can a power head eat fish?

[cj7eagle]

So i was on my way to bed when i decided to get out my red flashlight and take a look around. as i was rolling along the rock, i saw some worm like creature i never saw before duck into a little hole. Then i noticed one of my clowns swimming alone. I cant find him, or parts of him anywhere. Is it possible he got sucked into the powerhead? they are the only two fish in there, along with 2 hermits, 1 emerald, 1 snail, and 4 clams... any ideas what could have happened to the little guy? I saw him last about 2 hours ago swimming around just fine.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by cj7eagle
So i was on my way to bed when i decided to get out my red flashlight and take a look around. as i was rolling along the rock, i saw some worm like creature i never saw before duck into a little hole. Then i noticed one of my clowns swimming alone. I cant find him, or parts of him anywhere. Is it possible he got sucked into the powerhead? they are the only two fish in there, along with 2 hermits, 1 emerald, 1 snail, and 4 clams... any ideas what could have happened to the little guy? I saw him last about 2 hours ago swimming around just fine.
Some powerheads don't have the protective cover/strainer to keep fish from being sucked in. It is entirely possible (if you have one like that) that he got sucked in. I have a friend who had a foot long sturgeon that got his face lodged into the powerhead and got his gills shreaded. He died.

 

[cj7eagle]

its really the only thing i can think of, as mine does not have any sort of protective cover, though dont ya think i would see some clown parts laying in the tank somewhere?

 

[sly]

No, the crabs would find him and eat him probably before you could find the parts... PLEASE... get a strainer for your powerheads... They cost like 2 dollars...

 

[viper_930]

Have you checked around the tank? It's possible he jumped.
Unless you have a very high-powered powerhead, it's more likely that the clown would jam the ph instead of getting shredded [IMO].

 

[fbm]

Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
Have you checked around the tank? It's possible he jumped.
Unless you have a very high-powered powerhead, it's more likely that the clown would jam the ph instead of getting shredded [IMO].

Agreed, most powerheads will not chew up a fish, anenome absolutely but an entire fish, not in my opinion. However there have been cases where the cleanup crew, however small, have eaten an entire fish in hours and left nothing but bone. But sometimes they will drag it to where you cant see so that they can eat at there leasure.

 

[puffer32]

i think a weak, dieing fish can get sucked in, but i have never seen a healthy fish just get sucked up, they can usually fight the suction.

 

[gwh57]

Yes, a sick or weak fish can get sucked into a pump, but it is very unlikely that the pump would continue to run. I think the pump would clog up and stop first.

 

[cgrant]

depends on the powerhead but a good powerhead will not stop running.
I had a very healthy porky puffer that got sucked into my 802 (400gph) powerhead and it died 2 days later. Its rear looked like the inside of a pop bottle cap, internal bleeding, etc.
Just make sure you buy a powerhead that comes with a protective cover and you will be fine.

 

[teen]

if this happened at night just wait until the morning and see if hes still alive. its possible he was just resting somewhere. my GSM clown usually sleeps on a rock full of hairy mushrooms and if he digs hemself in, you can barely see him.

 

[nick76]

Originally Posted by cj7eagle
So i was on my way to bed when i decided to get out my red flashlight and take a look around. as i was rolling along the rock, i saw some worm like creature i never saw before duck into a little hole. Then i noticed one of my clowns swimming alone. I cant find him, or parts of him anywhere. Is it possible he got sucked into the powerhead? they are the only two fish in there, along with 2 hermits, 1 emerald, 1 snail, and 4 clams... any ideas what could have happened to the little guy? I saw him last about 2 hours ago swimming around just fine.
Yep powerheads can suck up fish. My one ones didnt come with difusors on the end and my yellow tail damsel got to close n go sucked in.

 

[cj7eagle]

Well Stil no sign of the little guy. First thing i did was look all around the tank. It was lights out, so usually the two clowns slept in the corner of the tank, near the surface above the powerhead, which by the way is a penguin 660, which really doesnt seem powerful enough to suck up a lively fish. He seemed perfectly fine just hours before. I really havent a clue as to what could have happened to him. I do now have a strainer for the the powerhead just in case that was the cause, i dont want it happening again.

 

[nick76]

U might want to shutoff the powerhead and check inside. It could cause a nitrate spike of stays in there to long(if he is in there)

 

[cj7eagle]

Found him.... He was in the powerhead. In a way, i am glad that was it, because now i have that problem solved with the strainer thing, and i dont have to wonder if it was something else. Thanks all for your responses.

 

[nick76]

Np man, just cover them up and you will be fine from here on out.

 

[xdave]

I use the ones for pond pumps, there pretty cheap at a garden supply store.

 

[killerbunny]

Hi All,
Just joined the list. I have lost more fish than I care to admit to my AquaClear 70 PH. I've done everything I can to reduce exposure/risk. Can anyone show this newbie what the strainer looks like and/or where I can get one. Thank you kindly!
KB