um....Maxi Jet 900. I have a Engineer Goby, Pink Skunk Clown and Sixline Wrasse. As of now I have the powerhead off, I'm really concerned. __________________ Most women buy clothes, I buy corals Current Tank Info: Biocube 29

11/13/2008, 01:52 PM	#4
MileHighFish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NM. Posts: 1,722	i wouldnt worry. . i guess you could place some window screen over the intake but i wouldnt bother. __________________ See "Red House" for pics!! I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: Reef tank, 100 gal Lee Mar polished.. 60 sump.. 800 watts mh 20k radium..Ran on "Taiwan HQI Ballast" 330 watt VHO.. 48 watt compacts (dawn/dusk).. sps/lps tank..

11/13/2008, 01:53 PM	#5
texreefer Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 331	there is a little plastic screen that comes with the maxi that is more than enough protection __________________ Coral?.. What new Coral?.. That's an old one that just grew bigger!!! Current Tank Info: full blown sps

11/13/2008, 01:53 PM	#6
Don-Coraleone Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: east coast Posts: 1,478	my fish used to get stuck to my vortechs all the time.

11/13/2008, 01:54 PM	#7
FlyinggFish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,042	I got it used. And it didn't come with a screen, is there anything I could use as a replacement? __________________ Most women buy clothes, I buy corals Current Tank Info: Biocube 29

11/13/2008, 01:59 PM	#8
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	My yellow tang got sucked in by a koralia 4. He was about 2 in at the time. __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

11/13/2008, 02:20 PM	#10
PaulieWalnuts Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: charlotte, nc Posts: 1,381	i would not use it without the screen...check with some LFS or club i have lots of those parts for them...but i am in VA others will have them too.

11/13/2008, 02:21 PM	#11
FlyinggFish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,042	Do they die when they get sucked into the pump- do they actually get sucked up and then spit out in little pieces-, or do they just get sucked on their side or something? __________________ Most women buy clothes, I buy corals Current Tank Info: Biocube 29

11/13/2008, 02:23 PM	#12
kmf507 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 669	MJ900 only pumps 230gph. It really is one of the weaker powerheads available (but very reliable). If you have coral in your tank, you are going to need increased flow via more (and bigger) powerheads. Also, a fish won't get stuck to a powerhead intake unless it is already sick/dead. __________________ Ralph Wiggum: When I grow up, I want to be a principal, or a caterpillar. Current Tank Info: 90g display, 30g sump, 10g fuge

11/13/2008, 02:30 PM	#13
Vapour1ze I'm an Addict. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Yorkville, IL Posts: 3,036	true mine little chromis have gotten all the way up to my koralias and nipped at the front and sides, and swim away no problem, very hard work for them though its fun to watch\. however when I have a dead fish it will be stuck to the powerhead. happend about a month ago, __________________ 93 Reef \| 220 Reef \| Basement Fish Life Support Room \| Empty Savings Account

11/13/2008, 02:49 PM	#14
FlyinggFish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,042	Ewwww. So I guess my fish will be okay with out the screen? __________________ Most women buy clothes, I buy corals Current Tank Info: Biocube 29

11/13/2008, 02:56 PM	#15
fishysteve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,804	I'd say you're fine. __________________ On a break

11/13/2008, 02:59 PM	#16
pwoller Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 1,163	I had a healthy clown end up doubled over in the bottom of a maxijet 1200. He didn't survive.

11/13/2008, 03:02 PM	#17
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	square of blue-white filter floss, rubber band, change weekly. Or small sponge, rinse out every few days; or...make a cage by stitching together (with fishing line) pieces of plastic needlepoint canvas (hobbyshop or stitchery store), .50 a sheet. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/13/2008, 03:12 PM	#18
Slakker Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern Wisconsin Posts: 4,521	Yeah, the MJ900 is far from a powerful pump. A healthy fish should have no trouble staying out of it, but you'll probably want to get a grate or shield for the intake just in case. __________________ -Tyler Oceanic 58RR display/20H sump/fuge thread...follow the red house. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 58g, 20H sump, AquaC EV-150, 175w Hamilton 14k + 2x39w T5HO Actinics

11/13/2008, 05:32 PM	#19
rockworm A-counting guy Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 673	Early in this addiction, I had a small clown and a mandarin sucked into a MJ1200. The intake was not covered with the plastic screen that comes with the powerheads. __________________ You can see my 400g build thread here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2577596 Current Tank Info: 400g SPS and 75g non SPS

11/13/2008, 06:04 PM	#21
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	Many strong fish have died from powerheads. The only folks saying it would be sick fish only, just haven`t had the experience yet. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

11/13/2008, 06:10 PM	#22
TWallace Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,464	I'm assuming it's a modded MJ900. That would explain the 900gph statement above. Or maybe you just assumed it was 900gph because 900 is in the name? I believe the MJs are named to reflect their liters per hour, not gallons. If it's just a standard MJ900, I wouldn't worry about fish getting stuck to it. I'd worry more about snails crawling over it.

11/13/2008, 06:56 PM	#25
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	I agree that a Maxijet of any size is highly unlikely to suck in any fish. However you need the screen or other guard for a different reason. Large debris sucked into the powerhead can clog the impeller and cause the powerhead to stop. Anybody who's been in the hobby a while and used Maxijets should have spare parts laying around that could set you up. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks