CSI NY - Killer Powerhead!

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H

Headrush

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 10, 2007
1,032
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Upstate New York
ARRRGGHHHHHH! :cry:

I arrived at the scene at 6:45 am this morning. It was 7 degrees, another COLD winter morning in upstate NY. I hung my coat on a kitchen chair and took my snow covered boots off. As I approached my 90 gallon tank I noticed the bright yellow Salvini cichlid I've had for over 6 months was out of sight. I assumed he was hiding but when I approached I saw his tail sticking out of the AC 50 Powerhead I put in last Friday night! :WHOA: OMG!!!

I reversed the flow and pulled him from the intake removing the other 3" of his body. It sucked his face right into the damn thing!

Have any of you lost a 3" fish to a powerhead? I watched a loach swim too close on Saturday, got pulled to the intake but stuck and swam right away from it. Now...my GT who's not very agressive, is slightly larger than the salvini was competing with him for head of the tank for the last week or two. I watched the salvini flare at him and swim over top of him for days. The GT was always in command but never struck him, just chased. Can't a fish swim away from the powerhead? Do you think the GT had enough and whacked him? Maybe he was injured before he was sucked in.

What are your experiences? I'd like to replace him ASAP as he was the most colorful Salvini I've ever had. I managed to take at least a dozen photo's of him on Saturday before tragedy struck. I'll put them in here if I can fgure out how. Thanks!
:confused:
 
Sorry, that sucks! Sounds like your powerhead has an open hole for the intake? I have several different powerheads, 2 Marineland and an AC and they all have a screen or protective cover to prevent fish from getting sucked in there. You could try to make something to put over it or it'll continue to happen.
 
It does happe, frequently, from what I've read on the forums. I think it's just irresponsible to leave an intake opening OPEN. Of course it sucks things in.
Sorry for your loss, though - and a yellow Salvini is in fact a female salvini, not a male. Males are blue / green / red and tan.

COVER THE INTAKE!
 
I don't think you deserve to get ripped for that. That is not that large of a power head and a 3" cichlid should easily be able to avoid being sucked into it. The only fish I have ever had seucked into a pwerhead were little .5" community fish. I would guess something was wrong with it first or maybe it was sleeping?? Did it not come with a little screen to put over the intake?
 
My powerhead has a screen, keeps fish out.
 
Nah Criticism doesn't bother me. Some people don't know what they're talking about anyway so no biggie. I did expect it but a 3" fish should be fully capable of avoiding it IMO. The only thing I can think of is that the GT got tired of his continuous flaring and challenges. The GT's a pretty calm cool character and I've never seen him nail anyone, just chase. BUT who knows, he could've hit him hard enough so he ended up there. Guess I'll never know. Sure was a beautiful fish tho. Brightest yellow I've ever seen on one.

I turned it off last night until the little screened filter comes in the mail. Don't wana take the same chance with my Terror
 
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