Baffled

[normanknight]

Hi everyone.
I am hoping someone out there might have had some experience with my strange problem. I decided to upgrade my Koralia 1 powerhead with a Koralia 2. I received the new pump yesterday and replaced the smaller one with the new one. I aimed it slightly up toward the surface to create a little more surface turbulence. I noticed a little more activity with the fish, but I assumed it was only due to more water movement. My diamond gobey seemed to be having a little trouble breathing. staying in one place with his mouth open. This morning, my previously healthy Foxface was dead. I immediately switched the powerheads back the way they were and all the inhabitants seemed to return to normal. My tank is a 40 gal with the only other circulation coming from the return from my sump. Does anyone have any thoughts on this.

 

[spanko]

Can't imagine the extra flow from a 1 to a 2 would have an effect like that. Could there have been some contaminant on the pump, oil etc. ?

 

[normanknight]

The pump straight out of the box appeared totally clean. I saw no oil or anything else on the pump or in the water. Could the additional surface turbulence have changed the oxygen level. I do have a glass cover over the tank, but that didn't change. Nothing changed but the addition of the new pump.

 

[prime311]

Any chance of low amounts of stray voltage coming from the new powerhead? Not enough to hurt you, but enough to harm the fish. Slight tingling sensation when you put your hand in the water?

 

[ajroc31]

Maybe I am wrong about it, but why would extra O2 levels have negative effects. I hope someone could explain that for us.

 

[normanknight]

I don't think there is any stray voltage. I had my hand in the tank several times and didn't feel the slightest tingle. As far as the oxygen level is concerned, an increase could only be beneficial as far as I know. I had to visit my lfs to get more pre-mixed salt water. I explained what had happened to the man who does maintenance on customer tanks. He figured the extra circulation and surface agitation could only be better. He said it was very possible that the fish dying was a coincidence and that they had a foxface that just dropped dead also. I purchased the fish from that store. I guess I will just watch the tank and chalk it all up to coincidence.