Powerhead 1, Wrasse 0

[Deinonych]

Was unboxing a new skimmer in my fish room this evening when all of a sudden I hear a horrific shuddering sound from one of my MP40s. Look up to see my Blue Flasher Wrasse spinning around in the powerhead. I quickly turned off the powerheads but it was too late.

Can't imagine how he swam into the opening with all the flow the MP40 generates, but I guess anything is possible. I've heard of fish getting stuck to powerheads, but never going into the opening and getting shredded. Has anyone had this happen to them?

Really bummed right now, as he was my favorite (of course). At least it killed him instantly.

 

[Giovanni]

Sorry to hear that. Do you cycle them on and off? Could he have swam in while it was off? This image is on Live Aquaria's FB photo page.

 

[Deinonych]

No, that's why it's so baffling. They were not in feed mode or cycled off. Frankly, I thought it was my blenny at first, as he's always hovering around the PH nipping at algae.

 

[Frankief]

Something similar almost happened to me, My Biciolor Blenny loved to jump in my mp40's when i would shut them off to feed and one day i was in a rush and kicked them back on without looking and suprisingly he shot out of there unscathed. Fish god must have been with him..

 

[gone fishin]

Sorry to read about your wrasse. That is a strange one, I would imagine he had to work hard to get in there.

 

[Deinonych]

Something similar almost happened to me, My Biciolor Blenny loved to jump in my mp40's when i would shut them off to feed and one day i was in a rush and kicked them back on without looking and suprisingly he shot out of there unscathed. Fish god must have been with him..

I had a Bicolor Blenny that used to do that with my old Tunze pumps. I would always check them before turning them on! Glad yours didn't get hurt.

Sorry to read about your wrasse. That is a strange one, I would imagine he had to work hard to get in there.

Thank you, it's definitely a head-scratcher. Normally, we would be at MACNA this weekend; would have been even worse if it had happened while we were away for a long weekend. On the plus side, my Exquisite Wrasse just got a promotion and is the alpha now.

 

[hogfanreefer]

That's a freakish accident!

I did lose a small Two Spot Bristletooth Tang when I used to shut off my MP40's to feed. He used to peck at algae inside the PH. At that time I was using the feed mode on my Apex which turns the head completely off instead of the one on my Ecotec live which just turns it down. I saw the fish swim in the PH and rushed for my computer to turn off the head but didn't make it in time. Like yours his death was instantaneous. That was my only consolation.