Has anyone ever heard of this happening??

[lerch]

2 days ago my Mandarin got caught up in the intake end of my powerhead. As a result of this his fins were severely damaged and he eventually died I thought Mandarins were bottom to mid level swimmers? My powerhead his at the top of my tank. I would love to get another mandarin sometime soon but would this just happen again?? Do I need to worry about any other fishes. I have a yellow tang, common clown, and lawnmower blenny

 

[fshhub]

i have covers or grates on all my power heads, just to avoid this,
any fish has this potential danger
and mandarins and scooters although bottom dwellers, with no swim bladder, still move about, and climb the glass hunting from time to time, but if you do not have covers on your powerheads, i'd see if i could not find or concoct something,, just do not use metal screen they have iron
HTH

 

[kelly]

Lerch,
It is not uncommon for mandarins to swim the whole tank in search for food. Usually the stay close to the rock, but will investigate things. As fshhub said, cover the intakes of the power heads or any external filters that you may have. Sorry to hear about your loss, mandarins are pretty fish. After you fix your problem, get another one.

 

[lerch]

The intake on my powerhead is a long cone shaped cylinder that is grated so that detritus can't get in. It resembles the intakes for most hang on filters. Do I neead something more than this or was this just a freak accident.

 

[fshhub]

sound as if he got sucked fast?
is that the case?
if it is then, probaly a freak, but if you want o insure a bit, maybe add a filter sponge to the inside, to reduce th suction power a bit, these can be a problem for detritus, so they would need cleaned, but IMO, i'd rather that then loose fishes

 

[ratbattey]

Many problems can be simply solved with a rubberband and small piece of nylon stocking. Cheap, and reef safe!

 

[kelly]

Lerch,
From the sound of it, the amount of water moving through it causes enough suction for a slow moving/small fish to get caught. I would recommend a larger area around the conical grate there. You will still have the water flow, but not the suction close to the new grid.

 

[dad]

sorry to hear the loss. It disturbs me to hear about and thing dying.
As stated above; screen your heads with a mesh, perferably plastic.
Before you go out and get another, remember that mandarins are for established tanks(as stated in another one of your post).
It was probly looking for food. sorry

 

[texasreefrat]

Foam Pre-Filters, cheap and lifesavers.

 

[vkesu]

We bought some extra heater covers as a secondary cover after this similar problem. We made a few extra holes in the pipe to spread out the surface area intake and slow down intake from bottom.

 

[maxx]

I would just like to add a late reply. Mandarins, eat copodes, take a look behind the powerhead. I bet 5 bucks you'll see copodes hanging out behind. My theory, is that thers little circulation behind the P.Heads. Which makes a good hangout for a Manarins' meal. Just my take on the subject.
Maxx